Chuncheon City Unveils '2030 Blueprint for International Exchange and Foreign Policy'... Accelerates Transition to a Global City

Chuncheon Outlines Foreign Policy for the 9th Administration
Final Briefing on Mid- to Long-Term Plan for International Exchange Cooperation and Foreign Policy
Five-Year Strategy to Respond to Increasing Foreign Residents and Changing Policy Environment
Four Major Strategies and Key Projects Proposed, Including "Naturalization of Foreigners as Chuncheon Citizens"

Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province discussed the mid- to long-term direction of international exchange cooperation and foreign policy, and shared its policy vision for establishing the foundation of an international city in the future.

Chuncheon City held the final report meeting for the "Chuncheon City International Exchange Cooperation and Foreigners Policy Mid-to-Long-Term Plan (2026-2030) Establishment Research Project" on the 10th at the City Council Annex Building's medium conference room. Provided by Chuncheon City

On June 10, Chuncheon City held the final briefing session for the "Chuncheon City International Exchange Cooperation and Foreign Policy Mid- to Long-Term Plan (2026-2030) Establishment Research Project" in the conference room of the annex building of the City Council.

This briefing included the directions for international exchange cooperation and foreign policy to be applied from 2026 to 2030. Ahead of the launch of the 9th popularly elected municipal administration, a mid- to long-term blueprint for the future implementation of foreign policy was shared.

The research team diagnosed the need for a shift in policy toward an international city where foreign residents, international students, and foreign workers can settle and grow as members of the local community. They emphasized that policies should go beyond existing sister-city exchanges and visit-centered activities to include talent attraction, settlement, and citizen participation.

In addition, the vision of "Chuncheon, a world-class international city leaping forward with the world" was presented, along with four major strategies: △ naturalization of foreigners as Chuncheon citizens, △ the globalization of Chuncheon citizens, △ transition to a world-class global city, and △ establishing a support system.

The first strategy, "Naturalization of Foreigners as Chuncheon Citizens," focuses on strengthening support for housing, employment, and daily life to help international students and foreign residents settle in the region. In particular, it proposed laying the foundation for international students to find employment at local companies and remain in the area after graduation.

The second strategy, "Globalization of Chuncheon Citizens," includes measures to enhance citizens' international competencies, such as expanding youth public diplomacy groups and global education programs.

The third strategy, "Transition to a World-Class Global City," centers on boosting the city's brand competitiveness and reinforcing its international image by linking cultural and tourism resources with international exchange.

The fourth strategy, "Establishing a Support System," suggested measures to create a foundation for systematically advancing foreigner support and international exchange projects, including a tentative plan to establish the "Chuncheon Global City Center."

According to the city, the number of registered foreigners in Chuncheon reached 5,637 as of last year, an increase of 11.6% compared to the previous year. Among them, international students accounted for 3,198, representing 56.7% of the total. As a result, the city launched this research project in October last year, based on the analysis that foreign residents and international students need to be utilized as new growth resources for the region in a situation where the population is declining and aging.

This research project was carried out to respond to changes in the policy environment, such as the increase in foreign residents and international students and changes in national immigration policy, and to link international exchange cooperation and foreign policy with regional development strategies. In particular, it reflected the Ministry of Justice’s "2030 Future Strategy for Immigration Policy" announced this year, and enhanced the effectiveness of the plan by incorporating expert consultations and collecting opinions from various departments.

Chuncheon City plans to comprehensively review the opinions and research results presented on this day and reflect them in the process of establishing future international exchange cooperation and foreign policy. A city official stated, "Based on this mid- to long-term plan, we will create an environment where foreigners can stably settle in the local community and grow together with citizens, while enhancing Chuncheon's competitiveness through expanded international exchange cooperation and the attraction of global talent."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.