- Discussions on launching nonstop flights to Anchorage and invigorating sister city partnerships -
On Mar. 28, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson from Alaska visited Incheon City Hall and extended the courtesy to Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok.
Her visit was organized under the Korea Foundation's initiative aimed at inviting influential foreign leaders to foster global interactions and establish connections. Senator Gray-Jackson chose to visit Incheon, a sister city of Anchorage, as part of her voluntary itinerary.
<Mayor of Incheon Yoo Jeong-bok and Alaska Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson exchange souvenir at the G Tower reception room on Mar. 28.>
<Mayor of Incheon Yoo Jeong-bok and Alaska Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson discuss partnerships at the
G Tower reception room on Mar. 28.>
Senator Gray-Jackson, elected to the Alaska State Senate in 2018, has been a vocal supporter of minority rights in Alaska, including the Korean diaspora.
- Apr. 21, 2023:
Introduced the bill on "An Act requiring education in the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (SB131)” : mandating the inclusion of the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander in the curriculum of elementary and middle schools in Alaska.
In October of last year, on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Incheon and Anchorage, Mayor Yoo visited Alaska to meet with Mayor of Anchorage Dave Bronson and Governor of Alaska Mike Dunleavy. Mayor Yoo proposed the resumption of direct flights or an increase in charter flights between Incheon and Anchorage, emphasizing the need for active cooperation.
Subsequently, Anchorage Regional Director Park Jung-seok maintained ongoing discussions with Alaska Senator Gray-Jackson and the Vice President of New Pacific Airlines. Additionally, Alaska Representative Mary Peltola directly communicated with the Federal Aviation Administration, securing a commitment to expedite the permit process (from 18 to 24 months) for air services between the U.S. and East Asia.
Mayor Yoo said, "During my visit to Anchorage last year, I met with the city's mayor and governor, where we collectively agreed on the importance of reinstating direct flights or increasing charter flights. Our aim is to invigorate economic exchanges and tourism between our two cities. I am aware that over 7,000 overseas Koreans residing in Alaska have been looking forward to this initiative, but it poses challenges both domestically and internationally.” He continued, "Successfully implementing this plan calls for active cooperation from the Alaska state government and federal and state legislators, including Senator Gray-Jackson, given its intricate nature involving numerous organizations in Korea and the U.S., alongside a tight preparation schedule.”
Mayor Yoo further stressed that "collaboration among the Incheon Metropolitan Government, Alaska Tourism Organization, Incheon Tourism Organization, airlines, and travel agencies is crucial. He added, "By collectively focusing on product development, recruitment activities, and other pertinent factors, we can expedite the launch of this route.”
In response, Senator Gray-Jackson stated, "I am delighted to visit Incheon, a city with longstanding ties to Alaska. Mayor Yoo's visit to Anchorage last year conveyed a message of optimism for renewed exchanges and collaboration between Alaska, Anchorage, and Incheon. I am committed to collaborating with local departments to facilitate exchanges between our cities and to support the mayor's proposal aimed at revitalizing the tourism industry, with the aim of achieving positive outcomes.”
On another note, the capital of the U.S. state of Alaska is Juneau, boasting a population of 730,000 and an area seven times the size of the Korean peninsula, making it the largest state in the U.S. Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 for USD 7.2 million and became the 49th state in the U.S.
On Oct. 7, 1986, Incheon was officially paired with Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska and home to 40% of the state's population. During the period of direct flights (1988–2005), there were active public-private exchanges in various fields, including sculpture, economy, culture, and education, between the two cities.
