By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
Chairman Lee Bong-rak of the Incheon Metropolitan City Council met with Senator Elvi Gray Jackson, who visited Korea on an invitation from the Global Network Division of the Korea Foundation (KF) on March 28 and discussed the establishment of direct flights between Incheon and Anchorage and ways to strengthen friendship and cooperation.
The Alaska State Senator is known for her various activities related to the rights and interests of ethnic minority groups in Alaska, including the Korean community, such as introducing legislation to require the teaching of Asian and Pacific Islander history in elementary and middle schools in Alaska.
The Incheon City Council and the Anchorage City Council in Alaska have had a friendly relationship for more than 30 years, having signed a friendship exchange agreement in 1993.
On the occasion, Senator Elvi Gray Jackson said, "I hope that the Incheon-Anchorage direct flight will be opened and that the two cities will strengthen and support the friendly and cooperative relationship."
In response, Chairman Lee Bong-rak said, "The Incheon City Council will actively work to open the direct Incheon-Anchorage flight as soon as possible, which is the desire of more than 7,000 Korean compatriots living in Alaska." "I would like to ask the Korean community for their interest and support."
Meanwhile, the direct Incheon-Anchorage route was operated from 1988 to 2005 before being suspended. Currently, it takes 14 hours to travel via Seattle and other destinations, but the direct flight will take just eight hours.
