Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/28/2023 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB12 | |
| SB22 | |
| SB30 | |
| SJR6 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SJR 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 6-HONORING THE ALASKA-KOREA RELATIONSHIP
3:50:14 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6 Honoring the
Alaska-Korea relationship; and celebrating the 70th anniversary
of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the
Republic of Korea, the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice
Agreement, and the 120th anniversary of the first Korean
immigration to the United States.
3:50:38 PM
SENATOR LKI GALE TOBIN, District I, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SJR 6, stated that during the 32nd
legislature, her predecessor and former Representative Tarr
worked on a bill to rename a bridge in the Mountain View
neighborhood of Anchorage after a Korean American constituent.
The idea of honoring the Alaska-Korea relationship developed
from that work.
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited a motion to adopt the draft committee
substitute for SJR 6.
3:51:44 PM
SENATOR MERRICK moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SJR 6, work order 33-LS0284\U, as the working document.
CHAIR KAWASAKI objected for purposes of discussion.
3:52:08 PM
MICHAEL MASON, Staff, Senator Lki Gale Tobin, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that the CS corrects the
tourism numbers on page 2, lines 14-15. The correct tourism
numbers are 2 million and 1 million respectively.
MR. MASON also added clarity to the last WHERAS on page 2. The
first Korea-Alaska Friendship Day was declared on June 20 2008
by then Governor Palin. Because the day is a yearly
proclamation, not a set holiday, the date moves to reflect the
days of the week, and last year that was June 25. The sponsor
decided to honor the date of the first Korea-Alaska Friendship
resolution.
3:53:10 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI removed his objection; finding no further
objection, version U was adopted.
3:53:26 PM
SENATOR TOBIN read the sponsor statement for SJR 6:
In 1954, the Korean Armistice Agreement to end
hostilities on the Korean Peninsula was signed by the
United States of America and the Republic of Korea.
Since that time the two countries have developed
strong economic and cultural relationships. Senate
Joint Resolution 6 recognizes the ongoing "Global
Comprehensive Strategic Alliance" between the U.S. and
the Republic of Korea, which has greatly benefited
Alaska through billions of dollars' worth of trade and
tourism.
Currently, the Ted Stevens Anchorage International
Airport is a growing hub for air cargo to and from the
Republic of Korea, and every year thousands of Korean
tourists visit Alaska. Anchorage and Incheon, South
Korea have been sister cities since 1986, and
thousands of Korean American call Alaska home. Alaska
is incredibly fortunate to have a close relationship
with the Republic of Korea. 2023 is the 70th
anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement and the
signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S.
and the Republic of Korea.
2023 is also the 120th anniversary of the first
immigration of Koreans to the United States.
In the 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the Republic of Korea and the United
States, the two countries have developed strong and
lasting ties that should be celebrated. In a time of
rising tensions and global strife, it is important to
acknowledge the friends and allies of the United
States and Alaska.
Senate Joint Resolution 6 seeks to honor and celebrate
the friendly and beneficial relationship between the
United States and the Republic of Korea, and the
unique role Alaska has in that relationship.
CHAIR KAWASAKI turned to invited testimony.
3:56:04 PM
SEUNG MAN SANG, Consul and Head of the Consulate, Republic of
Korea, Anchorage, Alaska, provided invited testimony in support
of SJR 6. He spoke from the following prepared testimony:
Dear Honorable Alaska Legislature Members,
I write to you in support of Senate Joint Resolution
No. 6: Honoring the Alaska-Korea relationship; and
celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Mutual Defense
Treaty between the United States and the Republic of
Korea, the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice
Agreement, and the 120th anniversary of the first
Korean immigration to the United States.
The United States and the Republic of Korea enjoy one
of the closest relationships in the world. We are
friends, allies, and partners. Our longstanding
relations began 141 years ago with the Treaty of
Peace, Amity, Commerce, and Navigation in 1882, when
Korea was a dynasty called Joseon. About 70 years
later, the ROK and the US became allies with the
signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty in October 1953.
The ROK-US alliance was founded on the spirit of
comrades-in-arms forged in blood during the Korean
War. We fought together for freedom and democracy in
the Korean War, which broke out with North Korea's
invasion in June 1950, and ended three years later
with the Ceasefire Agreement in July 1953.
Approximately 1.8 million US troops were engaged in
the Korean War, with over 36,000 of them dying during
the conflict, while 2,500 or more Alaska troops served
in the war, with 1O of them falling. Today, about
28,500 US troops are stationed in Korea.
The ROK-US alliance has become, not only the
foundation of Korea's defense and security, but also
the cornerstone of its rapid economic growth and
stable democracy. We, the ROK and the US, have
successfully stood the test of time for the past seven
decades. We have overcome numerous threats and
provocations, including nuclear weapons and ballistic
missiles, from the North, and have successfully
maintained peace on the Korean Peninsula based on our
ironclad alliance cooperation.
Economic relations between our two countries have been
upgraded by the ROK-US Free Trade Agreement, which
entered into force in March 2012 and celebrated its
10th anniversary last year. The bilateral FTA has
served as a vehicle to promote ROK-US economic ties.
Bilateral trade for the past decade has expanded 67.8
percent to about $169,100,000,000 in 2021 from
$1O1,800,000,000 in 2012. The mutual investment
between the ROK and the US more than doubled during
the same period. In particular, Korea's investment in
the US has increased significantly, mainly in the
semiconductor, battery, and automobile sectors. That
has brought about the employment effect of 90,000 jobs
in the US and strengthened bilateral supply chain
cooperation. In 2019, about 2,300,000 Korean tourists
visited the United States, and more than 1,000,000
American tourists visited the Republic of Korea,
contributing considerably to the economies of each
country. Covid-19 resulted in a sharp diminution in
mutual visits in 2020 and 2021, but a rapid recovery
is underway since the pandemic curve began to flatten
last year.
Of course, the relationship of the ROK and the great
state of Alaska has made great progress in the
economy, people-to-people exchanges, military
cooperation, and local government exchanges in
lockstep with the development of ROK-US relations.
Since 2018, the Republic of Korea has been Alaska's
largest trading partner, with a volume of
$2,300,000,000 in 2021. The major trade items between
Korea and Alaska are minerals & ores, fish & other
marine products, petroleum & coal products, and
computer & electronic products.
Some Korean companies have been contributing to
Alaska's economy and employment. Korean Air and Asiana
Airlines have been operating as major air cargo
carriers at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International
Airport, which is the world's 4th busiest airport for
cargo throughput. Since the spread of the Covid-19
pandemic in 2020, the importance of air cargo has
increased, and the role of Korean air cargo carriers
has also been growing.
4:01:00 PM
Each year, the ROK Air Force participates in Exercise
Red Flag-Alaska, a joint aerial combat training
exercise held by the US Air Force. Last year, two
Korean Navy ships arrived in Anchorage for the first
time in history as part of the ROK Navy Cruise
Training. Alaska's strategic location and ROK-US
common interests on the Korean Peninsula and in the
region will make our bilateral military cooperation
more expanded and stronger in the future.
Local governments in both countries acknowledge the
strong ties between the ROK and Alaska and promote
cultural and economic exchanges through establishing a
sisterhood relationship: Incheon, a Korean
metropolitan city, and Anchorage, Alaska's most
populous city, signed in 1986. Assemblies between
Incheon and Anchorage have also had a sisterhood
relationship since 1993.
7,000 Koreans and Korean Americans live in Alaska,
enriching Alaska's history and culture. They also
serve at various comers of Alaska as military
personnel, police officers, fire fighters, nurses and
doctors, teachers, business owners, public servants,
etc., contributing their talents to Alaska's safety,
diversity, and unity. A shining example was Ms. Emma
Broyles, a Korean American, who became Alaska's first
Miss America last year and made Alaska's name widely
known. Since 2008, the state of Alaska has celebrated
Korea-Alaska Friendship Day on June 20. The Anchorage
Korean community, in collaboration with the Korean
Consulate in Anchorage, holds the Korea-Alaska
Friendship Festival each year, acknowledging the
longstanding ties, economic and cultural exchanges,
and friendship between the Republic of Korea and the
state of Alaska.
The ROK and the US have been developing a steadfast
partnership, anchored in shared values and interests,
as friends, allies, and partners. As agreed at the
ROK-US summit in May 2022, our two countries are
collaborating to achieve our shared goal of
transforming the bilateral alliance into a global
comprehensive strategic alliance, capable of
addressing the most pressing regional and global
challenges. Korean Americans, since their first
immigration to the US 120 years ago, have become an
integral part of America and also of Alaska, enriching
the lives of both US and Alaska.
All things considered, I have the honor hereby to urge
you to support this resolution honoring the Alaska-
Korea relationship.
4:02:57 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI thanked Consul Sang for his testimony.
4:03:24 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked the sponsor if she had anything to add.
4:03:34 PM
SENATOR TBIN thanked the committee for considering the
resolution and urged swift passage.
SENATOR CLAMAN joined the committee.
4:03:52 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI held SJR 6 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CS SJR 6.pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 6 |
| SJR 6 Sponsor Statement 01.25.2023.pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 6 |
| SJR 6 Supporting Document 1 Korean Consulate Supporting Letter 1.25.2023.pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 6 |
| Sectional Analysis for SB 30.pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| SB 30 - Supporting Document - Alaskeros 2.21.2023.pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| CS SB12 (002).pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 12 |
| SB 22 ver A Presentation 1.19.2023.pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
| Sponsor Statement for SB 30 (002).pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| Summary of Changes SCSB 12 version S.pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SB 12 |
| SJR6-LEG-SESS-02-27-23.pdf |
SSTA 2/28/2023 3:30:00 PM |
SJR 6 |