Gyeonggi Province and State of Alaska Discuss Economic, Climate, and Tourism Cooperation

On March 25, 2025, Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim met with Alaska State Governor Mike Dunleavy at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul. Their ...

On March 25, 2025, Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim met with Alaska State Governor Mike Dunleavy at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul. Their meeting focused on potential collaboration in various fields, including energy, climate response, and tourism. 

Let’s take a closer look at the key discussions from this meeting.

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1. Strengthening Cooperation Between Gyeonggi Province and Alaska 

Gyeonggi and Alaska explored a wide range of collaboration opportunities, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) development projects, climate technology exchanges, and joint development of tourism content. Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance not only in terms of security but also in fostering mutual economic benefits.

Governor Kim emphasized, “Alaska is a key region in the global energy strategy. We look forward to developing a cooperative model that will bring tangible benefits to both Korea and the U.S.”

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2. Alaska: A Key Player in U.S. Energy Policy

Alaska is not only a major producer of oil and natural gas in the U.S. but also has thriving industries in fisheries, tourism, forestry, and mining. In recent years, the state's political influence has been growing as well.

Governor Dunleavy highlighted the significance of LNG projects, stating, “For decades, LNG development has been a long-cherished goal for Alaska … President Trump aims to lead negotiations that prioritize mutual benefits rather than disadvantaging allied nations.”

Governor Kim responded by reaffirming the strong Korea-U.S. alliance, saying, “Our alliance has been solid throughout history, and we must continue to strengthen it in a way that benefits both parties.” 

He also urged Governor Dunleavy to play a role in overall Korea-U.S. relations, such as Korea’s sensitive country designation and tariff discussions.

Governor Dunleavy’s visit to Korea comes in the wake of President Trump’s mention of potential investments from Korea and Japan in Alaska’s LNG development. During his visit, Dunleavy also held meetings with Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy to discuss further cooperation.

Notably, Governor Dunleavy is the first Republican governor in Alaska to be re-elected, and he is regarded as a key figure in shaping energy policy for the second Trump administration. The Alaska LNG development project has been one of his long-standing priorities, and with the backing of the Trump administration, its progress is expected to accelerate significantly.

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This meeting aligns with Gyeonggi Province’s recent diplomatic efforts, including sending letters to U.S. state governments and key figures like IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn regarding sensitive country designations. 

Gyeonggi Province continues to actively engage in diplomatic initiatives at the regional government level.

This engagement also underscores Gyeonggi Province’s evolution beyond a local administrative unit into a key international economic and security partner. 

At a time when Korea’s central government is undergoing transitional diplomatic and trade policy adjustments, Gyeonggi Province is stepping up to fill the gap, pioneering new pathways for international cooperation.

As Gyeonggi Province continues to forge global partnerships, we look forward to seeing the positive outcomes these collaborations will bring!

For more related content, read our latest post: Gyeonggi Province Governor Reaches Out to U.S. Governors Over ‘Sensitive Country’ Designation

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