Alaska is a state in the northwestern United States.  The small island of Attu in the Alaska region is famous for being the westernmost land among all continents and islands, and it is the homeland of the Inuit. The name Alaska is derived from the Aleut word 'Alaxsxaq', which means 'the land that is not an island'. It was first discovered by Alexei Ilyich Chirikov, a subordinate of explorer Vitus Bering, making him the first European to find it.

Although it is part of the North American continent, it borders Canada to the east and is a representative exclave of the United States, separated from other states. To the west, it borders Russia's Chukotka across the Bering Strait, while the south faces the Pacific Ocean and the north opens to the Arctic Ocean. It was incorporated as the 49th state of the United States on July 3, 1959. The following month, on August 21, Hawaii was elevated to the 50th state, completing the current system of 50 states.

With an area of 1,717,854㎢, it occupies a vast area approximately 17 times that of South Korea. It is the state with the overwhelmingly largest area in the United States, slightly larger than Mongolia. However, due to its harsh environment, the population was 738,432 as of 2015, resulting in a very low population density of 0.4 people per ㎢, the lowest among the 50 states. Nevertheless, this is still relatively high compared to the neighboring Russian Chukchi Peninsula, Chukotka, and the northern Canadian regions of Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon. Whites make up 66.7% of the population, while 25% are Native Americans, Inuit, and Yupik, and the remaining 5% are Pacific Islanders, mixed-race individuals, and Black people.

Due to its proximity to East Asia, Alaska is one of the states in the U.S. with a high proportion of Asians, with the Aleutian Islands having over 50% Asian representation. Areas where whites constitute a majority are limited to urban areas such as Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, while most of the central, northern, and western regions are predominantly occupied by Native Americans and Inuit.

While the average annual income in other U.S. states is $70,000, Alaska's is slightly higher at $80,000. In fact, it is said that there are quite a few wealthy people in Alaska. However, the state's economy is heavily dependent on federal aid and employment, which has raised concerns. According to community leaders, the Korean community in Alaska is estimated to consist of about 6,000 to 8,000 individuals.

According to an AP report titled 'The Growing Korean Community in Anchorage', the number of Koreans, which was only 400 in the 1970s, has now significantly increased to 6,000 to 8,000, and there are about 400 businesses in the area, making it a place where one can comfortably navigate without using English in Koreatown.

In particular, Koreatown, which was once an unattractive area with old shopping malls 30 years ago, has now grown into one of the most economically active areas in Anchorage, attracting not only Asians but also whites who frequently visit for Korean food and quality Korean products, becoming a place of cultural exchange across generations.

Main Korean Websites in Alaska

AKN News Archives (Anchorage Korean News)
Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Anchorage

Capital of Alaska - Juneau

With a population of about 30,000, it is the third-largest city in Alaska, covering an area of 7,003㎢, making it the second-largest city by area in the United States. The city's name comes from gold miner Joe Juneau from Quebec, Canada. Located to the east of Alaska, it is connected to the state's territory, but to actually drive to Anchorage or Fairbanks, one must go through Canada. Moreover, despite being the capital city, there is no road access, and vehicles must be taken on a ferry to the small town of Haines. This is due to the fjord topography of eastern Alaska, which is characterized by steep cliffs and numerous islands, making many areas accessible only by boat. Juneau is also bordered by a peninsula on one side and an island on the other, with rugged mountains, canyons, and glaciers blocking the way toward the mainland, such as Glacier Bay National Park.

Anchorage

It is the largest city in the state of Alaska, United States. The name 'Anchorage' is derived from the anchorage point at the mouth of Ship Creek, meaning a place where an anchor is dropped. Approximately 380,000 people live in the metropolitan area, and considering that the total population of Alaska is about 730,000, it maintains its status as the overwhelming largest city, accounting for more than half of the state's population.