Tsutsui Discusses Economic and Sports Initiatives in Korea

Korea Baseball Association President Byungsuk Lee and Lt. Gov Tsutsui. Courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui of Maui returned from a week-long trip to Korea, where he discussed economic cooperation and his Hawaii Sports Development Initiative.

“Hawaiʻi and Korea have shared a long and positive relationship that’s rooted in friendship,” said Tsutsui in a press release statement.

“This year marks the 110th anniversary of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi and this trip enabled the state to strengthen our economic ties and ensure jobs for our residents through the continuation of import and export and growing our visitor industry between Hawaiʻi and Korea,” he said.

Lt. Gov. Tsutsui and Tourism Officials. Courtesy photo.

During his visit, Tsutsui met with government officials and industry representatives to discuss how to maintain and foster economic relations between Hawaii and Korea.

The lt. governor also met with the Korea Baseball Association to discuss its participation in an amateur youth baseball exchange, possibly in the summer of 2014.

According to state data, an estimated 200,000 Korean tourists visited Hawaii in 2013, and 45,000 Koreans are living in Hawaii.

Current estimates indicate that $118 million is being exchanged between Hawaii and Korea in import and export trade transactions.

Mayor of Incheon Song Young Gil and; Lt. Gov. Tsutsui. Courtesy photo.

Lt. Gov Tsutsui and Korean tourism officials. Courtesy photo.