The city of Cottonwood Heights is looking forward to the sister (city) they will be gaining. The Council in Incheon, Yeonsu-gu, South Korea will take the final vote on their relationship during their council meeting in October. 

The Incheon and Songdo areas of South Korea are booming for international business as the goal of this specific Northeast Asia region is to be a hub for business, leisure and tourism. (Songdo is a free trade international economic zone.) Utah businesses have taken notice and have been trying to figure out how to work within his specific region. 

Songdo was designated by the Koren government in 2003 to open up foreign direct investment. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)

“We want to get tied in there and do more business,” a local company investing $500 million into start-ups across the world told Cottonwood Heights Councilmember Matt Holton. 

Cottonwood Heights hopes to provide the answer. As the city is home to many tech-emphasized businesses, the economic relationship seems extremely beneficial and somewhat inevitable. 

“All of these businesses are about worldwide investments,” Holton said.  

Some of these companies headquartered within Cottonwood Heights include BMW Bank, SoFi Financial Services, Square Financial Services, Kickstart, Peterson Partners and Peak Ventures.  

“That’s exactly where we want to go,” Peak Ventures told Mayor Mike Weichers.  

Not only does Cottonwood Heights have economic ties to South Korea; the city has family ties as well. Both Councilmember Holton and Korean American Federation Utah Board Member Kay Choi call the city home. 

“Korean is in my blood,” Holton said. “I can only speak swear words and food dishes. The swear words are what my mother called me. The food dishes are what I order.” 

Choi, who is also board member of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Utah, has lived within District 1 of Cottonwood Heights for 30 years. She has hosted South Korean students through the exchange program at Brighton High School as well. Councilmember Holton has been working with her to be better advocates within the Korean community.  

“As I’ve continued to engage with the Korean community, I’ve found out…they don’t feel super connected. They don’t feel their voice really matters,” Holton said. 

The idea to gain a sister city was originally brainstormed during the Cottonwood Heights City Council’s annual retreat, back in January. 

“In our yearly retreat, we talked about enhancing diplomatic opportunities and our identity,” said Weichers.

With all of the economic, educational and blood ties to South Korea, the dream sister city was Incheon. Holton quickly began working to explore, research, communicate, and persuade for this relationship to developed and codified. 

“For most people in Korea, you have to say we are just north of Las Vegas because they’ve never even heard of Utah—but they do love to gamble,” Holton said. 

Councilmember Holton believed the presentation of this important relationship needed to look the part so he paid for a designer to design the logo out of his own pocket. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)

Holton reached out to state leaders and many agreed they’d like to have Utah’s identity strengthened internationally, especially in regard to economic development. (Salt Lake City hosting the 2034 Olympics is definitely at the top of mind.)

“I understand we’re small—but we’re mighty. I think we punch above our weight. Let us be that advocate and bridge to Utah,” Holton said. “The only way we can do something this big is to bring partners along and show we are a united front.” 

Holton compiled a full packet of Letters of Support (for a sister city relationship between Cottonwood Heights and Incheon) from: Rep. John Curtis, Sen. Mitt Romney, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, Utah Governor’s Office, Silicon Slopes, Life Elevated, the University of Utah, BioUtah, World Trade Center Utah and Utah Inland Port Authority.

“These types of relationships are invaluable. It brings so much to both parties,” said Councilmember Shawn Newell. 

Without the partnerships from the University of Utah’s sister campus is Songdo, these conversations and potential relationship would not have developed. Director of External Relations and Alumni Affairs James Park has been working at the University of Utah Songdo campus for the last 10 years. 

Park has been selling Cottonwood Heights to the mayor of Songdo “like it’s the greatest place on earth…which it is,” Holton said. 

Holton did reassure his fellow councilmembers that there has not been any future commitments tied to this relationship. There is no commitment of any future monies. If the sister city relationship does not bring value to Cottonwood Heights, they won’t continue the relationship. 

Incheon has a population of 400,000 residents living within 19.6 square miles. Delta is slated to have a nonstop flight into Incheon International Airport by next year. 

Stanford, George Mason and State University of New York all have campuses in Incheon. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)

Since the city was essentially started from scratch, Cottonwood Heights is excited to learn more about city planning from their sister as well. Holton shared how they have a huge emphasis on sustainability and their entire trash collection is processed underground. 

“There is unanimous support from their council. They are ready,” Holton said. Incheon’s council meets in October where an official vote will take place.