Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a bill to officially designate an area in Northwest Dallas as Koreatown.
The bill was signed into law on Tuesday after the Texas House and Senate passed bills HCR 39 and SCR 31. The official state recognition is valid for the next 10 years.
One of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Rafael Anchía (D, TX-103), noted that “Dallas has one of the largest Korean communities in America.”
The city is home to an estimated 100,000 immigrants. The Koreatown neighborhood along Royal Lane from Harry Hines Boulevard to Luna Road boasts an abundance of businesses owned by Korean Americans.
“Their hard work has made Koreatown an important economic engine for our city. This designation officially recognizes that work by the State of Texas and builds upon the positive momentum of this neighborhood,” Anchía said, according to Audacy.
In January, city officials unveiled Korean-language street signs to recognize the decades-long contributions of the Korean American community to the city.
“I hope this will lead to many more opportunities to build closer working partnerships between the Korean American community and other communities for growth, collaboration and mutual respect with greater appreciation for diversity in Dallas,” Sung-Joo Yoo, president of the Korean Society of Dallas, told the Dallas Morning News.
