Korean Trapped in Heavy Snow Rescued by American Couple: "Honored to Fulfill Our Dream of Visiting Korea"

On the 13th, Alexander Campagna and his wife, who rescued nine Korean tourists trapped in a blizzard in Buffalo, New York during last year's Christmas holiday, visited Korea.

The Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 14th that Alexander Campagna and his wife, who rescued nine Korean tourists trapped in a snowstorm in Buffalo, New York, last December 23, have started a ten-day trip to Korea from the 13th upon invitation by the Korea Tourism Organization. The photo shows Kim Jang-sil, President of the Korea Tourism Organization (left), and the Campagna couple posing for a commemorative photo at the welcoming event.
Photo by Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Yonhap News

The Campagna couple burst into tears upon meeting the Korean tourists they had rescued in good health. The couple, who saved nine Korean tourists trapped in heavy snow by the winter storm that hit the northeastern United States on December 23 last year, stayed with them at their home for two nights and three days.

At the time, the nine Korean tourists, stranded while heading to Niagara, wandered around to borrow a shovel to free their van buried in snow and found a house where they knocked on the door. The Campagna couple offered shelter to these strangers for two nights and three days, and since they usually enjoyed Korean cuisine, they cooked and enjoyed Korean dishes such as Jeyuk Bokkeum together, spending Christmas with them. Their story was widely reported locally through The New York Times, CNN, and others.

Reuniting with them again in Korea, the Campagna couple comforted those who were like nephews or younger siblings to them.

Kim Jang-sil, President of the Korea Tourism Organization, personally welcomed the Campagna couple and expressed gratitude, to which the couple responded by thanking them for the invitation to Korea. In February this year, the KTO New York office personally visited the couple to deliver an invitation to visit Korea, which led to this trip.

After their story became known through the media, the Campagna couple received the 'Buffalo Blizzard Hero' medal from Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State.

The Korea Tourism Organization also plans to offer a special time to the Campagna couple who saved Korean citizens from danger. From the 14th, the couple will experience K-culture such as Korean cooking classes and beauty treatments for ten days in Korea. Accompanying the couple on their trip is a New York Times reporter who first reported on the rescue of the Korean tourists last year.

On December 23 last year, Alexander Campagna and his wife, who rescued nine Korean tourists trapped in a snowstorm in Buffalo, New York, USA, started a ten-day trip to Korea from the 13th upon invitation from the Korea Tourism Organization, the organization announced on the 14th. The photo shows the Campagna couple.
[Photo by Korea Tourism Organization] [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Kim said, "We express our gratitude to the Campagna couple who reached out to Koreans in a moment of crisis," and added, "We are pleased to hold such a meaningful invitation event this year, marking 70 years of the Korea-US alliance."

The kindness of the American couple who extended a helping hand to Korean tourists in crisis, and the heartwarming story of repaying their gratitude with a trip to Korea, will be produced as a Korean tourism promotional video titled 'Korea never forgets.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.