The Korea Society: Recent Episodes
The Korea Society
THE KOREA SOCIETY is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea.
June 17, 2026 - Join us for a conversation with Dr. Jonathan Brewer, Visiting Professor at King's College, London, on the differences, similarities, and trajectories of international sanctions on North Korea and Iran. In conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado, Dr. Brewer discusses evolving UN Security Council sanctions, their utility within larger diplomatic frameworks, their implementation and circumvention, and North Korea and Iran's proliferation and financing strategies for their sanctioned programs. Dr. Brewer was Acting Coordinator of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea and financial expert of the UN Panel on Iran. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our individual and corporate members.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2160-critical-comparison-sanctions-on-north-korea-vs-iran
June 10, 2026 - Join us for a virtual program exploring new thinking on Korea's aging, shrinking society with Dr. Youngtae Cho, Director of the Population Policy Research Center and professor of demography at the School of Public Health at Seoul National University (SNU). Although South Korea's total fertility rate rebounded slightly to reach 0.8 babies per woman, it remains the lowest in the world and well below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to maintain the population level. Consequently, Korea's population structure is experiencing a whipsaw demographic shift; by 2050, the working age population is projected to halve, with over 40 percent of the population over 65 years old. This transition will usher in profound social and economic challenges that will require ingenuity and accommodation to address. Professor Cho is one of South Korea's most prominent demographers. His research interests include Korea's low fertility, its fundamental causes and policy reactions, Vietnam's new population policy, business demography, and population profiling. He is best known for his "Population as a Determined Future" thesis, which argues that while demographic shifts are predictable and inevitable, society can mitigate their impact through strategic adaptation. The discussion is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our individual and corporate members.
For the video version of this program including slides, please visit the link below: https://www.youtube.com/live/rQuiuDtkV-c
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2148-aging-society
May 14, 2026 - Join us for a discussion with Dr. Russell Burge, author of "The Promised Republic: Developmental Society and the Making of Modern Seoul." In conversation with policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre, Burge delves into the hidden histories of South Korea's rapid urban transformation during South Korea's developmental period under Park Chung Hee. Drawing from a rich archive of memoirs, interviews, photographs, and more, Burge challenges the traditional "miracle on the Han River" narrative by centering the rural migrants who built and inhabited Seoul's shantytowns. He provides a critical lens through which to view the high price of progress and the enduring struggle for a truly inclusive republic. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2150-promised-republic
May 7, 2026 - Join us for a discussion with Sarah Laderman, Senior Analyst for Open Nuclear Network, a PAX sapiens programme, on the rollout of a recent series of reports examining North Korea's nuclear program. In conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado, Laderman discusses a myriad of findings on North Korea's nuclear fuel cycle and weaponisation capabilities, including the research project's development of innovative methodologies to assess an otherwise opaque program. The discussion reviews the high-level findings and unpacks implications for verification, monitoring, and diplomacy. More information on the project findings can be found here. This Global Affairs Canada funded research project was led by VERTIC, in partnership with CNS and RUSI, assisted by Open Nuclear Network. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and The Korea Society's individual and corporate members.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2153-north-korea-nuclear
May 7, 2026 - Join us for a discussion with Dr. Jieun Baek, author of "Privileged but Powerless: How North Korean Elite Grievances Reveal the Regime's Greatest Weakness." In conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado, Baek reveals a world of forbidden information, simmering resentment, and survival-driven masks, based on hundreds of hours of interviews with high-level escapees. Baek argues that this performative loyalty, born of fear and a desire to survive, obscures a critical vulnerability within the regime's core. In other words: the officials who seem most invested in preserving North Korea's status quo may become its most dangerous disruptors, not for ideological reasons but because of simmering resentment and vanishing alternatives. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation.
The book is available for purchase here
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2146-privileged-powerless
April 23, 2026 - Join us for a discussion with Mark Christopher, author of the new book: America's Taiwan Dilemma: Allies' Reactions and the Stakes for US Reputation. In conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado, Cristopher unpacks the findings from his rigorous open-source analysis of how America's key allies—South Korea, Japan, and Australia—would respond to US intervention or inaction in a Taiwan conflict. If Beijing attempts to forcibly annex Taiwan, Washington's decisions will have far-reaching consequences for its credibility in East Asia and beyond. Yet, the long-term implications of these choices on America's alliances and global standing remain largely unexamined—until now. Based on over 100 interviews with leading experts from South Korea, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, and the United States, this book provides unparalleled insight into how America's allies view the stakes in a Taiwan contingency. It captures, in their own words, their perspectives—sometimes contradictory but consistently pragmatic—as they grapple with their reliance on the United States as a distant security guarantor and their unease with an increasingly assertive China nearby. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2142-taiwan-dilemma
April 21, 2026 - Across Languages: New Voices in Korean Poetry brings together acclaimed South Korean poets Lee Jenny, Yoo Heekyung, Oh Eun, and Shin Hae-uk with award-winning literary translators Archana Madhavan and Stine An, for a Korean–English bilingual reading and conversation to share the dynamism and innovations of language in Korean poetry culture. Through poetry and discussion, the speakers examine the cultural centrality of poetry in Korea and consider translation as a critical, creative practice that reshapes how literature circulates, sounds, and is felt across languages. This program is presented in partnership with Ugly Duckling Presse and Zephyr Press.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/literature/2145-ac-korean-poetry
April 13, 2026 - Join us for a book talk with Jonathan Cheng, author of the new history book Korean Messiah, which explores "the rise of the Kim dynasty and its surprising ties to American Christianity." In the book, Cheng, who is The Wall Street Journal's current China bureau chief and former Korea bureau chief, documents the profusion and lasting impact of Christianity in North Korea's current capital of Pyongyang, which was once described as the "Jerusalem of the East." Based on letters, diaries, and archival materials, his book reveals how the Kim regime's personality cult "traces its roots back to the Christian fervor of post–Civil War America." Barbara Demick, author of Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, joins the conversation as a discussant. She described the book as "provocative and fascinating… Jonathan Cheng shows how this country, more hostile to religion than any in the world, was built on a bedrock of Christianity by its founder Kim Il Sung, who discarded the evangelical faith of his family and harnessed its power to create a cult of personality that has endured into the third generation." The discussion is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado, and jointly produced by the Policy and the Arts and Culture teams. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our individual and corporate members.
This program is co-hosted by The Center for Korean Research at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2112-korean-messiah
Recorded April 2, 2026 - As part of our commitment to building the next generation of founders, The Korea Society is bringing Startup Scene to Yale Ventures – connecting one of the world's most dynamic consumer technology investors with Yale's entrepreneurial community. We are honored to welcome Eric Kim, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Goodwater Capital and Yale University alumnus, for a fireside conversation on building global consumer technology companies across borders. Eric Kim will reflect on his journey to founding Goodwater Capital, a leading global venture firm with a portfolio of transformative consumer technology companies including Kakao, Coupang, Spotify, ByteDance, and Stitch Fix. Please join us as Eric shares insights on the rise of the global startup ecosystem, cross-border investment strategy, and how investors identify and scale the next generation of consumer platforms. This conversation will be moderated by Josh Geballe, Senior Associate Provost for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Yale University and Managing Director of Yale Ventures.
This program is supported by Hanwha Life
Co-Hosted with Yale Ventures
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/2135-eric-kim
April 8, 2026 - Join us for a virtual tour of archival resources about Korea and U.S.-Korea relations available for virtual and U.S.-based researchers. This discussion highlights a diverse array of both longstanding and emerging collections, providing a wide survey of available historical resources. How can educators, researchers, historians, writers, and students best take advantage of this treasure trove of materials? What stories await and what impact can they have? What are some tips and tricks from librarians, center directors, and archivists? Participating resource centers include: the new Van Fleet Digital Archive, The University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for East Asian Studies U.S.-Korean Relations Collection, The Library of Congress Korean Collection, and The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. This program is jointly produced by the Policy and the Education teams. Featuring: Dr. David Fields, Associate Director of the Center for East Asian Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Joe McChristian, Jr. President of The Van Fleet Foundation, Dr. Sam Rushay, Supervisory Archivist at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, and Dr. Elli Kim, Korea Reference Librarian Asian Division at The Library of Congress. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our individual and corporate members.
For the video version of this program, please visit the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeMJ8XWKvYg
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2129-resources-us-korea
March 31, 2026 - The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Rabbi Angela Buchdahl in a conversation with Kyung Yoon.
With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values. This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/2119-rabbi-angela-buchdahl-with-kyung-yoon
February 12, 2026 - K-pop fandom's practices and activities are a primary productive force, instrumental in shaping the genre's immense global appeal, as well as its cultural influence, politics, and future potential. Over the last thirty years, the K-pop fandom has grown, intensified, and diversified, while its activities have taken on new social, technological, and economic manifestations, some of which are exclusive to K-pop and others that align with the broader cultural and industrial dynamics of global mass entertainment. In this lecture, Areum Jeong will explore the phenomenon of performing deokhu—a Korean term connoting an "avid fan"—and the cultural significance and meaning of K-pop fan practices with a nuanced examination of contemporary audience power.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/2105-k-pop-fandom-performing-deokhu-with-areum-jeong
February 3, 2026 - Join us for a program examining prospects for relations with North Korea, including US-Republic of Korea (ROK) alliance coordination, inter-Korean relations, the impact of North Korea's close relations with China and Russia, security concerns, and diplomatic opportunities. It is expected that North Korea's Workers' Party of Korea will hold its Ninth Party Congress in January or February. This important gathering occurs approximately once every five years and is likely to result in the announcement of important policy positions that could possibly create space for the US and South Korea to pursue diplomatic engagement. How should the ROK and the US proceed and what are the prospects for decreasing threats from North Korea's extensive nuclear program? To unpack these developments, we assemble an expert panel with decades of experience working on and dealing directly with North Korea, including: Keith Luse, Executive Director of the National Committee on North Korea, Ankit Panda, Stanton Senior Fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of The New Nuclear Age: At the Precipice of Armageddon, Rachel Minyoung Lee, Senior Fellow for the Stimson Center's Korea Program and 38 North, and Susan A. Thornton, Director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP). The discussion is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is produced in collaboration with the NCAFP and is co-hosted by The APEC Study Center at Columbia University.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2110-prospects-for-relations-with-north-korea
January 28, 2026 - Learning the Korean language opens the doors into a completely new depth of understanding Korean culture, and perhaps a career you never imagined having. Join acclaimed media figures Tyler Rasch and Nidhi Agrawal—familiar faces from major Korean broadcast networks including JTBC, KBS, and MBC—for a reflection on their personal journeys living in Korea and learning Korean, and how those experiences led to their new venture. In this engaging conversation, Tyler and Nidhi will delve into how language can function as both a cultural bridge and a creative medium, and how Hangeul can travel beyond Korea through design, storytelling, and shared cultural moments in everyday settings.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/2111-from-learning-to-creating
January 28, 2026 - Join us for a virtual program examining the geopolitical impact of South Korea's development of nuclear submarines.
When Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Jae Myung hosted US President Donald Trump for a State Visit in Gyeongju, South Korea in October of last year, the allies committed to developing the maritime and nuclear relationship. A Fact Sheet published after the summit meeting describes that: "The United States has given approval for the ROK to build nuclear-powered attack submarines… [and] will work closely with the ROK to advance requirements for this shipbuilding project, including avenues to source fuel."
Rather than focusing on the engineering processes and logistical challenges of shipbuilding cooperation, which you can learn about here, this discussion explores the strategic and geopolitical consequences of South Korea's emergent nuclear submarine program. Against a backdrop of North Korea's quickly evolving nuclear arsenal as well as revived interest in diplomatic engagement, this program investigates how nuclear submarines impact South Korea's defensive capabilities and strategic posture, its contribution to and coordination with the US-ROK alliance, its regional role, and the balance of power and relations with North Korea.
The discussion features Dr. Sang Hyun Lee, Fellow Emeritus of the Sejong Institute, and Dr. James R. Holmes, J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College, and Minkyung Jung, Staff Reporter for The Korea Herald, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our individual and corporate members.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2104-south-koreas-nuclear-submarine-strategy
January 23, 2026 - The Korea Society is calling for entries for "Startup Scene: 2026 Emerging Design Competition." The competition is a part of Startup Scene: Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (hereinafter Startup Scene), a program initiative dedicated to empower the startup entrepreneurial community that encompasses the US and South Korean economic landscape. This is proudly supported by Hanwha Life exclusively. The "Startup Scene: Emerging Design Competition" is designed to encourage innovative thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit among Korean-American and Korean students enrolled in colleges, universities, and graduate schools across the United States. This year, the participants are challenged to pitch an innovative startup concept that leverages emerging technologies to address pressing challenges and issues. Application Period: Monday, December 15, 2025 to Monday, March 30, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/emergingdesign
January 22, 2026 - As we step into the new year, wellness and innovation take center stage. Korea's rapidly advancing medical and biotechnology industries are reshaping how people pursue healthier, longer, and more connected lives—spanning AI-enabled diagnostics, precision medicine, global clinical collaboration, and wellness tourism. Join us for a timely discussion with William Ban (Himedi), Taesoo Sean Kim (IceMiller), and Ken Nesmith (Lunit) spotlighting Korea's health-tech startups, scale-ups, and leading institutions at the forefront of medical innovation. The conversation will explore where Korean startups are creating value across the healthcare continuum, how they are partnering with U.S. healthcare systems, investors, and regulators, and what these cross-border collaborations mean for the future of patient care, precision medicine, and wellness-driven industries.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/2106-new-year-new-you-powered-by-k-health
December 18, 2025 - Join us for a discussion with Ambassador Peter Semneby, the Swedish Government's Special Envoy for the Korean Peninsula. In conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado, Ambassador Semneby will provide a brief overview history of Sweden's role in Korea, examine Sweden's convening capacity as exhibited in 2018-2019, investigate whether Sweden's interests and perspective have been affected by North Korea's involvement in the Russo-Ukraine War and Sweden's ascension to NATO, and explore ideas for how to break the current impasse.
This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2094-swedens-role-in-korean-peninsula-diplomacy-with-ambassador-peter-semneby
December 11, 2025 - Join us for a conversation on the obstacles and pathways for enhanced US-Korea shipbuilding cooperation with Jeffrey Voth, President of Herren Associates, Inc., an engineering and technology firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. He is author of a recent article, "The US-ROK test case: Can visas and rules unlock American shipbuilding?"
US President Donald J. Trump has met twice with Republic of Korea President Lee Jae Myung, first in Washington in August and next in Gyeongju on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in October. The two leaders agreed to The Korea Strategic Trade and Investment deal, which includes a commitment by Korea to invest $150 billion in the US shipbuilding sector. According to the joint fact sheet released after the two summits, Korea has committed to help the US modernize and expand its shipbuilding industry via investments in American shipyards and workforce. And the US has approved Korea's development of nuclear-powered attack submarines, and will "work closely" with Korea to advance requirements for this shipbuilding project, including avenues to source fuel. To help facilitate this collaboration, the US and Korea also agreed to create a shipbuilding working group on maintenance, repair, and overhaul, workforce development, shipyard modernization, and supply chain resilience.
Drawing on decades of shipbuilding and combat system integration experience, including direct work on Korea's Sejong the Great class of destroyers, which are among the largest and most heavily armed Aegis Combat System-equipped surface combatants outside the US Navy, Jeffrey Voth will discuss construction challenges and allied collaboration opportunities in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2087-us-korea-shipbuilding-cooperation-with-jeffrey-voth
December 10, 2025 - In the next program of our Young Professionals' Network series, The Korea Society is hosting a panel discussion to explore what it takes to navigate leadership roles in multinational companies, make major career transitions, and think strategically on a global scale.
Panel Speakers
- Melissa Choi: Director, Global Marketing at Elizabeth Arden Skincare, Revlon
- Youngjin Yoon: Director at Morgan Stanley
Moderated by Stephanie Hwang, Development Program Officer at The Korea Society, the discussion will also highlight how national and organizational culture shape leadership styles, decision-making, and career growth in international companies. Speakers will share practical strategies and lessons that young professionals can apply as they pursue global careers.
Join us in-person at The Korea Society on Wednesday, December 10th at 5:30 PM for this conversation, followed by opportunities for discussion and networking with the speakers.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/2093-gaining-global-perspective-insights-on-workplace-culture
December 4, 2025 - Join us for a discussion with Dr. Ji-Young Lee for an examination of the circumstances and methods of Chinese military intervention in the Korean Peninsula. Dr. Lee is Associate Professor of International Relations at American University's School of International Service, and author of China's Hegemony: Four Hundred Years of East Asian Domination (2016) and an upcoming work under contract titled: The Great Power Next Door, a historically informed analysis of when and how China has chosen to militarily intervene in the Korean Peninsula. Dr. Lee's 2020 article, "The Geopolitics of South Korea–China Relations," speaks to the contemporary dimension of the evolving relationship. The moderator of the program is policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2088-korea-china-relations-a-history-of-intervention
December 2, 2025 - The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art presents Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared, the first U.S. exhibition of significant works from the renowned Lee Kun-Hee Collection. On view through February 1, 2026, Korean Treasures features over 200 works, including a dozen National Treasures designated by the Korean government. The largest and most comprehensive presentation of Korean art ever mounted at the National Museum of Asian Art, the exhibition spans 1,500 years—from ancient Buddhist sculptures and ceramics to paintings, furnishings and modern masterpieces of the 20th century.
Donated to the Republic of Korea in 2021 by the family of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee, the collection reflects more than 70 years of generational collecting and comprises more than 23,000 works, a testament to a decades-long commitment to preserving and sharing Korea's artistic legacy and cultural heritage. Korean Treasures presents a remarkable selection from the collection to American audiences for the first time, alongside additional loans from the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, Korea, shown exclusively in Washington, D.C.
In a conversation with The Korea Society, three curators from the National Museum of Asian Art–Carol Huh, J. Keith Wilson, and Sunwoo Hwang–explore the depth and diversity of Korean art and reflect on the practice of collecting in Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/gallery-talks/2081-korean-treasures-collected-cherished-shared-the-curatorial-roundtable
Recorded November 14, 2025 - The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society's flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history.
This year's conference was held in The Atlantic Council's office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society's individual and corporate members.
Diplomacy Panel - Adaptation or Transformation?
Moderator: Ambassador (Ret.) Kathleen Stephens, Korea Society Board Chair Ambassador (Ret.) Kim Hyoung-zhin, Former Republic of Korea Ambassador to the European Union and Deputy National Security Advisor Ambassador (Ret.) Philip Goldberg, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2060-us-korea-cooperation-across-domains-and-through-history
Recorded November 14, 2025 - The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society's flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history.
This year's conference was held in The Atlantic Council's office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society's individual and corporate members.
Geoeconomics Panel- The Nexus of Trade, Investment, and National Security
Moderator: Tom Byrne, Korea Society President & CEO Yoo Myung-hee, Former Republic of Korea Trade Minister Dr. Nadia Schadlow, Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute and Former US Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy Kimberly Donovan, Director of the Economic Statecraft Initiative within the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2060-us-korea-cooperation-across-domains-and-through-history
Recorded November 14, 2025 - The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society's flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history.
This year's conference was held in The Atlantic Council's office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society's individual and corporate members.
Security Panel - Deterring and Defending in a Regional Conflict
Moderator: General (Ret.) Walter Sharp, Korea Society Board Vice Chair Dr. Shin Beomchul, Senior Research Fellow at the Sejong Institute and former Republic of Korea Vice Minister of National Defense Markus Garlauskas, Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security General (Ret.) Paul LaCamera, former Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Combined Forces Command, and United Nations Command David Maxwell, Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and former U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2060-us-korea-cooperation-across-domains-and-through-history
Recorded November 14, 2025 - The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society's flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history.
This year's conference was held in The Atlantic Council's office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society's individual and corporate members.
History Panel - The Forging of an Alliance
Moderator: Jonathan Corrado, Korea Society Policy Director Dr. Kathryn Weathersby, Adjunct Professor of Asian Studies in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University Dr. David Fields, Associate Director of the Center for East Asian Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2060-us-korea-cooperation-across-domains-and-through-history
Recorded November 14, 2025 @ Atlantic Council HQ Washington D.C. - We are happy to share this special keynote address from our 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum featuring U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts.
The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society's flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history.
This year's conference was held in The Atlantic Council's office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society's individual and corporate members.
Introduction: Tom Byrne, Korea Society President & CEO Keynote: U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts - Video Remarks
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2060-us-korea-cooperation-across-domains-and-through-history
Recorded November 14, 2025 @ Atlantic Council HQ Washington D.C. - We are happy to share this special keynote address from our 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum featuring U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society's flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history.
This year's conference was held in The Atlantic Council's office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society's individual and corporate members.
Introduction: Matthew Kroenig, Vice President and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Keynote: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2060-us-korea-cooperation-across-domains-and-through-history
November 17, 2025 - Modern architecture in Korea is characterized by open and dynamic attitudes formed through a unique set of historical circumstances. Through colonial rule, war, and poverty, it was cut off from its older building traditions, emerging only in the latter half of the twentieth century as part of a condensed process of modernization. It is enigmatic in that its build first, think later (if at all) condition has rebuffed holistic narratives of its disjunctive evolution. Long dominated by the construction sector and state bureaucracies, it is now an amalgam of large corporate firms, creative studios, and diverse communities in the culture industry. It is now in crisis for its uncertain response to the challenges of climate change and Korea's turn to structural low-growth. Neither affirming nor negating traditions and theories, Korean architecture is most interesting when it raises questions and belies unfulfilled ambitions.
This lecture, presented by 2025 Korea Foundation LAB Series, features Pai Hyungmin, a distinguished architect and scholar.
Video version of this program can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlz7cw7mVis
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/gallery-talks/2062-modern-architecture-in-korea-travels-through-terra-incognita
Recorded November 10, 2025 - The Korea Society is pleased to announce that the ninth annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Awardee is Dr. Peter Jongho Na, assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. In his lecture, Reframing Suicide as a Shared Social Responsibility in Korea, he casts suicide not as an individual failure or "extreme choice (극단적 선택)," but as a systemic and cultural crisis requiring a coordinated national response. Drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist, public health researcher, and mental health advocate, he examines the scale and societal costs of suicide in Korea and analyzes key structural drivers such as academic and workplace pressures, poverty and isolation among older adults, and the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness and treatment.
A central theme is how stigma has sustained silence, denial, and policy inertia. Dr. Peter Jongho Na shares his efforts to challenge euphemistic language and foster open public dialogue, while proposing an interdisciplinary roadmap inspired by global models that integrate public health, education, and social welfare reforms. Further, he highlights the Korean diaspora's potential role in breaking taboos and advancing cultural and policy change, underscoring that suicide prevention must be embraced as a collective, societal responsibility.
Note: This presentation includes discussion of suicide and mental health topics that may be distressing to some individuals.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/korean-studies/2069-sherman-family-korea-emerging-scholar-lecture-2025
Released November 4, 2025 - Please join us for a timely conversation with Dr. Rhee, Chang Yong, Governor of the Bank of Korea, as he discusses key issues shaping global and domestic economic policy. Governor Rhee sat down with Thomas Byrne, President & CEO of The Korea Society, during his visit to D.C. to attend IMF/WBG Annual Meetings and the G20 Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors Meeting. In this interview, Governor Rhee shares his views on a wide-range of topics - ranging from global and Korea's economic outlook, local and global governance of the stablecoins, and to the fiscal challenges and investment negotiations between the US and Korea. This program was recorded at the Korea Inter-Parliamentary Exchange Center (KIPEC) in Washington D.C. on October 16, 2025.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2076-interview-with-bank-of-korea-governor-rhee-chang-yong
November 3, 2025 - Join us for a rapid reaction analysis of The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) 2025 summit, held in Gyeongju, South Korea from October 31 to November 1. Our discussion examines all the most significant outcomes in terms of trade and geopolitics, with special emphasis on the US, Korea, and the US-Korea relationship. The priorities for this year's forum are: "Connect, Innovate, Prosper." In a preparatory meeting, senior officials from APEC members discussed "strategies for digital economy integration, public health cooperation, and strengthening APEC's role as an incubator of practical, consensus-driven solutions." As host nation, Korea's initiatives include: "addressing demographic change and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology." We are joined by Kate Kalutkiewicz, Senior Managing Director of the Trade Practice & McLarty Inbound at McLarty Associates, Professor Jaemin Lee, Professor of Law at Seoul National University and Dean of the School of Law, and Scott Jacobs, Head of Global Public Policy at Coupang. The conversation will be moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado and policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. APEC originated as a ministerial meeting of 12 Asian Pacific countries in 1989. The idea for the forum was proposed by Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke during a trip to Seoul in January 1989. A leaders' summit was introduced in 1993 and a series of expansions increased the number of members to 21. South Korea previously hosted the ministerial meeting in Seoul 1991 and the leaders' meeting in Busan 2005. APEC's mission is to "support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region." This program is co-hosted by The APEC Study Center at Columbia University.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2052-rapid-reaction-apec-south-korea-2025
October 8, 2025 - The United States and Korea are entering a pivotal phase of maritime cooperation. Since the start of the Trump 2.0 administration, South Korean shipbuilders have been courted as key partners in reviving the U.S. shipbuilding industry, with Seoul pledging $150 billion under the "Make America Shipbuilding Great Again" initiative to modernize naval capacity, expand commercial shipyards, and strengthen allied supply chains. Join us for a timely conversation with Colin Grabow (Cato Institute) as we explore how to steer this new bilateral framework toward mutual maritime and economic prosperity. At the heart of the discussion is the Jones Act, the 1920 law mandating domestically built and owned vessels for U.S. coastal trade. Together, we will consider whether reforms to the Act—or innovative partnership models—can unlock the full potential of U.S.–Korea maritime collaboration. This conversation will be moderated by Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/2057-revisiting-the-jones-act-from-protectionism-to-partnership
October 23, 2025 - Join us for a scene setter that explores the stakes and the storylines for The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) 2025 summit, held in Gyeongju, South Korea from October 31 to November 1, 2025. This discussion, held one week prior to the summit, unpacks the most significant agenda items including trade, investment, and geopolitics, with special emphasis on the US, Korea, and the US-Korea relationship. The discussion features senior experts with firsthand experience, including: Ambassador (Ret.) Philip Goldberg, former US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea 2022-2025, and Kate Kalutkiewicz, Senior Managing Director of the Trade Practice at McLarty Associates and former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Trade at the National Economic Council. The moderator is Tom Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society, adjunct professor at Columbia University's SIPA, and former Senior Vice President for Moody's Investor Services. The priorities for this year's forum are: "Connect, Innovate, Prosper." In a preparatory meeting, senior officials from APEC members discussed "strategies for digital economy integration, public health cooperation, and strengthening APEC's role as an incubator of practical, consensus-driven solutions." As host nation, Korea's initiatives include: "addressing demographic change and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology." APEC originated as a ministerial meeting of 12 Asian Pacific countries in 1989. The idea for the forum was proposed by Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke during a trip to Seoul in January 1989. A leaders' summit was introduced in 1993 and a series of expansions increased the number of members to 21. South Korea previously hosted the ministerial meeting in Seoul 1991 and the leaders' meeting in Busan 2005. APEC's mission is to "support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region." This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate Members, Columbia University's Weatherhead East Asian Institute, and the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2051-what-to-expect-the-2025-apec-summit-in-south-korea
October 22, 2025 - The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Misook Doolittle, a fashion pioneer and philanthropist, in a conversation with Ambassador Kathleen Stephens.
With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values.
This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/2049-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-misook-doolittle
October 17, 2025 - With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values.
This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society.
The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Nicholas Harkness on the importance of global and regional studies in higher learning in relation to Korean Studies in the United States.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/2050-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-nicholas-harkness
October 16, 2025 - Join us for a discussion with Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) Advocacy Fellows to hear firsthand about the realities of life in North Korea, the decision and process of leaving, the adjustment to a new life in South Korea, and the discovery of new meaning and motivation. This discussion features two advocacy fellows: Rose Jang, a graduate from Hongik University Department of Architecture, and Hannah Oh, a fourth year student at Hongik University studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering, as well as Hannah Song, CEO of LiNK, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2055-meet-advocacy-fellows-from-liberty-in-north-korea
October 8, 2025 - Join us for our second conversation with Seoul National University sociology Professor Chang Kyung-Sup who will discuss various challenges posed by South Korea’s “compressed modernity.” He writes that the same strategies and conditions that enabled explosive development and modernization in South Korea and other Asian societies also produced “existentially hazardous consequences in virtually all areas of public and private life, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to sustained advances in the future.” And he argues that South Korea's dynamism flows from the methods that it utilizes to overcome such challenges. This program is a collaboration with the Society’s Policy Department and the Education Department. Professor Chang is joined in conversation with education senior advisor Linda Tobash, policy director Jonathan Corrado, and policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. Paperback copies of Professor Chang’s newest book, The Risk of Compressed Modernity, are available for purchase online at a 20% discount using the code 20KSC. You can view our first discussion with Professor Chang in 2023 here. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. Promotional support for this program is provided by The Institute of Social Sciences at Seoul National University (SNU ISS).
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2037-koreas-compressed-modernity-and-its-risks
September 23, 2025 - Chef, restaurateur, writer, and connoisseur of Korean fried chicken, Judy Joo has gained widespread acclaim for her vibrant approach to Korean cuisine. Now, she presents her latest collection of fresh, exciting recipes in K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less. K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less focuses on recipes that blend creative flair with accessibility, ensuring every mealtime is a success. Showcasing a variety of quick-to-prepare dishes alongside a selection of traditional recipes, K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less offers a solution for the adventurous foodie who’s strapped for time, ensuring that there’s truly a dish for every mood. Each recipe features clear, time-specific instructions, and Judy Joo will guide you through the process as you create delicious Korean treats in under 30 minutes. With K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less, it’s never been this easy to bring the essence of Korean cuisine into your home.
In her conversation with Juju Chang, an Emmy® Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline,” Judy Joo will discuss her career and the latest book.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/cuisine/2033-k-quick-with-judy-joo
September 18, 2025 - Drinking is an essential part of Korean culture, one that’s guided by a complex web of unspoken rules, deep tradition, and lots and lots of food. With Soju Party, food writer, chef, and co-owner of Brooklyn’s Orion Bar Irene Yoo has written the book on drinking like a Korean. She introduces the classic Korean alcohols and how Koreans typically like to drink them and serves up unique cocktail recipes featuring Korean-inspired riffs and nostalgic twists. Of course, you can’t drink without eating, and there are plenty of recipes for tasty anju (drinking foods). In addition to recipes, Yoo explores the history of Korean drinking, with illustrations explaining proper serving and drinking etiquette, drinking games, food pairings, and more. A book that promises late nights (don’t worry, there’s a section on hangovers!), this is a party on the page. In her conversation with Christina Chaey, Irene Yoo discusses her career and the first book.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/cuisine/2036-soju-party-with-irene-yoo
September 18, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the unseen resilience of North Korean female defectors. Kim Seonghui and Na Min-Hee provide powerful personal testimony, describing their life and experiences in North Korea, their escape, and their new life in South Korea. Human rights advocate and expert Kwon EunKyoung joins the discussion, which is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2040-the-unseen-resilience-of-north-korean-female-defectors
September 4, 2025 - A deadpan, wildly imaginative collection of stories that slices clean through the mundanity and absurdity of modern life, An Oral History of Atlantis is the newest collection of short stories from Ed Park, the author of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize–winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Same Bed Different Dreams. In this utterly original collection, characters question the fleetingness of youth and art, reckon with the consequences of the everyday, and find solace in the absurd, the beautiful, and the sublime. Throughout, Ed Park deploys his trademark wit to create a world both strikingly recognizable and delightfully other. All together, these fifteen stories have much to say about the meaning—and transitory nature—of our lives. And they are proof positive that Ed Park is one of the most insightful and imaginative writers working today. In this conversation with Mira Jacob, presented in collaboration with Yu & Me Books, Ed Park discusses his latest book.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/literature/2023-ed-park-an-oral-history-of-atlantis-with-mira-jacob
September 3, 2025 - This edition of Startup Scene will explore one of venture capital’s most elusive forces: momentum. As the landscape rapidly shifts—from the rise and retreat of web3 and blockchain to today’s explosive AI wave—both founders and investors face a critical question: how do you tell the difference between short-lived hype and the kind of transformative momentum that drives lasting impact?
Join us for an exclusive presentation featuring three distinguished investors – Bryan Kim (Andreessen Horowitz), Mike Kim (Third Prime), and Karen Moon (Node Innovation Ventures) – as they each share their distinct investment philosophies and portfolio strategies. Together, their talk will offer a wide range of views into today’s ever-evolving startup landscape: from AI emerging technologies, to cross-border investments, and to innovations in consumer platforms.
The conversation will be moderated by Danny Crichton (Lux Capital).
This program is supported by Hanwha Life
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/2042-riding-the-momentum-how-vcs-navigate-hype-and-sustainable-growth
August 27, 2025 - The Korea Society and the Korean American Community Foundation’s (KACF) Associate Board are pleased to present Rooted in Giving: Leading Korean Voices in Philanthropy, a panel discussion featuring three Korean leaders working at the forefront of non-profit and philanthropy: Jeannie Park, Sue Kim, and Abraham Kim. Together, they will share their experiences and insights on what it means to lead with purpose, build strong communities, and drive meaningful change through service, advocacy, and giving. This panel will be moderated by Emil Kang, the Agnes Gund Visiting Professor of the Practice of Arts at Brown University and Former Program Director for Arts and Cultural Heritage at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The KACF Associate Board (AB) is a group of community-minded young professionals based in the New York Metro area who serve as ambassadors of KACF’s mission, helping to build awareness of issues of economic security and shape the next generation of Korean American philanthropy. KACF funds community-based non-profit organizations working to improve lives and transform communities in the Korean and Asian American communities in the greater New York area. KACF transforms and empowers communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and inter-community bridge building.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/2032-rooted-in-giving-leading-korean-voices-in-philanthropy
August 26, 2025 - Join us for a timely discussion on the highly anticipated first meeting between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Taking place after the agreement of a new trade framework on July 30, this meeting may address such diverse topics as: Korean investments into the US, Alliance cost sharing and modernization efforts, trilateral US-Korea-Japan collaboration, and coordination on North Korea. Expert panelists unpack summit expectations, outcomes, and implications. This discussion features Dr. Katrin Katz, The Korea Society's inaugural Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow, and Josh Smith, Korea Bureau Chief for Reuters News Agency, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado and program officer Chelsie Alexandre. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2048-rapid-reaction-the-first-trump-lee-summit
August 13, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the rising scale and sophistication of North Korea’s cyber operations with Mitch Haszard, senior threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, and Scott Kardas, geopolitical threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future. How does North Korea’s cyber activities fit into the Kim regime’s larger goals? How can the U.S., South Korea, and the broader international community respond to this threat? This program will follow the evolution and growing magnitude of the regime’s cyber operations and its attacks. The conversation will be moderated by policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre.
https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/north-koreas-cyber-strategy https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/north-koreans-continue-to-use-foreign-technology https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/inside-the-scam-north-koreas-it-worker-threat The Korea Society thanks our corporate sponsors and individual members and the Korea Foundation for their generous support, which has made this program possible. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2015-north-koreas-evolving-cyber-strategy
July 25, 2025 - Join us for a conversation on the enduring legacy and impact of The Korean War and the U.S.-Korea Alliance. The Korean War Armistice Agreement, which remains in effect today, was signed 72 years ago on July 27, 1953.
The program opens with prerecorded remarks from Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne filmed at the base of the Korean War Memorial in Kissena Corridor Park in Flushing, Queens titled: Remembering ‘The Forgotten War.’
Introductory remarks are provided by Consul Choong-geon Lee from the Republic of Korea New York Consulate, Korean War Veteran Mr. Jack Foley, and Brigadier General (Ret.) Chris Stockel, NYC Metro Area chapter president of the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA). This program is produced in collaboration with KDVA. Following the introductions, author Dr. Michael Devine discusses his book, The Korean War Remembered: Contested Memories of an Unended Conflict (for sale here at 40% discount with the code 6AS23), which explores how conflicting “theaters of memory” in the United States, South Korea, North Korea, and China “have evolved over decades and how they continue to shape the domestic and foreign policies of the countries still involved in this unresolved struggle...” The moderator is policy program director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is also a collaboration with The Korea Society education department and is attended by participants from The Korea-America Student Conference (KASC18), consisting of 24 student members from undergraduate and graduate universities in both the United States and South Korea.
This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2021-remembering-the-korean-war
June 26, 2025 - The Korea Society and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) are pleased to present "Navigating Korea’s Investment Landscape,” featuring Dr. Tae Hyung Kim, Commissioner of Invest KOREA- the national investment promotion arm of KOTRA.
Join Dr. Kim as he highlights Korea’s vibrant investment climate, covering emerging opportunities in key industries, government incentives, and market trends that shape Korea as a compelling destination for international business.
Our conversation will be moderated by Thomas J. Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society and Honorary Ambassador for Foreign Investment Promotion for Korea. Whether you are an investor or a corporate representative exploring opportunities in Asia, this presentation will offer a unique opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge from one of Korea’s top investment officials.
Invest KOREA is the national investment promotion agency established under the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in accordance with the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. Acting on behalf of the Korean government, it promotes Korea’s investment environment globally, implements policies related to foreign direct investment (FDI), and supports the successful settlement of foreign-invested companies in Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/2006-navigating-korea-s-investment-landscape
June 11, 2025 - What are the motivations and geopolitical significance of the ongoing partnership between the governments of North Korea and Iran? Join us for a program with Professor and Author Bruce E. Bechtol Jr., who discusses his new book co-authored with Professor Anthony N. Celso. During the program, Bechtol explains the ideological, financial, and environmental forces contributing to the partnership, the roles of Russia and China, the two regimes’ military capabilities, proliferation activities to terrorist organizations, and the partnership’s role in destabilizing the rules-based order. The book is available for purchase online here. A limited number of hardcover editions will be available for cash sale at a discounted rate of $20 at the event. This program is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/1992-rogue-allies-the-strategic-partnership-between-iran-and-north-korea
June 4, 2025 - Join us for a rapid reaction analysis of South Korea’s 2025 Presidential election. This snap election was triggered by the impeachment of South Korea’s 13th democratically elected president, Yoon Suk-yeol, after he declared martial law last December. This conversation unpacks the issues, the candidates, the voters, and the results, seeking to understand the domestic political undercurrents and consequences of a 60 day race occurring at a pivotal moment for Korea and U.S.-Korea relations. It features Dr. Aram Hur, the Kim Koo Chair in Korean Studies and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Fletcher School, Tufts University, and Timothy W. Martin, the Korea bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal in Seoul, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado and policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. The Korea Society thanks our corporate sponsors and individual members and the Korea Foundation for their generous support, which has made this program possible.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2007-unpacking-south-korea-s-snap-presidential-election
June 3, 2025 - Join Andy St. Louis for an in-depth exploration of South Korea's burgeoning art scene and the most intriguing artists who are at the forefront of a generational shift in Korean art. Working in the fields of painting, sculpture, installation, video and photography, these artists collectively foreground the facets of contemporary Korean culture that have enabled the country’s cultural exports to resonate so strongly worldwide. In his lecture, St. Louis will showcase the diversity of contemporary Korean art practices while situating them amid the global contemporary art conversation.
Full video with slides located at the link below: https://youtube.com/live/SZy8DDLXsAM
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/gallery-talks/2003-future-present-contemporary-korean-art-with-andy-st-louis
May 28, 2025 - Young adult literature is rapidly becoming one of the most popular genres in publishing today. Also increasingly visible are YA novels featuring Asian American and Pacific Islander characters at the forefront, providing insight into the expectations and identity issues many members of the AAPI community experience and offering a unique perspective on these universal themes. Catherine Hong will moderate a discussion between YA authors Claire Ahn and Kat Cho about their latest books, the growing popularity of YA novels with Korean and Korean-American characters, and the shifting views surrounding Asian-American YA novels among both readers and the publishing industry.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/literature/1998-writing-ya-novels-with-claire-ahn-and-kat-cho
May 16, 2025 - Join us for a discussion with Dr. Joan E. Cho, Associate Professor of East Asian Studies at Wesleyan University on her 2024 book Seeds of Mobilization: The Authoritarian Roots of South Korea's Democracy, which explores the nonlinear nature of South Korea’s democratization. Using oral interviews, original protest datasets, and publications by student and labor activists, Cho illustrates how modernization structures such as industrial complexes and tertiary education initially bolstered authoritarian regimes before facilitating protests by various social movement groups, which ultimately succeeded in ushering in the country’s democratization. During the discussion, Cho also describes how this historical legacy continues to impact Korean politics, including the generational divide and the recent Martial Law and impeachment episodes. This program is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
This program is co-hosted by The Center for Korean Research at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1993-seeds-of-mobilization-the-authoritarian-roots-of-south-korea-s-democracy
May 15, 2025 - There are many Korean American voices within food media nowadays, and many more women on editorial mastheads. But, what is it like to navigate this system of reporting and contributing to food culture as a Korean-American woman? What are the challenges, and what difference do they make in the industry? Chef and writer Caroline Choe sits down with three women with longstanding careers in the food editorial and media landscape–Christina Chaey, Myo Quinn, and Caroline Shin–to discuss the importance of diverse voices in food media, sharing their own experiences in their work, and what they hope will be the best way forward to allow for more voices and stories to be heard.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1990-women-in-food-media
April 30, 2025 - Join us for a conversation with Ankit Panda, Stanton Senior Fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on his newly published book: The New Nuclear Age: At the Precipice of Armageddon. The book describes how “nuclear weapons are returning to the fore of international statecraft in ways unseen since the Cold War… The prospect of nuclear escalation is again shaping how political decision-makers and military establishments around the world think and act.” The book includes a passage on North Korea’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, the subject of Panda’s first book, and the debate over South Korea acquiring an indigenous deterrent. This program is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is produced in collaboration with Temple University Japan and made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1969-the-new-nuclear-age-at-the-precipice-of-armageddon-with-ankit-panda
April 30, 2025 - Join us for a discussion co-hosted by The Korea Society and Temple University Japan with Ambassador Raymond Burghardt, who served for many years as one of the leading Asian specialists in the U.S. Foreign Service. He was formerly Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) from 2006 to 2016. Previously, he was Ambassador to Vietnam (2001-2004), AIT Director in Taipei (1999-2001), Consul General in Shanghai (1997-1999), Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassies in Manila (1993-1996) and Seoul (1990-1993) and Political Counselor in Beijing (1987-1989). Ambassador Burghardt joins in conversation with Temple University Japan Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies Co-Director Robert Dujarric, senior vice president at Park Strategies Sean King, and Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1995-a-roundtable-with-ambassador-ret-raymond-burghardt-u-s-relations-with-taiwan-and-america-s-asian-allies-under-trump-2-0
April 23, 2025 - With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values.
This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence - morality, ethics, personal responsibility, compassion and civility - through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society.
The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Ilyon Woo in a conversation with Ed Park.
Ilyon Woo is the New York Times best-selling author of Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom, which won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Biography.
Time Magazine called Master Slave Husband Wife an “edge-of-your-seat drama”; The Wall Street Journal pronounced it: “A narrative of such courage and resourcefulness it seems too dashing to be true.... a ‘genuine nail-biter.’” It was one of the New York Times’s “10 Best Books of 2023” and People Magazine’s “Top Ten Books of 2023,” also named a best book of the year by The New Yorker, Time, NPR, Smithsonian Magazine, Boston, Chicago Public Library, and Oprah Daily. A finalist for a Kirkus Prize, the book was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal, nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards, and supported by a Whiting Creative Nonfiction Writing Grant.
Woo is also the author of The Great Divorce: A Nineteenth-Century Mother’s Extraordinary Fight Against Her Husband, the Shakers, and Her Times. Her writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, and The New York Times. Woo has traveled the country to speak at bookstores, museums, schools, and book festivals, and she has been featured on such programs as NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and CBS Sunday Morning. She holds a BA in the Humanities from Yale College and a PhD in English from Columbia University.
Ed Park is the author of the novels Same Bed Different Dreams (2023), a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and Personal Days (2008), a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award. His fiction, essays, and reviews have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, Harper’s, The Atlantic, Bookforum, McSweeney’s, and many other publications. He is a founding editor of The Believer and the former literary editor of The Village Voice, and has worked in newspapers and book publishing. He currently teaches writing at Princeton University.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1980-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-a-conversation-with-ilyon-woo
April 16, 2025 - Join us for a conversation on acting and activism with actress and North Korean human rights activist Minnie Mills and Korea Society policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. Exploring the origin and development of her professional acting career, Minnie discusses roles on “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “Obliterated,” and future projects. She then describes her passion for supporting North Korean refugees through volunteering for the nongovernmental organization Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). How does she balance work with school and volunteering? What has she learned from North Korean refugees? An introduction is provided by Dr. Victor Cha, Distinguished University Professor, Georgetown University, and President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department, CSIS. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1987-acting-and-activism-with-minnie-mills
April 10, 2025 - Sarah Ahn’s viral food videos featuring her mother Nam Soon Ahn have captivated millions of viewers with their behind-the-scenes look at Korean cooking and multigenerational home life. Their latest collaboration is a must-have cookbook Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes, which captures the flavors, traditions, and stories of Korean cooking. The recipes are framed by mother-daughter conversations that are funny, profound, and universally relatable—plus all the food is backed by the recipe-testing power of America’s Test Kitchen. In a conversation with Eric Kim of the New York Times, Sarah and Nam Soon Ahn discuss their debut cookbook.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1965-umma-a-korean-mom-s-kitchen-wisdom-and-100-family-recipes
April 8, 2025 - Join us for a discussion about the legacy, implications, and a modern application of the theories from Gregory Henderson’s 1968 seminal text Korea: The Politics of the Vortex, with Edward J. Baker, advisor to the Harvard University Korea Institute, and Dr. Ingu Hwang, Associate Professor of the Practice at Boston College. The discussion will also address Hwang’s 2022 book, Human Rights and Transnational Democracy in South Korea, which examines the role of South Korean pro-democracy actors in (re)shaping the global history of human rights activism and politics in the 1970s. The moderator for this program is Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne.
This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1977-korea-s-politics-of-the-vortex-2025
April 4, 2025 - Join us for this rapid reaction program held soon after the ruling of South Korea’s Constitutional Court on the impeachment trial of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. If the impeachment motion is upheld, the country will have 60 days to hold a presidential election. How will the outcome of the case affect Korea’s democracy and society, U.S.-Korea relations, inter-Korean relations, and Korea’s regional relations with countries such as Japan, China, and Russia? Join us for a discussion with Ambassador (Ret.) Philip Goldberg, former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, and Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Tokyo bureau chief for The Washington Post, covering Japan and the Koreas. Korea Society President and CEO Thomas Byrne will provide introductory remarks. The discussion is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado and policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre.
This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1991-the-verdict-on-korea-s-presidential-impeachment-case
April 3, 2025 - This spring, from director Andrew Ahn comes The Wedding Banquet, a joyful comedy of errors about a chosen family navigating the disasters and delights of family expectations, queerness, and cultural identity. With a pitch-perfect cast of multigenerational talent that includes Bowen Yang, Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-Chan, Joan Chen, and Academy Award winner Youn Yuh-Jung, this fresh reimagining of Ang Lee’s beloved, award-winning rom-com teems with humor and heart in a poignant reminder that being part of a family means learning to both accept and forgive. Join us for a conversation with Andrew Ahn about his latest film and his career.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1989-andrew-ahn-a-director-s-talk
April 1, 2025 - Korea’s thriving tech industry—driven by global brands and cutting-edge innovation—continues to attract substantial foreign investment, even as the regulatory landscape evolves. Korea's recent proposed online platform regulations have drawn significant attention for its impacts on major tech companies and the broader competitive landscape in the country's technologically advanced market. To tackle these developments and their implications for US-Korea’s tech investment relations, this program will convene a panel with experts across both U.S. and Korean tech industries that will share their valuable firsthand insights and perspectives on critical matters such as key factors and challenges of investing within Korea’s regulatory framework, as well as policy measures and incentives that could further strengthen Korea’s strengths as a premier destination for U.S. investment.
Speakers: Scott Jacobs, Head of Public Policy, Global Government Affairs, Coupang Ji Hyun Lee, Economic Research Lead, AWS Lilla Nora Kiss, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst, Antitrust & Innovation Policy, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)
Moderator: Tami Overby, Senior Counselor, Albright Stonebridge Group
Co-hosted with KOTRA
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1986-unlocking-korea-s-tech-potential-strengthening-u-s-investment-and-innovation
March 26, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the current status and future pathways for U.S.-Korea-Japan trilateral relations, with Dr. Joshua Walker, President and CEO of Japan Society, and Emma Chanlett-Avery, Deputy Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute's Washington DC office and the Director for Political-Security Affairs. The moderator for this program is Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1978-charting-future-pathways-for-u-s-korea-japan-trilateral-relations
March 17, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the latest developments in Korea, including domestic politics north and south of the 38th parallel, inter-Korean relations, US-North Korea developments, Russia’s role, and more, featuring team members from NK News, including Chad O'Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of Korea Risk Group, Jeongmin Kim, Lead Correspondent at NK News and Editorial Director at Korea Pro, Colin Zwirko, Senior Analytic Correspondent for NK News, and Shreyas Reddy, Lead Correspondent at NK News. This program is moderated by The Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1966-korean-peninsula-update-with-the-nk-news-team
March 6, 2025 - As the food and hospitality industry continues to evolve and grow, the Asian faces in it have also become more visible. Despite the progress, there are still long-standing obstacles that women face both in and out of kitchen and business culture. Meet Korean-American women running their own successful food and hospitality business and contributing their perspective and approaches to proactively change the industry. In this conversation, chef and writer Caroline Choe speaks with 4 brand and establishment owners and proprietors based in the NYC / NJ area on their experiences: Hannah Bae of Noona's Ice Cream, Julia Choi-Rodriguez of Vesta Chocolate, Alice Jun of Hana Makgeolli, Jee Kim of 8282. Also joining will be hospitality lawyer Vivian Chen, who represents many businesses and brands throughout New York City.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1968-women-in-food-business
March 5, 2025 - When it comes to building a successful SaaS (Software as a Service) business, many assume that exceptional coding skills are the key to success. However, our next Startup Scene offers a different perspective- one that highlights the power of storytelling and strong investment relationships. Please join us for an insightful session with John Sung Kim, a serial SaaS founder of Five9 (NASDAQ: FIVN), DoctorBase, and Jetbridge. He will share his expertise on launching SaaS startups, emphasizing how compelling storytelling can drive investor engagement, team-building and business growth. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn firsthand from John's entrepreneurial journey and discover the strategies that turn great ideas into thriving companies.
This program is supported by Hanwha Life
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1971-scaling-saas-the-art-of-storytelling-investor-strategy
February 19, 2025 - Join us for a program on deterrence and readiness with Major General Jason R. Armagost, who is the Commander of Eighth Air Force and the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. "The Mighty Eighth" is responsible for the service’s bomber force and airborne nuclear command and control assets, encompassing approximately 24,000 Airmen across six installations, and proudly operating more than 150 E-4, B-1, B-2, B-52 and T-38 aircraft.
Major General Armagost will discuss deterrence and readiness amid escalating threats including challenges posed by North Korea, China, and Iran as well as how the U.S.’s bomber force operates across the globe.
This program is moderated by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) president and CEO Susan Elliott and produced in collaboration with the NCAFP.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1961-nuclear-deterrence-and-readiness-amid-escalating-threats-with-usaf-major-general-jason-r-armagost
February 13, 2025 - Join us for a discussion about fallout from the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s Martial Law declaration, his subsequent impeachment and the presidential transition in Seoul, challenges to South Korea’s democracy, and implications for the U.S.-Korea relationship and Korea’s foreign relations, with Kelly Kasulis Cho, Washington Post Breaking News Reporter, Andrew Yeo, senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair at the Brookings Institution's Center for Asia Policy Studies, and Daniel Sneider, lecturer in East Asian Studies at Stanford. This program is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado and program officer Chelsie Alexandre.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1953-challenges-for-korea-s-democracy
February 4, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the newly launched book: Korea-US-China Trilateral Relations in the Xi Jinping Era. The authors, CHUNG Duck Koo, Korea’s former Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Energy, and YUN Byung-se, Korea’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, examine Korea-US-China trilateral relations through a strategic triangular lens. The book moves beyond conventional discussions of bilateral ties to provide an in-depth analysis of the complexity, conflict, and economic interdependence characterizing the relationships among these three nations. In the discussion, Minister Chung and Minister Yun also address the new US administration and shifts in Korean politics, offering timely insights to shed light on unfolding events. The moderator for the program is Korea Society president and CEO Thomas Byrne. The book is available for purchase here.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1955-korea-us-china-trilateral-relations-looking-back-and-looking-forward
January 28, 2025 - Join us for an exclusive conversation with Hyungseok Dino Ha (hereinafter Dino), Co-Founder and CEO of MBX (formerly Memebox), a visionary multi-brand beauty and personal care company leading the convergence of technology, culture, and K-beauty. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei, MBX has established itself as a global leader in the beauty industry, backed by $200 million in venture capital funding. By seamlessly blending data-driven technology with cultural insight, MBX is redefining how K-beauty influences the global beauty landscape. In this program, Dino will reveal the key moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey — from his early career at TMON and Tom Ford to his transformative experience in top accelerator programs like Y Combinator and SparkLabs. Learn how he harnessed the global rise of K-beauty and used technology to create a next-generation beauty powerhouse. This conversation offers essential lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs, beauty industry enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the dynamic intersection of tech, culture, and K-beauty in building groundbreaking business opportunities.
This program is moderated by ShoYoung Shin (Sho), Director of Platform at Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA).
This program is supported by Hanwha Life
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1944-tech-culture-and-k-beauty-dino-s-playbook-for-building-mbx
January 24, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the Trump Administration’s economic security policy towards Asia with Navin Girishankar, president of the Economic Security and Technology Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and former Counselor to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Yeo Han-koo, former trade minister of the Republic of Korea and senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The moderator for the program is Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne. The discussion will cover US-China economic competition and its impact on Northeast Asian countries like Korea and Japan, plus: tariffs, international trade, and the impact on critical next generation technologies including semiconductors, EVs, and batteries.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1949-what-to-expect-the-trump-administration-economic-security-policy-on-asia
January 24, 2025 - Embark on a captivating musical journey weaving three compelling stories from Hawai‘i’s Korean diaspora with performances by remarkable musicians, including the Grammy Award-winning violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, the world renowned violinists Chee-Yun and Ignace Jang, and Keola Beamer. Songs of Love from Hawai‘i weaves together three stories from the long history of Korean diaspora in Hawai‘i, blending historical narratives with soul-stirring musical performances. From the fascinating tapestry of Korean immigrant history in Hawai‘i to a poignant life of Lim Ok Soon, a young Korean woman who came to Hawai‘i in 1912 as a picture bride, to a heartfelt musical tribute to the souls who found their resting place in Molokai's Kalaupapa, the film weaves a powerful elegy amidst the islands' natural beauty. After premiering at the 43rd Hawaii International Film Festival and airing on PBS Hawai‘i, the film had a successful nationwide theatrical run in Korea in 2024. On Korean American Day, join us for a conversation with filmmaker Jinyoung Lee.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1943-songs-of-love-from-hawai-i-screening-and-a-director-s-talk
December 11, 2024 - Join us for a program that explores recent political events in South Korea, including a brief history of martial law in Korea, the events leading up to the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s decision to invoke Martial Law, the National Assembly’s counter-action, and the long term consequences of the episode. How will this affect Korea’s domestic politics, the U.S.-ROK Alliance relationship, and inter-Korean relations? The expert panel includes Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Tokyo bureau chief for The Washington Post, covering Japan and the Koreas, and Aram Hur, the Kim Koo Chair in Korean Studies and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Fletcher School, Tufts University, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado and policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre.
The Korea Society thanks our corporate sponsors and individual members for their generous support, which has made this program possible.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1942-martial-law-implications-for-south-korea-and-the-u-s-korea-relationship
December 5, 2024 - Join us for an inspiring and heartwarming story timed for the holiday season about the largest wartime humanitarian evacuation in history. During The Korean War, naval and merchant ships from America and its allies rescued almost 100,000 North Korean refugees. Among these ships was a humble freighter, the SS Meredith Victory. Although it was built to accommodate only a few passengers and crew, a staggering 14,000 refugees were crammed on board, filling five cargo holds and the entire main deck. The ship carried them all to safety despite lacking food, mine detection equipment, doctors, interpreters, sanitation facilities, and heat or lights in the cargo holds. The 75th Anniversary of this incredible event in 2025 will be marked by a major long-term exhibition at the American Merchant Marine Museum (AMMM), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, alongside exhibitions in Korea. Speakers include Burley Smith, who was just 21 when he took part in the rescue as Junior Third Mate fresh out of Kings Point. Today, aged 95, he is the last surviving crew member. Joining Burley is Dr. Joshua Smith, Director of the American Merchant Marine Museum, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1896-the-hungnam-rescue
December 4, 2024 - With a vibrant population of over 10 million, Seoul ranks as a top global destination on many travel lists. We invite you to an immersive book that offers a unique exploration of Seoul through the lens of a smart city. Join authors, Kristi Shalla and Sungjin Park, as they discuss their book Seoul: Tale of a Smart City with Anne-Sophie Mahle and explore Seoul’s transformation from a bustling, chaotic metropolis to a global model for sustainable urban development. From the revitalization of the Cheonggye Stream to the renewal and beautification of Seoul’s urban landscape, these ingenious initiatives shaped Seoul into a model smart city of advancement and innovation. Many areas in east and central Asia and Latin America have taken inspiration from Seoul’s smart city projects, widening the potential implications for international cities like NYC. Don’t miss the chance to learn how Seoul’s leading practices set the standard for smart city innovations worldwide!
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1880-seoul-tale-of-a-smart-city
November 22, 2024 - The Van Fleet Signature Policy Conference is The Korea Society’s landmark policy event. Held in the District Ballroom of The Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., the conference provides insights on the fast evolving threats and opportunities impacting the dynamic U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) relationship, including a panel on security, a panel on diplomacy, and a keynote address. The keynote speaker is Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah P. Royal.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1882-u-s-rok-indispensable-partnership-amid-increasing-geopolitical-competition
November 22, 2024 - The Van Fleet Signature Policy Conference is The Korea Society’s landmark policy event. Held in the District Ballroom of The Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., the conference provides insights on the fast evolving threats and opportunities impacting the dynamic U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) relationship, including a panel on security, a panel on diplomacy, and a keynote address. The diplomacy panel, “A Broadening U.S.-ROK Relationship in a Changing Regional and Global Landscape,” is moderated by Amb (Ret.) Kathleen Stephens and features former ROK Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, Dr. Victor Cha, and Dr. Katrin Katz. Policy director Jonathan Corrado and Policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre are emcees.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1882-u-s-rok-indispensable-partnership-amid-increasing-geopolitical-competition
November 22, 2024 - The Van Fleet Signature Policy Conference is The Korea Society’s landmark policy event. Held in the District Ballroom of The Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., the conference provides insights on the fast evolving threats and opportunities impacting the dynamic U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) relationship, including a panel on security, a panel on diplomacy, and a keynote address. Korea Society president and CEO Thomas Byrne provides an introduction and a congratulatory message is provided by H.E. Cho Hyundong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the U.S. The security panel, “U.S.-ROK Alliance Evolving to Meet Future Challenges,” is moderated by Gen (Ret.) Walter Sharp and features former ROK Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup, Admiral (Ret.) Harry Harris, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Affairs Alexandra Bell.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1882-u-s-rok-indispensable-partnership-amid-increasing-geopolitical-competition
November 19, 2024 - The Korea Society is pleased to announce that the eighth annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Awardee is Dr. David Krolikoski, assistant professor at the University of Hawai’i. In his lecture Dr. Krolikoski examines The Silence of Love (Nim ŭi ch’immuk, 1926), the acclaimed collection of eighty-eight poems by Han Yong-un (1879-1944), a Buddhist monk and public intellectual. Although the book is commonly celebrated as a metaphor for colonial subjugation, Dr. Krolikoski complicates this established reading to argue that its artistic significance lies in Han’s paradigm-shifting use of colonial poetry as a medium of communal expression during a time of national crisis. The lecture explores how Han uses fiction and symbols to collapse the boundary between private and public address, transmuting the individual voice of his poetic speaker into a platform for a community. Dr. Krolikoski also contextualizes The Silence of Love within the history of the translation of foreign poetic forms into Korea during the 1920s, with a focus on how Han incorporated elements from the lyric and prose poem into his verse. Dr. Emily Jungmin Yoon, author of Find Me as the Creature I Am (Alfred A. Knopf, 2024) and assistant professor of Korean literature at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, will serve as moderator.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1859-sherman-family-korea-emerging-scholar-lecture-2024
November 18, 2024 - Inside a one-room apartment on the outskirts of Seoul, Oliver lives a happily quiet life, listening to jazz records and caring for his favorite plant. But what else is there to do when you’re a Helperbot 3, a robot that has long been retired and considered obsolete? When his fellow Helperbot neighbor Claire asks to borrow his charger, what starts as an awkward encounter leads to a unique friendship, a surprising adventure, and maybe even…love? Winner of the Richard Rodgers Award, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, starring Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen, is the offbeat and captivating story of two outcasts near the end of their warranty who discover that even robots can be swept off their feet. Helmed by the visionary director and Tony Award winner Michael Arden (Parade, Once on This Island), with dazzling scenic design by Dane Laffrey (A Christmas Carol) and book, music, and lyrics by the internationally acclaimed duo Will Aronson and Hue Park, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING is a fresh, original musical about the small things that make any life worth living. Join us for a conversation with the cast members Helen J. Shen and Marcus Choi of this enchanting new Broadway musical.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1881-maybe-happy-ending-a-new-broadway-musical
November 12, 2024 - Join us for a conversation with Stephen Biegun, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea. This discussion will examine past diplomatic efforts to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea, lessons learned, and future prospects. What are Mr. Biegun’s takeaways from his summitry engagement with North Korea? Is it still possible today to pursue mutually acceptable waypoints within the confines of a grand bargain or should more modest goals be pursued? How do geopolitical shifts and hardening regional rivalries undermine the U.S. and North Korean interest in improving bilateral relations? How does the public discourse create reductive dichotomies between deterrence vs. diplomacy and human rights vs. humanitarian efforts? The moderator for this program is Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
The Korea Society thanks the Kim Koo Foundation, our corporate sponsors, and individual members for their generous support, which has made this program possible.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1873-expert-take-stephen-biegun
November 8, 2024 - Is South Korea on the verge of a nuclear breakout? Join us for a discussion about South Korea’s nuclear option with Victor Cha, the president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the distinguished university professor at Georgetown University. Much of the speculation in Washington and Seoul about South Korea’s nuclear ambitions has been informed by a handful of recent public opinion polls. This has created an echo chamber effect in Washington and Seoul where some experts have accepted South Korean nuclear ambitions as a reality. Using evidence derived from multi-question polling of South Korean strategic elites available to read here, Dr. Cha finds that concerns about a nuclear South Korea are exaggerated: 66 percent of South Korean strategic elites oppose nuclearization and confidence in the United States as a security provider remains strong. However, if the U.S. withdraws ground troops from South Korea or otherwise triggers abandonment fears, half of the strategic elites who presently oppose nuclearization would change their minds. This program is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is co-sponsored by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University and the Columbia SIPA Korea Focus student club.
The Korea Society thanks the Korea Foundation, our corporate sponsors, and individual members for their generous support, which has made this program possible.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1875-breaking-bad-south-koreas-nuclear-option
November 7, 2024 - Join us for an expert discussion on the impact of intensifying competition on the U.S.-Korea relationship. How can the allies evolve together to face shared threats as geopolitical rivalries intensify in Northeast Asia? What is the role of trilateral U.S.-Korea-Japan collaboration? How should North Korea’s increasing provocations and alignment with Russia and China be addressed? Featuring insights from Daniel Russel, Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI). It is moderated by policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre.
The Korea Society thanks the Kim Koo Foundation, our corporate sponsors, and individual members for their generous support, which has made this program possible.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1877-expert-take-u-s-korea-relations-amid-geopolitical-competition-with-daniel-russel
October 29, 2024 - This program explores the historical and contemporary relationship between North Korea and Russia. How did the Kim Regime’s relationship with the Soviet Union evolve during The Korean War, early Cold War period, and the Sino-Soviet split? How did triangular diplomacy with the People’s Republic of China play a shaping role in the relationship? How should we characterize relations from the end of the Cold War period, including South Korea’s Nordpolitik, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the emergence of the Russian Federation? Finally, how should we view recent developments, including weapons transfers, military cooperation, and policy coordination, in the context of the historical relationship? This discussion features historian Dr. Kathryn Weathersby and is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1872-expert-take-the-moscow-pyongyang-connection-then-and-now-with-dr-kathryn-weathersby
October 10, 2024 - Banchan, the shared side dishes that accompany a Korean meal, are often the real stars of the table, and it's time we celebrate them. From the kitchen of chef Caroline Choe, Banchan: 60 Korean American Recipes for Delicious, Shareable Sides offers 60 mouthwatering recipes for classic and modern banchan dishes. From namul (fresh vegetables) to buchimgae (pancakes), these tasty sides are proof that big flavor can be found in small bites. In this conversation with Marja Vongerichten, Choe discusses her first cookbook that shares her experiences, the global emergence and evolution of Korean American cuisine, and the importance of women's contributions to this movement.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1857-banchan-with-caroline-choe
October 4, 2024 - Join us for a special conference on U.S.-Korea relations produced in partnership with the East Asia Foundation (EAF) and the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP). This forum provides a venue for expert discussion on the security, diplomatic and economic dimensions of the U.S.-Republic of Korea relationship, and includes a bipartisan coalition from Korea’s National Assembly.
The program commences with welcoming remarks from former South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne, and NCAFP president and CEO Ambassador (Ret.) Susan M. Elliott.
The security and diplomacy panel features critical insights from the National Assembly Member Kim Young-bae, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the PPP Ambassador Kim Gunn, Vice Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Dean of Sogang University’s Graduate School of International Studies Kim Jae-chun, and Director of the Korea Program at The Stimson Center Jenny Town. This session is moderated by Director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at NCAFP Susan Thornton, who retired from the State Department after a 28-year diplomatic career focused primarily on East and Central Asia.
The economics and trade panel features National Assembly Member Choi Hyung-du, Vice Chair of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, former ROK Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, and Albright Stonebridge Group Senior Counselor in the East Asia & Pacific practice Tami Overby. This session will be led by Korea Society President and CEO Tom Byrne.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1866-next-steps-for-us-korea-relations-key-diplomatic-and-economic-developments
October 2, 2024 - Join us for an engaging discussion with Peter Kahng, an expert on the intersection of global art markets and contemporary Korean art. As a lecturer at Stanford University specializing in "Global Art Markets in Asia," Peter Kahng will provide a unique perspective on the thriving contemporary art scene in Korea. Explore how Korean art movements, including the influential Dansaekhwa, have garnered international acclaim and how contemporary Korean artists are making significant waves on the global stage.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1860-the-rise-of-korean-contemporary-art-with-peter-kahng
October 1, 2024 - With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values. This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence - morality, ethics, personal responsibility, compassion and civility - through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society. The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Minister Kyung-wha Kang, President and CEO of Asia Society, in a conversation with Ambassador (ret) Kathleen Stephens.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1858-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-a-conversation-with-minister-kyung-wha-kang
October 1, 2024 - How can the U.S.-Korea Alliance rise to the challenge of an increasingly complex and fraught geopolitical environment? As competing strategic triangles solidify in Northeast Asia, what new challenges and opportunities will arise for the U.S.-Korea relationship and peace and security in the region? This conversation seeks to see through the cycle to identify underlying trends, plot trajectories, and propose policy recommendations. Join us for a conversation with three thought leaders on the security and diplomacy of Northeast Asia: Seth Bailey, Director for the Office of Korean and Mongolian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Markus Garlauskas, Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, and Rachel Minyoung Lee, Senior Fellow for the Stimson Center’s Korea Program and 38 North. The discussion is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is produced in cooperation with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1863-force-multiplier-the-u-s-korea-alliance-amid-strategic-competition
September 10, 2024 - South Korea’s film industry is producing movies and original series eagerly anticipated by the global audience, and it is now arguably considered one of the few countries outside the United States to have captivated the world’s hearts and minds through pop music, TV dramas, and film. Similarly, the exponential growth in the South Korean film industry has been mirrored by increasing interest from the press and academia all over the world.
The South Korean Film Industry is the first detailed scholarly overview of the South Korean film industry, discussing topics from short films to popular television series that have engaged global audiences and exploring the major changes in South Korean film making and marketing, as well as the international popularity of South Korean films.
Join us for a conversation about the South Korean film industry with three contributors to this new volume: Sangjoon Lee, Dal Yong Jin, and Jason Bechervaise.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1851-the-south-korean-film-industry-with-sangjoon-lee-dal-yong-jin-and-jason-bechervaise
September 5, 2024 - Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution is a compelling exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art about the history and transformative legacy of Korean fashion, presenting garments ranging from excavated 17th-century aristocratic garments to contemporary Korean couture by leading and emerging designers, including André Kim (1935–2010); Lie Sang Bong (b. 1954); Lee Chung Chung (b. 1978), for LIE; Lee Jean Youn (b. 1978); and Shin Kyu Yong (b. 1988) and Park Ji Sun (b. 1988), for Blindness. Through juxtaposing historical and contemporary ensembles, Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution recounts the definition of “couture” from an inclusive perspective, amplifying how tradition has empowered contemporary Korean fashion designers to invent a new artistic language. Join us for a conversation with Darnell-Jamal Lisby, who co-curated the exhibition with Sooa Im McCormick.
For the video version with slides, please visit the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ5dgb1gSXE
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1853-korean-couture-generations-of-revolution-a-curator-s-perspective
July 27, 2024 - Join us at The Korea Society to honor Veterans who served in The Korean War. This ceremony marks the 71st Anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. This program will provide perspectives on the experience of a front-line soldier as told by a Korean War veteran, South Korea's wartime economy and financial situation, South Korean President Syngman Rhee's role in the Armistice and Alliance, and the state of the US-ROK Alliance today. The ceremony will feature remarks from president and CEO of The Korea Society Thomas J. Byrne, Republic of Korea New York Consul General Euy Whan Kim, President of the New York Department of the Korean War Veterans Association Salvatore Scarlato, Instructor of Economics in the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY Major Rachel Kim, and Associate Director, Center for East Asian Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison Dr. David Fields. This program is presented in collaboration between The Korea Society and The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1848-armistice-day-salute-2024
July 24, 2024 - A beautifully crafted, enriching saga inspired by East Asian mythology, The Melancholy of Untold History is Minsoo Kang’s debut novel, steeped in history and lyrically exciting, interweaving four complex yet entertaining stories as they shape and create a nation’s literary narrative through the themes of love and grief. Famous for his dispelling of the national myth, a history professor understands the power of narrative. He has inspired another young professor to search for her own truths, while trying to understand the way fiction creates fact and how sometimes the past can only be understood by filling in holes with a new narrative. Which is exactly what he needs when his wife passes away to parse meaning out of a world that no longer makes sense. Together the protégé and the Historian find comfort in each other. Yet they know their time together is fleeting, as time usually is. Only the gods have an abundance of time, and yet—the two discover—even that might not be so clear cut. Part of their homeland’s myth tells of four gods who squabbled and argued and destroyed and rebuilt time and again. Or did they? Spanning 3,000 years and multiple voices—with tales within tales woven expertly together—The Melancholy of Untold History reveals people who seek to confront the hardships of life through storytelling. Mixing the East Asian mythos with a postmodern approach to standard sci-fi/fantasy narrative tropes, Minsoo Kang has created a challenging, beautiful, sad, humorous, and ultimately unforgettable novel of love, grief, and myth-making. Minsoo Kang discusses his debut novel with Ed Lin.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1845-minsoo-kang-the-melancholy-of-untold-history-with-ed-lin
July 18, 2024 - A daughter of Korean immigrants, Hyeseung Song spends her earliest years in the cane fields of Texas where her loyalties are divided between a restless father in search of Big Money, and a beautiful yet domineering mother whose resentments about her own life compromises her relationship with her daughter. With her parents at constant odds, Song learns more words in Korean for hatred than for love. When the family’s fake Gucci business lands them in bankruptcy, Song moves to a new elementary school. On her first day, a girl asks the teacher: “Can she speak English?” Neither rich nor white, Song does what is necessary to be visible: she internalizes the model minority myth as well as her beloved mother’s dreams to see her on a secure path. Song meets these expectations by attending the best Ivy League universities in the country. But when she wavers, in search of an artistic life on her own terms, her mother warns, “Happiness is what unexceptional people tell themselves when they don’t have the talent and drive to go after real success.” Years of self-erasure take a toll and Song experiences recurring episodes of depression and mania. So begins her sweeping journey to heal herself by losing everything. In her extraordinary debut memoir Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl, Song expertly weaves together the beauty and complexity of her experience. It is an immigrant story, but also a mother-daughter story, a mental health story, and ultimately a redemption story. Poetic and unflinching, Docile is a lesson in the power of love and legacy to shape us and finding the bravery to be our authentic selves in spite of the expectations we carry. In a conversation with Emma Eun-joo Choi, Song discusses her memoir. Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl will be available for purchase.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1844-hyeseung-song-docile-with-emma-eun-joo-choi
June 28, 2024 - Join us for a bipartisan pair of Former Members of Congress to hear a forecast unpacking how America’s 2024 presidential and congressional elections will impact U.S. domestic politics, U.S. foreign policy, and America’s dynamic relationship with South Korea.
The conversation features former Representative Bart Gordon, Former Senator Tim Hutchinson, and Chicago Council on Global Affairs senior fellow Dina Smeltz, with opening remarks by the Republic of Korea Consul General Euy Whan Kim, Former Members of Congress (FMC) Chief Operating Officer Sabine Schleidt, and Korea Society President and CEO Thomas Byrne. The conversation will be moderated by American University professor Leonard Steinhorn.
This program is presented in collaboration between The Korea Society and FMC’s Congressional Study Group on Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1842-the-2024-u-s-presidential-election-what-they-could-mean-at-home-and-abroad
June 25, 2024 - Join us for a conversation with Dr. Peter Banseok Kwon, Assistant Professor of Korean Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York, on his newly released book: Cornerstone of the Nation: The Defense Industry and the Building of Modern Korea under Park Chung Hee. Newly released by Harvard University Press, this book is the first historical account of the complex alliance of military and civilian forces that catapulted South Korea’s conjoined militarization and industrialization under Park Chung Hee. Kwon reveals how Park’s secret program to build an independent defense industry spurred a total mobilization of business, science, labor, and citizenry, all of which converged in military-civilian forces that propelled an unprecedented model of modernization in Korea. Kwon joins President and CEO Tom Byrne in conversation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1830-cornerstone-of-the-nation-the-defense-industry-and-the-building-of-modern-korea-under-park-chung-hee
Recorded June 20, 2024 - The Korea Society is pleased to invite you to a fireside chat with Co-founder and CEO of Rael, Yanghee Paik. In 2017, Yanghee joined forces with two other Korean-American women to revolutionize the stagnant American feminine-care product market by introducing clean, high-performing holistic feminine care products. Their innovative approach excited millions of Amazon customers with a single product-organic cotton cover pads- leveraging cutting-edge South Korean manufacturing technology. Under Yanghee’s leadership, Rael quickly became the best-selling pad on Amazon and expanded into major retailers such as Target and Walmart, offering a wide range of holistic care products for women, from feminine products to acne-treatment beauty patches.
Join us to hear the trailblazing journey of Yanghee, who transitioned from a successful career as a Disney executive to leading a consumer-goods startup. You will learn the insights into how Rael could break through the global feminine product market, traditionally dominated by giant incumbents, by employing advanced South Korean manufacturing and beauty technology to empower global women with a better treatment of themselves.
Moderated by Celina Lee - a globally recognized executive and career coach, lawyer, award-winning writer, and podcast host.
This program is supported by Hanwha Life
The Korea Society is excited to present this Startup Scene program in partnership with the OKTA-NY (World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations, New York).
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1832-empowering-women-with-holistic-care-a-conversation-with-raels-co-founder-and-ceo-yanghee-paik
June 18, 2024 - Is the short story a fiction writer’s laboratory where you can experiment with characters, plots, and ideas? or is it an art form of its own, telling a complete story in just a few words? What does a short story need to have in order to be successful that is different from a novel? And what makes the writers return to this form of writing again and again?
Join us for a conversation between Gina Chung (Green Frog, Sea Change) and Yun Ko-eun (Table for One, The Disaster Tourist) about the art of short story writing in English and Korean.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1827-writing-short-stories-with-gina-chung-and-yun-ko-eun
May 30, 2024 - Join us for the launch of the Korean translation of The Power of Money: How Governments and Banks Create Money and Help Us All Prosper by economist and bestselling author Paul Sheard. Money issues dominate the news, but economic jargon and the complexity of it all can be bamboozling. Leading economist Paul Sheard is known for his ability to see the forest and the trees and demystify complex economic phenomena. With The Power of Money, Sheard empowers readers to become better-informed economic citizens by providing context for some of the biggest questions surrounding money, including how money comes into existence and whether cryptocurrencies are going to upend the money system as we know it. Sheard will tackle these topics and more in conversation with Chief Executive of MCC Productions and CNBC Contributor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1828-the-power-of-money-how-governments-and-banks-create-money-and-help-us-all-prosper
May 16, 2024 - Today, South Korea is a cultural superpower—a global trendsetter producing award-winning films like Parasite, riveting dramas like Squid Game, and chart-topping music by K-pop groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK. But behind the country’s meteoric rise to the world stage, a phenomenon known as the Korean Wave, or hallyu, is the story of remarkable resilience and innovation.
Just a century ago, Korea was in search of a new national identity, following its occupation by Japan and the Korean War. Harnessing cutting-edge technology, the country has rapidly transformed its economy and international reputation. At the same time, its creative outputs are deeply rooted in its past, with many contemporary artists, filmmakers, musicians, and fashion designers paying tribute to traditional values and art forms dating back to Korea’s dynastic kingdom days.
Hallyu! The Korean Wave features approximately 250 objects—costumes, props, photographs, videos, pop culture ephemera, and contemporary works—providing an immersive and multisensory journey through a fascinating history, and a celebration of a vibrant creative force that bridges cultural, societal, and linguistic divides and continues to reach new heights today.
First presented at Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the exhibition is currently at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and will travel to Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.
Three curators—Rosalie Kim, Victoria and Albert Museum; Christina Yu Yu, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Yoon-Jee Choi, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco—discuss this captivating exhibition and South Korea's rise as a cultural superpower.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1826-hallyu-the-korean-wave-the-exhibition
May 16, 2024 - Today, South Korea is a cultural superpower—a global trendsetter producing award-winning films like Parasite, riveting dramas like Squid Game, and chart-topping music by K-pop groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK. But behind the country’s meteoric rise to the world stage, a phenomenon known as the Korean Wave, or hallyu, is the story of remarkable resilience and innovation.
Just a century ago, Korea was in search of a new national identity, following its occupation by Japan and the Korean War. Harnessing cutting-edge technology, the country has rapidly transformed its economy and international reputation. At the same time, its creative outputs are deeply rooted in its past, with many contemporary artists, filmmakers, musicians, and fashion designers paying tribute to traditional values and art forms dating back to Korea’s dynastic kingdom days.
Hallyu! The Korean Wave features approximately 250 objects—costumes, props, photographs, videos, pop culture ephemera, and contemporary works—providing an immersive and multisensory journey through a fascinating history, and a celebration of a vibrant creative force that bridges cultural, societal, and linguistic divides and continues to reach new heights today.
First presented at Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the exhibition is currently at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and will travel to Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.
Three curators—Rosalie Kim, Victoria and Albert Museum; Christina Yu Yu, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Yoon-Jee Choi, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco—discuss this captivating exhibition and South Korea's rise as a cultural superpower.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1826-hallyu-the-korean-wave-the-exhibition
May 13, 2024 - To save her sister, a teen girl becomes entangled in a political conspiracy with an enigmatic prince in this fiery new YA novel. June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, returns with a devastating and pulse-pounding tale based on a true story from Korean history. A Crane Among Wolves is set in 1506 Joseon, where people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings. Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom’s turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king’s latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king’s power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death. Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When Iseul's and Daehyun's fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul’s family connections and Daehyun’s royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever seen. In her conversation with Ellen Oh, June Hur discusses her new novel and writing YA novels based on lives and stories from Korean history.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1824-june-hur-a-crane-among-wolves-with-ellen-oh
May 8, 2024 - With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values. This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence - morality, ethics, personal responsibility, compassion and civility - through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society. The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Min Jin Lee in a conversation with Kyung B. Yoon.
Min Jin Lee is the author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, a finalist for the National Book Award. Lee is the recipient of the 2022 Manhae Grand Prize for Literature, the Bucheon Diaspora Literary Award, and the Samsung Happiness for Tomorrow Award for Creativity. She has received fellowships in Fiction from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Lee has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for the New York Foundation for the Arts, New York State Writers, and the Bronx High School of Science. She has been honored by the Columbia University Weatherhead East Asian Institute, the Asian American Journalists Association, the Korean American Community Foundation, the Council of Korean Americans, the Queens Public Library, and the Korean Community Center. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, The Chosun Ilbo, Vogue, and Food & Wine. She has introduced the Penguin Classics edition of The Great Gatsby. In 2023, Lee served as the Editor of the The Best American Shorts Stories. She is at work on her third novel, American Hagwon and a nonfiction work, Name Recognition. She is a Writer-in-Residence at Amherst College and serves as a trustee of PEN America and a director of the Authors Guild. Lee lives in Harlem with her family.
Kyung B. Yoon is the President and CEO (as well as co-founder) of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF), the first and largest philanthropic organization in the U.S. dedicated to strengthening Korean American communities. Her career in poverty alleviation, development economics, and media encompasses her roles as the Executive Producer of Television at the World Bank Institute and a correspondent for WNYW-Fox Channel 5 where she made history as the first Korean American broadcast reporter in NYC. Kyung is currently a contributing reporter to CUNY-TV’s Asian American Life, which is broadcast nationally on PBS stations and for which she received an Emmy nomination. She has previously served as the board chair of Philanthropy New York and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, as a trustee of the New York Foundation, and as a board member of the United Way of New York City.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1817-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-a-conversation-with-min-jin-lee
May 2, 2024 - Given heightened tensions and strategic competition in the Indo Pacific, how is South Korea navigating its diplomatic, economic, and security relationships with the US, China, and Taiwan? In a 2023 Joint Statement, US President Joseph Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol “reiterated the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait [and] strongly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific…” thereby underscoring an uptick in Korean interest and attention to the Taiwan question. Join us for this conversation with Dr. Dean Chen, Professor of Political Science at Ramapo College of New Jersey, and Sean King, Senior Vice President of Park Strategies, moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1819-quick-take-changes-in-us-korea-china-taiwan-relations-with-dr-seong-hyon-lee-sean-king-and-dr-dean-chen
April 25, 2024 - In 2024, North Korea’s leadership has made a number of striking changes to its foreign policy, including abandoning its goal of unification and declaring South Korea its “principal enemy.” Pyongyang has also doubled down on its relationship with Moscow, shipping artillery and missiles off to Russia for use on the battlefields of Ukraine. Speculation has also risen that Kim Jong Un may have made the strategic decision to go to war, or to engage in provocations against the US-ROK Alliance. What is motivating these policies and what does the future hold? Join us for an analytic perspective from Dr. Soo Kim, Principal Technical Advisor at LMI Consulting and formerly the Central Intelligence Agency and RAND Corporation, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1815-quick-take-north-korea-s-new-posture-with-dr-soo-kim
April 19, 2024 - This program examines shifts in South Korea’s foreign policy posture, featuring insights and analysis from Dr. Kuyoun Chung, Assistant professor of the Department of Political Science at the Kangwon National University. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration aims to transform Korea into a “Global Pivotal State.” How has Seoul pursued this objective despite complex geopolitical and economic challenges? How does Korea navigate diplomatic relations in a tense region that is increasingly impacted by strategic competition between autocracies and democracies? Using survey data, Dr. Chung reveals how the South Korean public understands their country’s place in the world, including its allies, threats, and opportunities, in conversation with policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1811-quick-take-south-korea-s-new-foreign-policy-and-public-opinion-with-dr-kuyoun-chung
April 18, 2024 - Join us for a book talk with authors Professor Victor Cha and Professor Ramon Pacheco Pardo, who discuss their new book, Korea: A New History of South and North with policy director Jonathan Corrado. The Korea Society is proud to be a stop on the famous pink book tour! This important new work of history draws on “decades of research to explore the history of modern Korea, from the late nineteenth century, Japanese occupation, and Cold War division to the present day. This comprehensive history sheds light on the evolving identities of the two Koreas, explaining the sharp differences between North and South, and prospects for unification."
You can purchase the book here.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1761-korea-new-history-of-south-and-north-with-victor-cha-and-ramon-pacheco-pardo
April 11, 2024 - Join us for a rapid reaction analysis of the Republic of Korea’s high stakes 2024 legislative election, held in South Korea one day prior on April 10. This election could shift the control of power in the National Assembly, resulting in an emboldened electoral mandate for President Yoon Suk Yeol, or else creating a new challenge for his administration’s agenda. In this conversation with Korea Society policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre, Stanford University’s Professor Dr. Gi-Wook Shin explores the implications of the election for: Korea’s political, economic, and social policy; its relations with its Alliance partner the United States, and regional states, such as North Korea, China, and Japan.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1772-rapid-reaction-unpacking-the-korean-election
April 9, 2024 - Join us for a conversation about recovering lost ground in the international effort to address North Korea’s human rights violations, featuring: Ambassador Julie Turner, U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues, James Heenan, UN Human Rights Office representative in Seoul, Dr. Katrin Katz, Korea Society Van Fleet Senior Fellow, and Sean Chung, CEO of HanVoice, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. The United Nations Human Rights Council published its landmark report of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ten years ago. That report documented “systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights” in North Korea. But the international effort to ensure accountability, involving U.S. coordination with allies such as the Republic of Korea and through the United Nations, is only just beginning. The U.S. State Department describes credible reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings by the government, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, total state control of expression and media through censorship, severe restrictions on political participation, gender-based violence, and the worst forms of child labor. A Korean American adoptee with twenty years of diplomatic experience, Ambassador Julie Turner said, “The human rights situation in the DPRK is one of the most protracted human rights crises in the world,” in her testimony to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. This discussion explores issues impacting refugees, information distribution, separated family reunions, pathways to practical progress, North Korean human rights success stories, the connection between the regime’s human rights abuses and its weapons programs, and the nexus of humanitarian assistance and human rights.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1813-recapturing-lost-ground-on-north-korean-human-rights-with-ambassador-julie-turner
April 3, 2024 - Darye–"etiquette for tea" or "tea rite"– has been an integral part of Korean history and culture for over a thousand years. Donghyun Kim, a Korean heritage curator, discusses the history of tea practices and aesthetics in Korea and the landscape of contemporary Korean tea culture.
YouTube version with images can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sRVfQpAmJg
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1797-the-philosophy-of-korean-tea
April 2, 2024 - Join us for a discussion with the Senior Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg News Saleha Mohsin on her newly released book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order, in cooperation with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP). As the global order continues to evolve, it seems that the dollar’s dominance may find itself waning for the first time in 70 years. In a world dividing into two camps, one led by China and the other by the U.S, Mohsin investigates America's strong dollar policy and how it has shaped the world order, the effects of America's heavy-handed sanctions on its adversaries, and how American allies like South Korea view the dollar in today's global financial system. The conversation will be moderated by former CBS White House Correspondent and NCAFP Board Member, Jacqueline Adams.
Purchase the book here
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1810-paper-soldiers-how-the-weaponization-of-the-dollar-changed-the-world-order
March 27, 2024 - In her intimate and touching debut, Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History, journalist Margaret Juhae Lee uncovers her family’s lost history that had been buried in the darkness of Korea’s colonial decades. Growing up in Houston, Margaret Juhae Lee was never told about her grandfather, Lee Chul Ha. His memory was submerged in 1936 Korea, when Lee Chul Ha died a disgraced communist rebel, leaving Margaret's grandmother widowed with their two young sons. To his surviving family Lee Chul Ha was a criminal. As an act of unearthing her own identity, Margaret needed to understand why. Margaret began investigating the truth of her grandfather’s story. After many trips to Korea, she located her grandfather’s interrogation records, and began a series of long-form interviews with her grandmother. Through her research, Margaret discovered an extraordinary young man, Lee Chul Ha – a student revolutionary imprisoned in 1929 for protesting the Japanese government’s colonization of Korea. Lee Chul Ha was a hero and eventually honored as a Patriot of South Korea almost 60 years after his death. With this new knowledge came Margaret’s realization that her grandmother had old wounds she needed to heal. Starry Field weaves together Margaret’s family story against the backdrop of Korea’s tumultuous modern history, with a powerful question at its heart. Can we ever separate ourselves from our family’s past—and if the answer is yes, should we? In her conversation with Grace M. Cho, Margaret Juhae Lee discusses her memoir.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1784-starry-field-with-margaret-juhae-lee-and-grace-m-cho
March 25, 2024 - The Korea Society is delighted to present Colloquy: Translating Korean Poetry, featuring five poets and translators –Stine An, Eunice Lee, Seo Jung Hak, Megan Sungyoon, and Soje– for an evening of poetry reading and conversation. Colloquy: Translators in Conversation is an event series presented by World Poetry Books in collaboration with Montez Press Radio and a partnering New York City institution. Since 2022, Colloquy event series provides a forum for translators to engage with live audiences in an exploration of the art of translation. Each Colloquy event presents a group of two to four translators of recently published works (or works-in-progress) for short readings and moderated conversations, followed by Q&A’s with the audience.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1794-colloquy-translating-korean-poetry
March 20, 2024 - Explore insights into the dynamics of the U.S.-ROK economic relations and the critical issues impacting trade and investment between the two nations in our inaugural program, “The Dynamic U.S.-ROK Trade and Investment Relationship: Current Issues and Prospects” kicking off the new series, U.S.-ROK New Economic Paradigm. Join a distinguished panel of experts consisting of the Hon. Diane Farrell, Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade at the United States Department of Commerce, Mr. Frank Ahrens, Principal of BGR Group, and Dr. Hyun-jung Je, President & Chief Representative of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Washington DC Office, in conversation with The Korea Society’s President & CEO Tom Byrne. Each speaker brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the discussion, offering insightful perspectives on foreign investment in the U.S., investment-friendly U.S. states, and how U.S.-Korea economic relations might be shaped by the upcoming US Presidential election. This program will be recorded at The Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), Washington, D.C.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1809-the-dynamic-u-s-rok-trade-and-investment-relationship-current-issues-and-prospects
March 15, 2024 - Please join us for a timely discussion on the Republic of Korea’s membership in the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term, featuring the ROK Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Joonkook HWANG, in conversation with Korea Society President and CEO Thomas Byrne. The Republic of Korea, which has a special history and bond with the United Nations, aims to actively contribute to world peace and security and fulfill the expectations of the international community during its tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. This event will offer a valuable opportunity for the audience to gain insights into Ambassador Hwang’s perspective on the ROK’s vision for its Security Council activities, highlighting its interests and priorities among more than 60 regional and thematic agenda items on the Council. Moreover, Ambassador Hwang is anticipated to address the current status and future prospects of the Korean Peninsula, including recent changes and implications of North Korea’s nuclear and inter-Korean policies. This event will also serve as a platform for shedding light on new Security Council dynamics in recent years amidst ongoing global geopolitical changes, in particular the enhanced roles of non-permanent Council members, referred to as the Elected 10.
This event is co-hosted by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) and features introductory remarks by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jeffrey R. Shafer.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1807-the-republic-of-korea-and-the-un-security-council-with-rok-permanent-representative-to-the-united-nations-ambassador-joonkook-hwang
March 13, 2024 - Like the foundational role of butter in French cooking or olive oil in Italian cuisine, jangs stand as the cornerstone of Korean cooking, infusing every dish with a symphony of flavors and complexity. Chef Mingoo Kang, often referred to as South Korea’s best chef, invites readers on a gastronomic journey in Jang: The Soul of Korean Cooking to discover the deceptively simple, yet utterly unique and complex Korean sauces that have been near secret ingredients until now.
Chef Kang is celebrated for his dedication to the exploration of jangs at his two-Michelin star restaurant, Mingles, in South Korea. In his new book, he demystifies the art of cooking with these soulful sauces through 60 home-cook-friendly recipes that showcase the versatility and depth of the umami-rich flavors in both Korean and Western preparations.
In addition to providing delicious preparations and flavor notes customized for home kitchens, Jang delves into the history and methods behind the three jangs—ganjang, doenjang, and gochujang. Jang is not merely a cookbook but a timeless addition to every culinary enthusiast's collection, bridging cultures through the universal language of exquisite flavor.
Chef Kang and his two co-authors, Joshua David Stein and Nadia Cho, discuss jang, Korean food, and their new cookbook with moderator Juliana Sohn.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1804-jang-the-soul-of-korean-cooking
March 11, 2024 - In this program of our Young Professionals’ Network series, The Korea Society, in partnership with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), hosted a panel discussion focused on the pursuit of a career in law.
Our panel comprises four experienced legal professionals: Karen Kim, Senior Counsel at QBE North America and President of AABANY; Judge Judy Kim, Acting Justice of the Supreme Court in the New York State Supreme Court; and Brian Song, Litigation Partner at BakerHostetler. The conversation will be moderated by Dami Park, Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Concord Music Group.
Join us to gain valuable insights into the diverse paths of success in the legal profession from our accomplished panel. Through engaging narratives and an opportunity for networking, uncover inspiration and practical guidance to navigate your path to success in law.
This discussion will be held in-person at The Korea Society on March 7th at 6:30 PM. Light refreshments will be available for those in attendance.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1793-legal-career-insights-a-panel-discussion
March 6, 2024 - Join us for this conversation about prospects for Korean Unification with Jeongmin Kim, Lead Correspondent at NK News / Editorial Director at Korea Pro, Dr. Lee Sang-shin, director of the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy at Korea Institute of National Unification (KINU), and Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, the Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. This panel will explore recent policy shifts towards unification in South Korea under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and in North Korea announced by Chairman Kim Jong Un at the ninth plenary meeting of the eighth central committee of the ruling Workers' Party. What are the consequences of Kim’s announcement that North Korea’s long standing policy goal of unification (one nation, two systems) will be dropped? The expert panel will also discuss changing public opinion in South Korea, including demographic and ideological splits in policy preferences for the future of the Korean Peninsula. Plus, in addition to discussing the well-understood challenges and obstacles to practically embarking on a process of unification, the panel will cover some of the potential benefits of Unification, including demographic, sociocultural, geopolitical, and economic factors.
The promotional partner for this program is Columbia University’s APEC Study Center.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1780-korean-unification-a-fading-prospect
March 4, 2024 - Snowglobe by Soyoung Park, the first book in a powerful young adult dystopian duology, is a groundbreaking exploration of personal identity, and the future of the world as we know it. The winner of the Changbi X Kakaopage Young Adult Novel Award, the novel has been translated into English by Joungmin Lee Comfort, introducing a new readership to this cutting-edge commentary on climate change, socioeconomic inequality, and personal identity.
Set in a frozen world, only the residents of Snowglobe have it all: fame, fortune, and, above all, safety from the bitter cold. Outside the domed city, citizens must face the –50-degree Fahrenheit temperatures to produce the energy that Snowglobe needs to run. Their only solace comes in the form of television programming developed from the 24/7 filming of those who live in Snowglobe. When Snowglobe’s biggest star and newly-minted weather announcer, Haeri, is found dead, look-alike Chobahm must take her place, getting the opportunity of a lifetime to join the residents inside. But she soon discovers that the society she’s idolized is hiding a frozen and dangerous heart.
Snowglobe is a powerful and layered thrill ride containing a myriad of plot twists and a shocking ending that will keep readers eagerly awaiting its sequel.
Join us for a conversation with the author and translator, moderated by Kat Cho, as they discuss the English publication of Snowglobe.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1782-snowglobe-with-soyoung-park-and-joungmin-lee-comfort
February 28, 2024 - Navigating the uncertainties of quitting an established career to venture into entrepreneurship is a common challenge for many aspiring startup founders. The question of when to take that leap adds another layer of complexity to the journey. To shed light on these dilemmas, we invite you to join our conversation with Curtis Lee, a seasoned startup founder, currently serving as the VP of Global Payments and Cash at Microsoft.
Curtis embarked on his entrepreneurial path by founding Luxe, a premium valet and auto-concierge system, in 2013. After Luxe’s successful acquisition to Volvo Group, Curtis returned to the entrepreneurial arena with the launch of Pinwheel, a fintech specializing in payroll API, in 2021. During this discussion, Curtis will share the intricacies of how he charted his entrepreneurial path, strategically navigating tech giants, startups, and investment firms, to fulfill his aspirations. Additionally, Curtis will impart how his firsthand founding experience has transformed him into a more emphatic investor, particularly for early-stage startups in their foundational phases.
Moderated by CeFaan Kim, correspondent for ABC News.
This program is supported by Hanwha Life
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1781-charting-entrepreneurial-paths-curtis-lee-from-luxe-to-pinwheel-and-beyond
February 22, 2024 - Join us for a discussion on deterrence and North Korea with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, United States Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Together in conversation with US Air Force Reserve Major Jessica Taylor and Korea Society Policy Director Jonathan Corrado, Ambassador Jenkins will discuss the US-ROK Alliance and the growing threats posed by Pyongyang's evolving nuclear, missile, and space capabilities as well as its proliferation and procurement activities, including its growing ties and trade with Russia.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1770-deterring-north-korea-a-conversation-with-ambassador-bonnie-jenkins
January 31, 2024 - Recent events have heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula—North Korea’s successful launch of a military satellite resulting in Seoul’s decision to partially suspend the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), and followed by Pyongyang’s deployment of additional forces near its border with South Korea—increasing the chances of conflict on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea's advancements in its nuclear weapons and missile programs, coupled with the diminishing enforcement of sanctions and renewed support from Russia, have sparked debates among the South Korean public and security experts about the possibility of Seoul pursuing an indigenous nuclear deterrent. Join us for a program co-hosted by The Korea Society and the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) on the future of Korean Peninsula security and suggestions for de-escalation and preventive diplomacy, featuring Professor Moon Chung-In, James Laney Professor at Yonsei University and Vice Chair for the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament. Following Professor Moon’s initial remarks, he will be joined by NCAFP director for Asia Susan A. Thornton and Director of the new Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Markus Garlauskas for a conversation moderated by Korea Society president & CEO Tom Byrne.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1764-rumbles-of-thunder-and-endangered-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula
January 30, 2024 - The author and translator of Cursed Bunny, a National Book Award and International Booker Prize Finalist, are back with a new collection of short stories.
A rising star of Korean literature, Bora Chung burst onto the American literary scene last year with the publication of her astounding debut, Cursed Bunny: Stories, translated by Anton Hur. Met with universal praise, these surreal, chilling fables that take on patriarchy, capitalism, and the reign of big tech were a National Book Award Finalist for Translated Literature and shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. Chung and Hur returns with her striking sophomore collection, Your Utopia: Stories.
Filled with Chung’s inimitable blend of horror, absurdity, and dark humor, and set in near and distant futures that reflect our deepest fears and desires, the stories in Your Utopia take place in different, off-kilter yet sometimes uncannily familiar settings. With Your Utopia, Chung hopes to provide readers with “a collection of stories that explore the limits of humanity to re-discover what it means to be human. Like all other works of science and speculative fiction, Your Utopia is ultimately about human beings: who we are and what we will be as the Anthropocene era reaches its peak and eventual demise.”
In this episode of Author Talks, Bora Chung is joined by Anton Hur to discuss her latest English publication.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1774-author-talks-bora-chung-anton-hur
January 24, 2024 - Join us for our inaugural program of Startup Scene: Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, featuring Saeju Jeong, the Co-Founder and former CEO, and now serving as Executive Chair of Noom. Noom, established in 2008 with Saeju’s friend, Artem Pekatov, introduced a pioneering weight loss app in 2017, integrating behavioral psychology with an empathetic human approach. Since then, Noom has disrupted the weight loss industry, achieving a valuation of $3.7 billion, and benefited over 50 million people with their health and diet.
Saeju’s unwavering, mission-driven leadership has been behind the remarkable success of Noom. As the visionary behind Noom, Saeju guided the company through the many strategic pivots that ultimately led to the discovery of Noom’s unique business model. We invite you to explore Saeju’s compelling entrepreneurial journey, marked with soulful tenacity toward a healthier-choice platform for consumers. This conversation took place on January 24 at 6:00 pm at the premise of The Korea Society.
This program is supported by Hanwha Life.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1751-saeju-jeong-an-unwavering-visionary-behind-noom
January 10, 2024 - With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society is launching a new lecture and conversation series titled Series on Ethics and Common Values.
This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence - morality, ethics, personal responsibility, compassion and civility - through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society.
The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Dr. Jim Yong Kim, who will deliver the inaugural lecture of the new series.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1767-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-inaugural-lecture-by-dr-jim-yong-kim
January 9, 2024 - Join us for a book talk with the Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy Scott Snyder. This new work provides an authoritative overview of the internal and external pressures on the U.S.–South Korea alliance and explores its future prospects. He argues that exclusive-nationalist leaders’ accession to power and domestic political polarization in the United States and South Korea could put past successes at risk and endanger the national security objectives of both countries. In the United States, “America First” nationalism favors self-interest over cooperation and portrays allies as burdens or even free riders. “Korea first” sentiments, in both progressive and conservative forms, present the U.S. military presence in South Korea as an obstacle to inter-Korean reconciliation or a shackle on South Korea’s freedom of action. Snyder also examines North Korea’s attempts to influence South Korean domestic politics and how China’s growing strength has affected the dynamics of the alliance. He considers scenarios in which the U.S.-South Korea relationship weakens or crumbles, emphasizing the consequences for the region and the world. Drawing on this analysis, Snyder offers timely recommendations for stakeholders in both countries on how to preserve and strengthen the alliance. The conversation is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is produced in partnership between The Korea Society and The Council on Foreign Relations.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1759-the-u-s-south-korea-alliance-why-it-may-fail-and-why-it-must-not
Recorded January 4, 2024
Join us for a screening of the documentary film BEYOND UTOPIA, winner of the Audience Award for US Documentary Features at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. BEYOND UTOPIA is a suspenseful look at the lengths people will go to gain freedom. It follows various individuals as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on earth. At the film’s core are a mother desperate to reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind; a family of five - including small children and an elderly grandmother - embarking on a treacherous journey across the Yalu River and into the hostine mountains of China; and a man of God on a mission to help these desperate souls. Gripping, visceral, and urgent, Madeleine Gavin’s film embers the viewers with these family members as they attempt their perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes. After the film, stay for a Q&A with Producers Sue Mi Terry and Rachel Cohen as well as human rights advocate and North Korean defector Seohyun Lee, moderated by policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre.
For more information, please visit the links below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1758-beyond-utopia-screening-and-q-a-with-executive-producer-sue-mi-terry Beyond Utopia trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D-WVu35oPM
December 14, 2023 - How does the US public view America’s place in the world? How strong are the bonds between the US and Korea? Conversely, how does the Korean public view the United States as a partner and an ally? How are these views changing and what are the implications for global geopolitics, the US-Korea Alliance, and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula? The expert panel includes: Troy Stangarone, Senior Director and Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI) and an author of KEI’s “2023 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula,” Dina Smeltz, Senior Fellow, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and author of the survey report, “Americans Continue to See Benefits from US Alliances,” and Dr. Woo Chang Kang, associate professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Korea University, who will explore the implications for Korea of these recent surveys, as well as the equivalent surveys in Korea. The conversation is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1747-is-sentiment-shifting-on-foreign-policy-alliances-and-the-us-korea-relationship
December 8, 2023 - The world is captivated by Korean culture. This fascination and popular interest, once focused on K-drama and K-pop, have now extended into fashion, food, fine art, classical and various genres of music. So much so that various institutions are pondering the question: what is the secret of Korea’s cultural success?
To answer this question, Korea’s Ambassador for Cultural Cooperation Sohn Jie-ae, a former CNN Seoul correspondent, explores the basic values and thoughts that lie behind the strength of Korea’s cultural wave in her conversation with Vivian Lee.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1754-the-korean-wave-where-did-it-come-from-and-where-is-it-going
2023 Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture
December 6, 2023 - The Korea Society is pleased to announce that the winner of the 7th Annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Competition is Dr. Munseob Lee, Assistant Professor at the University of California San Diego. Dr. Lee will address The Return of Industrial Policy: Lessons from Korea.
Industrial policy is making a comeback. Signs of government intervention in support of industry are visible not only in China, but in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Drawing lessons learned from Korea’s experience, Lee provides important insights for today’s policy-makers. A notable case to be discussed is the Korean government's implementation of the heavy and chemical industry drive in 1973. While that policy yielded positive outcomes for the targeted industries, it also resulted in a higher concentration within those sectors.
Lee emphasizes the intricate nature of industrial policy and stresses the need for a thorough evaluation of its costs and benefits before implementation, especially now given the current bipartisan support for substantial bills in the U.S. aimed at revitalizing industrial policy. As one reviewer stated, “At this critical time Lee revisits the effectiveness of Korean industrial policy during a high development phase to glean useful insights for Korea, U.S., and beyond.” The Lecture is moderated by Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society.
The intent of the annual Sherman Family Lecture Award is to grow U.S. thought leadership on Korea for a new generation. The award is presented across disciplines and to emerging thought leaders, from doctoral candidates to junior professors and respective research or non-profit professionals. The award is made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Sherman and family.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1706-sherman-family-korea-emerging-scholar-lecture-2023
Recorded October 6, 2023
In October of 2023, the NCAFP’s Forum on Asia-Pacific Security reconvened its 2021 and 2022 cohorts of Emerging Leaders in NYC for two days of conferences and meetings with think tanks and experts on Korean Peninsula and Asia-Pacific security issues. The NCAFP partnered with the Korea Society to record a roundtable discussion on North Korea policy. In this conversation moderated by NCAFP Emerging Leader (2021) and the Korea Society’s Policy Director, Jonathan Corrado, Shaquille James (U.S. Air Force, 2021), Nazanin Zadeh-Cummings (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 2022), and Marialaura De Angelis (Track2Asia, 2022) discussed a new framing of the North Korean challenge, new approaches to engaging with North Korea, and transitional justice and contingency scenarios.
Recorded November 30, 2023
Kakao Mobility Corp, a mobility subsidiary of South Korea's tech giant Kakao Corp, is a one of a kind mobility platform company. It operates the Kakao T app, a super app that provides an all-in-one mobility experience, with an industry-defining and market-leading “No. 1” product portfolio comprised of taxi-hailing, designated driver, turn-by-turn navigation, smart parking, micro-mobility, flight/train/shuttle, as well as future mobility such as autonomous driving, robotics, HD Maps, and Urban Air Mobility.
On November 30th, our Young Professionals’ Network invites Dr. Christopher Chang (장성욱), the Senior Vice President of Kakao Mobility Corp, to discuss his significant contributions to mobility technology innovation. Join this conversation, moderated by Frank Bi, Director of Tools and Technology at The Star Tribune, to learn more about Dr. Chang’s fascinating personal journey to his current position and to hear his distinctive insights into Kakao Mobility’s business model.
This discussion will be held in-person at The Korea Society and will be followed by a brief networking session with the guest speaker. Light refreshments will be available for those in attendance.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1740-ypn-a-conversation-with-christopher-chang
Recorded November 2, 2023 - Join us to watch Chosen, a documentary that follows five Korean Americans of vastly diverse backgrounds with competing political views as they run for US Congress in 2020. David Kim is the only underdog with limited resources vying to be the first Korean American representative in Koreatown. Director Joseph Juhn joins for an intimate Q&A session after the film in conversation with policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre, providing opportunities for audience members to ask questions.
Video version including trailer available at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZrELJtlLwM
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1717-chosen-film-screening-and-director-q-a
November 16, 2023 - The Korea Society welcomes Sang A Im, fashion designer and former South Korean actress/singer, to the Young Professionals’ Network for a conversation about her unique journey to success in the cutthroat New York City design world. At Genesis House, a beautiful modern oasis influenced by Korean culture, Sang A Im met with Vivian Lee, Emmy Award-winning TV Journalist & Correspondent at Asian American Life, for a discussion about leaving the Korean entertainment industry behind, starting a business in an unfamiliar country, becoming a self-made entrepreneur, the inspiration behind her designs, and more.
This program was recorded at Genesis House on Monday, October 16th in New York City, NY.
For the video version of this interview, please visit the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O1o_MaHcTU
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1744-beyond-boundaries-a-conversation-with-sang-a-im
November 13, 2023 - Acclaimed two-Michelin-starred chef Junghyun (JP) Park invites you to discover the delicious and joyful world of Korean cuisine known as Hansik. Together with Jungyoon Choi, globally renowned expert on Korean food, Chef Park presents an expansive and scholarly exploration of Korean cooking and proves that there is much more to celebrate about Korean fare than just barbecue. Following 10 years of in-depth research – and 20 years of friendship – Park and Choi have meticulously crafted the most comprehensive collection of Korean recipes in print today.
The Korean Cookbook published by Phaidon features more than 350 authentic recipes, originating from the high rises of Seoul to the volcanic beaches of Jeju Island. An incredible variety of deeply-researched dishes are carefully documented in this collection that spans 500 pages and includes 110 commissioned photographs shot in Korea by photographer Jinju Kang, an artist who works primarily on Hansik and Korean Art Cultures. Designed by Associate Studio, the book brings together the heritage of Korean paper making, Hanji, along with typographic structure melding together decorative window design with one of Korea’s most celebrated typographers Ahn Sang Soo. Richly illustrated and beautifully designed, The Korean Cookbook is the definitive culinary guide that captures the true essence of Hansik for readers around the world.
In this conversation at The Korea Society with Elyse Inamine, Chef Park speaks about his first book and career.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1742-the-korean-cookbook-with-chef-junghyun-park
November 9, 2023 - Join us for a program exploring the opportunities and limits for US-Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation. US President Joe Biden met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a landmark trilateral summit at Camp David in August. This program aims to critically assess the progress made since then, with an emphasis on big picture strategic issues. How can the three countries tackle shared challenges and promote mutual security and prosperity? How well can they cooperate to manage relations with North Korea, China, Russia, Southeast Asia, and the wider global community? Are the new institutional pathways for cooperation initiated by the Camp David summit being implemented effectively? An expert panel, composed of specialists from each of the three nations, will investigate these questions and more in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. Panelists include: Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow Dr. Katrin Fraser Katz, Kangwon National University Professor Kuyoun Chung, Asia Society Policy Institute DC Office Director for Political-Security Affairs Emma Chanlett-Avery, and Keio University Professor Nishino Junya.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1721-new-horizons-for-us-korea-japan-trilateral-cooperation
November 8, 2023 - At the height of the military dictatorship in South Korea, Insuk and Sungho are arranged to be married. The couple soon moves to San Jose, California, with an infant and Sungho’s overbearing mother-in-law. Adrift in a new country, Insuk grieves the loss of her past and her divided homeland, finding herself drawn into an illicit relationship that sets into motion a dramatic saga and echoes for generations to come.
Extraordinarily beautiful and deeply moving, The Liberators by E. J. Koh is an elegantly wrought family saga of memory, trauma, and empathy, and a stunning testament to the consequences and fortunes of inheritance. From the Gwangju Massacre to the 1988 Olympics, flashbacks to Korean repatriation after Japanese surrender, and the Sewol ferry accident, Koh’s exquisitely drawn portraits and symphonic testimony from guards, prisoners, perpetrators, and liberators spans continents and four generations of two Korean families forever changed by fateful past decisions made in love and war.
In this conversation with Anton Hur, E. J. Koh discusses her debut novel.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1729-e-j-koh-the-liberators-with-anton-hur
November 7, 2023 - An “antic, madcap noir with flair" (Wired) and “fast-paced cyberpunk story” (The New York Times Book Review) from one of South Korea's most revered science fiction writers, whose identity remains unknown, Djuna's Counterweight is an absorbing tale of corporate intrigue, political unrest, unsolved mysteries, and the havoc wreaked by one company’s monomaniacal endeavor to build the world’s first space elevator.
Originally conceived by Djuna as a low-budget science fiction film, with literary references as wide-ranging as Joseph Conrad and the Marquis de Sade, Counterweight is part cyberpunk, part hard-boiled detective fiction, and part parable of South Korea’s neocolonial ambition and its rippling effects.
Djuna is a novelist and film critic, and a former chair of the Korean Science Fiction Writers Union. For more than twenty years they have published as a faceless writer, refusing to reveal personal details regarding age, gender, or legal name. Widely considered to be one of South Korea’s most important science fiction writers, Djuna has published ten short-story collections and five novels.
Anton Hur, the award winning translator of many Korean literature, discusses Djuna's writings and their impact in Korea, the genre of Korean science fiction, and literary translation from Korean to English in this conversation with Matthew Sciarappa.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1727-djuna-counterweight-with-translator-anton-hur
November 6, 2023 - Join us and explore with Prof. Mark Peterson the ideas advanced in his most recent book, Views of Korean History by a Frog Outside the Well. Written in a conversational style for the general public, in this book Dr. Peterson offers a unique take on Korean history that differs from the standard history taught in Korea since liberation from Japan. It is a point of view that his Korean audience appreciates for its radical departure from orthodox history and finds “refreshing,” “positive” and “uplifting.” In a recent article for the Korea Times, Dr. Peterson writes that he offers a new approach to facts already well known… but looks at in an entirely new way and a way that many young scholars are starting to look at as well. The discussion will be moderated by Linda Tobash, Senior Advisor for Education at the Society.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/education/item/1743-a-look-at-korea-as-a-frog-outside-the-well-an-outsider-s-perspective-on-korean-history
Recorded October 4, 2023
Signed on Oct. 1, 1953, in the wake of the armistice, the U.S.-South Korea alliance has matured into a dynamic partnership, deterring conflict and fostering cooperation with respect to trade, technology and people-to-people ties. This expert panel reflected on the legacy and future of the alliance.
This program was jointly hosted by The Korea Society, the Korea Defense Veterans Association and the Korea-Pacific Program at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy.
About the Speakers:
Thomas J. Byrne joined The Korea Society as its President in August of 2015 following a distinguished career that included Senior Vice President of Moody's Investor Services and Senior Economist of the Asia Department at the Institute of International Finance. Byrne has an M.A. degree in International Relations with an emphasis on economics from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Before doing graduate work at SAIS, he served in South Korea for three years as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer. His commentary on Korean affairs has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Financial Times among others.
Stephen Haggard is the Lawrence and Sallye Krause Distinguished Professor and director of the Korea-Pacific Program at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. He teaches courses on the international relations of the Asia-Pacific at GPS covering political economy as well as security issues. He has done extensive research on North Korea in particular. In addition, he has a long-standing interest in transitions to and from democratic rule and the current phenomenon of democratic backsliding. His recent research on South Korea addresses the issue of political polarization, including with respect to foreign policy.
Allison Hooker is a foreign policy and national security specialist with 20 years of experience in the U.S. Government working on Asia. She served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asia, where she led the coordination and implementation of U.S. policy toward the Indo-Pacific region. Prior to that, Hooker served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Korean Peninsula, where she staffed the U.S.-DPRK Summits in Singapore, Hanoi, and the DMZ. Prior to her service at the White House, Hooker was a senior analyst for North Korea in the Department of State and staffed the Six-Party Talks on North Korea’s nuclear program. She received a Masters’ of Arts Degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and has been a research fellow at Osaka University and Keio University, where she focused on Japan-Korea relations, and Japan-China relations, respectively.
Youngwan Kim is a career diplomat who joined the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Korea in 1993. He worked at various Ministries of the Korean Government, including Foreign Ministry, Unification Ministry, and Office for Government Policy Coordination, Prime Minister’s Office. Prior to his current post as Consul General in LA, he served as Director-General for National Security and Foreign Policy at the Prime Minister’s office. He also worked as Director-General for Planning and Management of the Foreign Ministry. His most recent foreign post was a Member of the Panel of Experts, UN Security Council Sanctions Committee at the United Nations headquarter. His foreign posts also include Washington D.C., New York, Beijing and Baghdad.
Munseob Lee is an economist who concentrates his research efforts on macroeconomics, growth and development, firm dynamics, and Korea. He has investigated the factors that determine the growth of firms, with a particular focus on how government purchases can promote long-term growth of small businesses. Additionally, he examined the disproportionate effect of inflation, revealing that low-income households and black families are the most affected by rising prices in the United States.
Lee, who is an Associate Director in GPS's Korea-Pacific Program, teaches courses including Fiscal and Monetary Policy, Macroeconomics of Development and The Korean Economy.
In 2019, General Curtis “Mike” Scaparrotti completed a distinguished 41-year career in the U.S. Army as the Commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO. Prior to that he served as the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea / United Nations Command / Combined Forces Command in Seoul from 2013 to 2016. Other prominent postings in his highly-decorated career include Director of the Joint Staff, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, the Deputy Commander of U.S. Forces – Afghanistan, the Commanding General of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. Additionally, over the years, General Scaparrotti served in key leadership positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic level. He has commanded forces during Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Support Hope (Zaire/Rwanda), Joint Endeavor (Bosnia-Herzegovina), and Assured Response (Liberia). General Scaparrotti holds a Master’s degree in Administrative Education from the University of South Carolina. In addition to his work with The Cohen Group, General Scaparrotti sits on the boards iof the Atlantic Council and Patriot Foundation, and is a Senior Fellow at the National Defense University.
Yoo Myung-hee served at the Ministries of Trade, Industry and Energy and Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea for nearly three decades before becoming Korea’s first female trade minister (2019-2021). In a variety of roles she designed and implemented Korea’s trade policy and negotiation strategies and led numerous bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations as Korea’s chief negotiator, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and Korea’s free trade agreements with the United States and ASEAN. As trade minister, she contributed to international initiatives to ensure supply chain resilience and to address digital trade policy. She received her BA and MPA from Seoul National University and JD from Vanderbilt University Law School and currently teaches at the Graduate School of International Studies of Seoul National University.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1745-the-u-s-republic-of-korea-alliance-at-70-legacy-and-future
October 18, 2023 - Join us for an in-person program with former Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Energy of the Republic of Korea Duck Koo Chung, also the Founder and Chairman of the NEAR Foundation (North-East Asia Research Foundation), as he recounts his time as a Deputy Minister of Finance during the 1997 IMF Crisis. Chung played a crucial part in Korea’s impressively rapid economic recovery as chief negotiator representing the Korean government with the IMF. This program will feature Chung’s reflections on Korea’s development in the 25 years since the crisis, and insights into the trajectory of Korean society and economy as the country navigates trade tensions between the U.S. and China. This conversation will be moderated by Korea Society President and CEO Tom Byrne.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1730-the-korean-economy-beyond-the-crisis-korea-us-china-economic-interdependence-and-competition
October 13, 2023 - Join us for this book talk with Dr. Aram Hur, who discusses Narratives of Civic Duty: How National Stories Shape Democracy in Asia. At a time when nationalism appears to be stoking regional conflicts and democratic backsliding in Asia and beyond, Dr. Hur's book argues for the positive capacity of nationalism. The book received the 2023 Robert A. Dahl Award from the American Political Science Association for "scholarship of the highest quality on the subject of democracy" by an untenured scholar. Dr. Hur is the Kim Koo Chair in Korean Studies and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. She was the recipient of The Korea Society's Sherman Family Emerging Scholar Lecture Award in 2021. This program is a collaboration between The Korea Society's Policy Department and the Education Department, and is moderated by Linda Tobash, Senior Advisor for Education. The discussant is Dr. Darcie Draudt, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1680-how-national-stories-shape-democracy-in-asia
Recorded October 5, 2023 - The Korea Society, Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) and Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York are co-hosting the New York Korean Financial Forum. We are pleased to welcome Soonkyu (SK) Shin, who works on Wall Street as a credit analyst, to tell his newest story, an evolution of the theme of life's robustness that he has been writing about for the past few years. As part of an ongoing KIC forum, this program aims to share thoughts on various aspects of life from a finance professional’s perspective with a larger audience, including students, diverging from the usual format of sharing professional investment knowledge.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1733-living-a-balanced-life-in-a-capitalistic-society-a-veteran-wall-street-analyst-s-views
October 6, 2023 - Three poets. Three translators. One conversation.
Join us for an evening of bilingual poetry readings. Three poets - Moon Bo Young, Kim Liyoun, Kim Sono - along with three translators - Soje, Eunice Lee, Jenny Jisun Kim - explore the power of language to connect us with one another.
Not as well known to many audiences, Korean poetry contains a rich and vibrant tradition that is yet to be understood. It is through the exchanging of dialogue, breath, and verse that the moment of Korean poetry is revealed.
This program is a collaboration between The Korea Society’s Arts and Culture Department and Education Department and is moderated by Education Program Officer, Amanda Grant.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1719-korean-and-english-bilingual-poetry-reading
Recorded September 27, 2023 - Join us for the launch of the Korean translation of Keeping At It: The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government, a memoir written by the late Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker. This program features William R. Rhodes, CEO of William R. Rhodes Global Advisors and author of “Banker to the World,” which includes a foreword written by Volcker, and insights from Christine Harper, a member of Bloomberg’s editorial board, on Volcker’s extraordinary life and legacy. From his early days working in the Treasury Department, to his time in the Federal Reserve navigating the high inflation of the 1970s and 80s, Volcker’s thoughtful reflections on the importance of good government, stable finance, and stable prices continue to resonate in this new translation.
This program is produced in partnership with Columbia University’s APEC Study Center.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1716-keeping-at-it-the-quest-for-sound-money-and-good-government
September 21, 2023 - Join us for a program that addresses the new nuclear dynamics of Northeast Asia produced in cooperation with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center. This panel discussion investigates how regional shifts in nuclear weapons capabilities and evolving doctrines affect the Korean Peninsula and beyond, with a focus on North Korea’s quickly developing nuclear and missile deterrent, the maturing nuclear capabilities of the People’s Republic of China, the US-ROK Alliance’s evolving nuclear posture, Russian aggression, and the role of trilateral US-Korea-Japan security cooperation. The panel consists of: Matthew Kroenig, Vice President and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy, Markus Garlauskas, director of the new Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Dr. Sue Mi Terry, and Major Jessica Taylor, USAFR and Princeton University, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1712-new-nuclear-dynamics-of-northeast-asia
September 15, 2023 - Join us for the New York City book launch of The Sister: North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, The Most Dangerous Woman in the World. Hear from author Dr. Sung-Yoon Lee, Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. This newly released book chronicles the rise and importance of Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Dr. Lee describes Kim Yo Jong as “ruthless and incredibly dangerous… a princess by birth with great expectations for her macabre kingdom, she was brought up to believe it is her mission to reunite North Korea with the South or die trying.”
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1704-the-sister
September 13, 2023 - Join two Korean-American picture book writers as they discuss the many different layers of consideration, introspection, and deliberation that go into conceiving and writing picture books, and the importance of humor and diversity in children's literature.
For many young readers, being able to see themselves reflected in the books they read is a profound experience. Seeing and reading accurate representations of one's own identity and culture provide a sense of visibility and relatability. Not only are diverse representations in children’s books important for children of color, but they’re important for all children, as they offer a chance to learn realities and experiences different from their own and to appreciate that difference.
Frances Cha, the bestselling author of If I Had Your Face who has just written a humorous picture book about centuries-old dokkaebi journeying from Korea to modern New York, will be in conversation with Aram Kim, author, illustrator and designer of children's books, about writing and illustrating Korean-themed picture books for children.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1710-behind-the-scenes-writing-a-picture-book
September 8, 2023 - When a father goes missing, his family’s desperate search leads them to question everything they know about him and one another in this thrilling page-turner, a deeply moving portrait of a family in crisis from the award-winning author of Miracle Creek.
Full of shocking twists and fascinating questions of love, language, and human connection, Happiness Falls is a mystery, a family drama, and a novel of profound philosophical inquiry. With all the powerful storytelling she brought to her award-winning debut, Miracle Creek, Angie Kim turns the missing-person story into something wholly original, creating an indelible tale of a family who must go to remarkable lengths to truly understand one another.
In her conversation with Susan Choi, Angie Kim discusses her second novel and career.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1708-angie-kim-happiness-falls-with-susan-choi
September 9, 2023 - Join us for a discussion featuring Dr. Sungmin Cho, professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, an academic institute of the US Department of Defense, based in Hawaii. Dr. Cho will present research that analyzes Chinese texts focusing on North Korea's regime stability, the country's uncertain future, and the potential unification of the Korean Peninsula. The research encompasses a review of 62 Chinese journal articles and 29 expert commentaries written by Chinese scholars. Cho explains how examining the writings of Chinese civilian scholars helps decipher Chinese strategic thinking, despite the presence of censorship. Cho also provides an analytic framework for Beijing's cost-benefit calculus regarding the potential unification of the Korean Peninsula, aiming to empower policymakers in Washington and Seoul to develop a more informed understanding and strategy. This program is a collaboration between The Korea Society's Policy Department and the Education Department, and is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1707-chinese-views-of-north-korea-s-uncertain-future
August 29, 2023 - Welcome to the latest installment of the Korea Society's Leadership Interview Series featuring José Muñoz, President and Global Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor Company, who also serves as the President and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America. President Muñoz is one of the most influential leaders in the auto industry.
President Muñoz will look back at the roots of Hyundai Motor's remarkable story, discuss current developments, and provide insights into the future of the auto industry in the United States. He will also delve into the impacts of IRA and trade tensions on Hyundai's global business, its strategy to become one of the world's top EV manufacturers, and much more. Join us for this special opportunity to hear first-hand about his path to becoming a top executive at Hyundai and how he navigates the rapidly evolving industry landscape.
This program was recorded on August 22 at Hyundai Motor America in Fountain Valley, CA.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1711-interview-with-jose-munoz
August 22, 2023 - What motivates interest among the South Korean population and national security expert community in the potential development of an indigenous nuclear deterrent? How likely is Seoul to go in this direction? And if it does, what are the costs, benefits, and implications for its economy, the US-Korea Alliance, the region, and the nonproliferation regime? Dr. Clint Work, Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), Dr. Lami Kim, College of Security Studies at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Dr. Bee Yun Jo, Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, and Dr. Hyun-Binn Cho, The College of New Jersey, discuss with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado and program officer Chelsie Alexandre.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1699-the-south-korea-nuclear-debate
July 19, 2023 - World-renowned South Korean directors, including Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho, cite Kim Ki-young as being the greatest Korean influence on their work. When Yuh-Jung Youn won the best supporting actress award at the 2021 Oscars, she thanked Kim Ki-young, the “genius” director of the first film she starred in, 1971’s Woman of Fire.
During his thirty year career, Kim Ki-young produced thirty-three films and became revered by critics within the national and international community as one of the few South Korean ‘auteurs’. As the first comprehensive scholarly volume on Kim Ki-young in English, ReFocus: The Films of Kim Ki-young covers his entire career and history of cinematic work, highlighting the thematic and stylistic singularity of Kim’s oeuvre, which was produced relative to the specific historical and cultural conditions of post-war South Korea. It offers an innovative departure point from which to explore South Korean film relative to the wider history of world cinema, in addition to situating Kim’s work within the broader fields of Korean modern history, transnational cinema and cultural studies.
Join us for a conversation about Kim Ki-young's films and career with the contributors to this volume: Jason Bechervaise, Steve Choe, Chung-kang Kim, and Ariel Schudson.
For more information, please visit the link:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1697-the-films-of-kim-ki-young
July 13, 2023 - Bringing together a wealth of primary sources and with contributions from leading experts, Dress History of Korea presents the most recent approaches to the interpretation of dress and fashion of Korea. Through close analysis of visual, written, and material sources—some newly excavated or recently re-discovered in global museums—the book reveals how dress and adornment evolved from the period of state formation to the modern era.
As in other cultures, modern Korean fashion owes many of its styles to historic dress and this process of adaptation is explored within high fashion and popular culture contexts in ways that benefit historians, curators, and designers alike.
Authors with a range of academic and curatorial experience discuss the close relation of dress and adornments to the socio-political and cultural history of Korea and place the dress history of Korea within broader contexts in studies of fashion, material culture, museology, and costume design.
Join us for a conversation with Minjee Kim and Kyunghee Pyun, the editors of this anthology.
Video version available here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCraL67-KoQ
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1696-dress-history-of-korea
June 15, 2023 - What’s really happening in North Korea right now? The regime’s pandemic border closures have left diplomats and aid workers outside the country, making it even more difficult than normal for the outside world to understand the Kim regime’s decision making and the daily lives of ordinary North Korean people. Join us for a discussion that goes behind the headlines to explore human rights and human stories in North Korea, with four renowned experts at the front lines of journalism and advocacy. Hear from: Eiji Han Shimizu, Director of the animated movie True North, Kim Young Hwan, Senior Researcher of NK Net, Ishimaru Jiro, Director of Asia Press Osaka, Eun Kyoung Kwon, Director, NK Net. This program is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1685-behind-the-headlines-human-rights-and-human-stories-in-north-korea
May 25, 2023 - K-pop, K-fashion, K-drama, K-beauty: over the past decade, K-style has exploded onto the global scene. What is behind this phenomenon? Where does K-style go from here?
In Make, Break, Remix: The Rise of K-style, author and communications consultant Fiona Bae makes no attempt to define or categorize the movement, instead celebrating the eclectic and multifaceted nature of K-style and its home city of Seoul. Through interviews with sixteen tastemakers who are shaping K-style across creative sectors—from 1MILLION Dance Studio’s Lia Kim, rock band leader Hwang Soyoon, and world-famous tattoo artist Doy to drag performer Nana Youngrong Kim, Asia’s leading interior designer Teo Yang, and leading K-pop stylist Youngjin Kim (who has styled BTS, Kang Daniel, and NCT)—Bae tells untold stories from true insiders, exploring a sense of identity in their work, how living in Seoul affects them and their creative output, and the decade of changes that has brought about the current K-style.
In her conversation with Frances Cha, Bae discusses the rise of K-style.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1678-make-break-remix-the-rise-of-k-style-with-fiona-bae
May 23, 2023 - Seoul, South Korea makes Beverly Hills look like a one-stoplight town when it comes to the beauty rat race, and it’s getting more intense every year. Elise Hu spent four years in South Korea as NPR’s bureau chief, and during her tenure there, the K-beauty industry tripled to become a $10 billion industry. South Korea is home to more than 7,500 cosmetic and skincare manufacturers, and K-beauty has staked its claim as the future of skin care.
With products that promise pore-less perfection, South Korea’s $10 billion beauty industry is a decade ahead of any other country in innovation and heralded by many industry professionals as the best when it comes to products, regimen, and end-results. Riding the pop culture “Korean wave” and marketed by K-pop superstars and global brands, K-beauty promises flawless skin and a soothing multi-step routine. You’ll find K-beauty products in any city around the world, and in the US, the biggest importer of K-beauty behind China, you can take your pick from hundreds of brands at stores from Nordstrom and Bloomingdales to Sephora and Target. But how did K-Beauty become the darling of the global skincare industry? And does the trend stop at creams and toners? Or are we in an appearance revolution that will permanently transform our faces and bodies towards a more aesthetically pleasing sameness?
Elise Hu, NPR host-at-large and the host of TED Talks Daily, asked herself those questions after living and working in Seoul, the heart of the K-beauty industry. She delivers an audacious, journalistic exposé of the booming industry from the ground up in Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. In the book, Hu explores K-beauty’s undeniable success and shines a much-needed light on the darker ramifications of the impossible standards and pressures that drive its growth and their effects on women in a looks-obsessed patriarchy.
In a conversation with Hannah Bae, Elise Hu discusses her book and her experience in Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1672-flawless
May 11, 2023 - Join us for a book talk with Dr. Siegfried Hecker, who discusses “his on-the-ground experience at the North's nuclear center at Yongbyon,” unpacking the ramifications of North Korea’s technical developments in the context of fateful foreign policy decisions by Washington, Seoul, and Pyongyang. Dr. Hecker describes how “successive U.S. administrations have been unable to prevent the North, with the weakest of hands, from becoming one of only three countries in the world that might target the United States with nuclear weapons.” The discussion also includes a consideration of developments to the approach addressed in the summit meeting between US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and the debate around the potential for South Korea to acquire an indigenous deterrent. This program is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1675-hinge-points-an-inside-look-at-north-korea-s-nuclear-program
May 3, 2023 - Join us for the latest episode of our Leadership Interview Series with FILA Holdings Corporation & Acushnet Holdings Corporation Chairman Gene Yoon, moderated by The Korea Society’s President & CEO Tom Byrne.
Chairman Gene Yoon has a legendary story of success as a self-made businessman. His early career in business was a stepping stone that paved the way to his leveraged buyout of the global FILA brand in 2007. He brought the storied Italian-born brand back to life after taking the company public in Korea in 2010.
Chairman Yoon will share inspiring lessons and insights learned from his remarkable career, guided by his entrepreneurial spirit. Chairman Yoon will recount his career milestones and how he achieved business successes against formidable odds. He currently serves as the Chairman of both FILA Holdings Corporation and Acushnet Holdings Corporation, which hold the trademarks for FILA as well as Titleist and FootJoy respectively. Under his leadership, he has propelled both firms to oversee leading global golf and sportswear brands.
Chairman Yoon has received numerous accolades in his career and serves on the board of The Korea Society.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1659-interview-with-fila-acushnet-holdings-corporation-chairman-gene-yoon
Recorded April 27, 2023 - Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives. However, the possible consequences of AI are bifold. While it has enabled dramatic improvements by achieving quick and efficient results, it also raises fears of the unknown.
Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking YPN interview with Professor Jeongki Lim, a leading expert in transdisciplinary design. In this interactive program with Professor Lim, he walks through his career journey on how he landed on his current position and shares invaluable insights gained through his years of experience and research in the creative technology and design industry. Prof. Lim also explores how AI technologies have impacted creative industries and beyond, as well as the challenges and opportunities they have posed in shaping the future. This discussion is moderated by Tae Young Woo, Co-Founder and CEO of Finestra.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1664-ypn-a-conversation-with-prof-jeongki-lim-our-future-with-ai
April 28, 2023 - Join us for this conversation on the major diplomatic, security, and economic takeaways from the US-Korea Summit between US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Korea Society is joined by former ROK Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo, Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow Dr. Katrin Katz and The Washington Post Seoul Bureau Chief Michelle Ye Hee Lee, in conversation with Korea Society President and CEO Tom Byrne.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1671-us-korea-summit-analysis
April 27, 2023 - Join us for a discussion that aims to cultivate fresh ideas on America’s policy toward North Korea and coordination with ally South Korea by mobilizing a nuanced understanding of past lessons. The discussion includes consideration of developments to the approach addressed in the summit meeting between US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The program features Professor Jeong-Ho Roh, Director of the Center for Korean Legal Studies, Jenny Town, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center and the Director of Stimson's 38 North Program, and Keith Luse, Executive Director of the National Committee on North Korea (NCNK), in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1669-north-korea-lessons-learned-and-creative-thinking
April 13, 2023 - An instant bestseller in Korea and the follow up to the international bestseller, Please Look After Mom, I Went to See My Father by Kyung-Sook Shin centers on a woman’s efforts to reconnect with her aging father, uncovering long-held family secrets. More than just the portrait of a single man, I Went to See My Father opens a window onto humankind, family, loss, and war. With this long-awaited follow-up to Please Look After Mom—flawlessly rendered by award-winning translator Anton Hur—Kyung-Sook Shin has crafted an ambitious, global, epic, and lasting novel.
In a rare personal appearance in the U.S., Kyung-Sook Shin will be joined by Jenny Wang Medina to discuss her latest novel.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1666-kyung-sook-shin-with-jenny-wang-medina
April 13, 2023 - Join us for a discussion about North Korea’s cyber threat, with Jean Lee, co-host of the BBC’s Lazarus Heist podcast and public policy fellow with the Wilson Center, and cybersecurity expert Michael Barnhart, who is currently with the threat intelligence firm Mandiant and was formerly Cyber Team Lead at the US Senate and signals intelligence collector in the intelligence community. The discussion is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1662-the-north-korean-cyber-threat
April 11, 2023 - A novel about a woman tossed overboard by heartbreak and loss, who has to find her way back to stable shores with the help of a giant Pacific octopus. Sea Change is an "absolutely stunning debut" novel —Frances Cha, author of If I Had Your Face—by Gina Chung.
Ro is stuck. She’s just entered her thirties, she’s estranged from her mother, and her boyfriend has just left her to join a mission to Mars. Her days are spent dragging herself to her menial job at a mall aquarium, and her nights are spent drinking sharktinis (Mountain Dew and copious amounts of gin, plus a hint of jalapeno). With her best friend pulling away to focus on her upcoming wedding, Ro’s only companion is Dolores, a giant Pacific octopus who also happens to be Ro's last remaining link to her father, a marine biologist who disappeared while on an expedition when Ro was a teenager. When Dolores is sold to a wealthy investor intent on moving her to a private aquarium, Ro finds herself on the precipice of self-destruction. Wading through memories of her youth, Ro has one last chance to come to terms with her childhood trauma, recommit to those around her, and find her place in an ever-changing world.
In a conversation with Frances Cha, Gina Chung talks about her debut novel.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1665-gina-chung-sea-change
Recorded March 3, 2023 - Join us for a conversation with Dr. John Delury, Professor of Chinese Studies at Yonsei University, on his new book, Agents of Subversion: The Fate of John T. Downey and the CIA's Covert War in China. This roundtable and pre-recorded video explores a Korean War era mission in China that went wrong, resulting in the 20-year imprisonment of an American operative named John T. Downey. "Agents of Subversion is an innovative work of transnational history, and it demonstrates both how the Chinese Communist regime used the fear of special agents to tighten its grip on society and why intellectuals in Cold War America presciently worried that subversion abroad could lead to repression at home." This program is moderated by Korea Society president & CEO Thomas Byrne.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1656-agents-of-subversion-with-professor-john-delury
February 16, 2023 - Join this discussion with Dr. Henry W. Brands, Professor and Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin, about his book The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War. The book explores the tensions between President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur as the Korean War escalates, threatening to boil over into another World War. This discussion is part of a collection of programs that mark the 70th anniversary of The Korean War Armistice Agreement and the signing of the U.S.-ROK Alliance. Professor Brands joins policy director Jonathan Corrado in conversation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1651-the-general-vs-the-president-macarthur-and-truman-at-the-brink-of-nuclear-war
February 9, 2023 - Join our discussion about the consequences of Korea’s rapid economic development on the family unit and society at large, featuring Seoul National University sociology Professor Chang Kyung-Sup. This program is a collaboration with the Policy Department and the Education Department.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1631-consequences-of-korea-s-compressed-modernity
February 7, 2023 - Twenty-five years in the making, Heinz Insu Fenkl's ambitious, darkly funny, sweeping novel SKULL WATER is a haunting inter-generational coming-of-age story that grapples with identity and displacement in South Korea in the 1950s and 1970s, and reveals a history both countries would prefer to conceal. Born in South Korea to a German father and a Korean mother, Fenkl grew up in Korea, Germany, and the U.S., and his own experience informs this deeply autobiographical novel.
SKULL WATER is the story of Insu, the son of a Korean mother and a GI father in the U.S. Army, and the intertwined tale of his Korean Big Uncle, who has been exiled to a mountain cave near the family village to die from a gangrenous foot. Growing up near the army base in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Insu and his two best friends, also "half and halfs," spend their days skipping school, selling scavenged Western goods on the black market, and testing the boundaries between childhood and adulthood. When Insu hears an old legend that water collected from a dead person's skull will cure any sickness, he vows to collect some to heal Big Uncle's mysterious injury. His quest takes him and his friends on a sprawling journey into some of South Korea's darkest corners. Meanwhile, Big Uncle, a geomancer uprooted by the Korean War, has embraced his solitude and fate and attempts to teach his nephew that life is not limited to what we can see or think we know.
In his interview with The New Yorker, Fenkl said; "It's a Korean folk belief that stories are meant to be told, and that if one keeps them to oneself and hoards them, there will be terrible consequences."
Join us for a conversation with Heinz Insu Fenkl about his latest book.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1649-heinz-insu-fenkl-skull-water
January 24, 2023 - Introduce children to Asian cuisine and the #VERYASIAN movement! Written by Michelle Li, A Very Asian Guide to Korean Food introduces young readers to classic and modern Korean dishes and provides fun facts about the foods and culture of Korea.
Michelle Li is an award-winning, veteran journalist and co-founder of the Very Asian Foundation. She started a global movement of unity with the viral hashtag #veryasian after she received a racist voicemail in response to her sharing on-air the Korean foods she eats. She is a vocal advocate for the Asian American community and brings this same pride and energy for her culture to her debut children’s book.
The book is the first in the Very Asian Guide series, a children’s book series that celebrates various Asian cuisines, and is published by Gloo Books, a new children’s book publishing company making books for a more inclusive, just and compassionate future.
Join us for a conversation with Michelle Li.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1645-a-very-asian-guide-to-korean-food
January 17, 2023 - Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema by culture writer and screenwriter Karen Han is the first definitive critical and visual survey of the Academy Award–winning South Korean writer/director who has been making critically acclaimed feature films for more than two decades. Brilliantly illustrated and designed by the London-based film magazine Little White Lies, this lush monograph surveys Bong’s full body of work, including his short films and music videos. The accompanying text by Karen Han, interviews with Bong’s key collaborators, and foreword by David Lowery (The Green Knight) flesh out the stories behind Bong’s films and explore his rise in the cultural eye of the West.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1642-bong-joon-ho-dissident-cinema-with-karen-han
January 12, 2023 - Join us for a discussion on the causes and consequences of South Korea’s shrinking birth rate, including its impact on social and civic relations, the economy, and the military, as well as an exploration of efforts to reverse the trend. This discussion features Washington Post reporter Min Joo Kim, Wall Street Journal reporter Dasl Yoon, University of Missouri Assistant Professor Dr. Aram Hur, and Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1636-south-korea-s-demographic-challenge
Recorded December 7, 2022 - Did you know that leading tech companies, namely Apple, Google, and Microsoft, started their journey with venture capital funding? As many success stories suggest, venture capital is a key financial resource for startups’ emergence and growth.
Join us for our upcoming YPN series featuring two leaders in venture capital – Bernard Moon, Co-founder & Partner at SparkLabs Group, and John Nahm, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Strong Ventures. Bernard and John have a lively discussion on topics helpful to aspiring entrepreneurs seeking timely advice, including their career highlights, their supervisory roles at the company, and how they managed to seek robust business growth. Moreover, they shed light on the current market trends and prospects for venture capital. Moderating this session is another leading venture capital specialist, Eddie Lee, a Partner at White Star Capital.
This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1634-young-professionals-network-meet-the-leaders-of-venture-capital
December 19, 2022 - Join us as Lucy Park, Sejong Cultural Society Executive Director, and Elizabeth Jorgensen, writer and educator at Arrowhead High School in Wisconsin, share their insights into and passion for the ancient Korean poetry form, Sijo. Part of the Society’s Spotlight on Korean Studies in K-12 Schooling series, this talk will inspire individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Sijo: Korea’s Poetry Form not only provides tips, techniques and sample lesson plans for teaching and writing Sijo, it also explores the history and beauty of the form. The authors ask, “With only three lines, and 46 syllables, how much can a poet fit within its confines?”, and answer, “a world of story and emotion!” In their talk they demonstrate the power of the form by showcasing award-winning modern sijos and accompanying illustrations by Wonsook Kim.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/education/item/1638-sijo-korea-s-poetry-form
2022 Korea Society Van Fleet Policy Signature Event - In Partnership with FMC
Recorded December 8, 2022 - Join The Korea Society and Former Members of Congress (FMC) & the Congressional Study Groups for a dialogue with a bipartisan pair of Former Members of Congress to hear insights on the consequences of America’s midterm elections on the country at large and its dynamic relationship with South Korea. This conversation features former Representative Russ Carnahan (D-MO, 2005-2013) and former Representative Ted Yoho (R-FL, 2013-2021), and is moderated by Korea Society President and CEO Thomas Byrne. The roundtable dialogue features input from policy and corporate professionals and is released as a pre-recorded video and podcast.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1632-the-impact-of-the-u-s-midterms-and-the-u-s-korea-alliance
November 28, 2022 - Join us for the Sixth Annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture! Eunbin Chung, Assistant Professor at the University of Utah and the 2022 Sherman Family Korea Scholar Lecture awardee, will address National Identity Affirmation and Trust in Korea, Japan, and China from a unique perspective. Legacies of conflict and distrust have made it difficult for East Asian countries to form regional institutions and overcome security dilemmas. Chung's research questions two conventional wisdoms related to these regional dynamics: 1) that distrust among states can be overcome through cultural convergence and appealing to a shared identity (such as the "European" identity developed through the creation of the EU) and 2) that strong, inward-focused national identities exacerbate inter-state distrust and conflict. Chung asks, Is this true? Do distinct national identities really impede international trust?
Chung’s research advances the concept that trust not only can be built among nations when each affirms its own distinctive identity, but that this approach may be more effective than embracing common identities across different countries. Dr. Katrin Katz, the inaugural Sherman Family Lecture Award recipient and Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Society, describes Chung’s argument as “breaking new ground in tackling some prevailing beliefs regarding the relationship between national identity and levels of inter-state trust and conflict. Dr. Chung's work entails a hopeful message for East Asia and beyond: that emphasizing the favorable and distinctive traits of one's own country need not lead to antagonistic relations with neighbors.”
Come hear more about Chung’s fascinating research on advancing productive dialogue in the region. Aram Hur, Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri and our 2021 Sherman Family Lecture, awardee will introduce the lecture.
The annual Sherman Family award and lecture, now in its sixth year, aims to grow U.S. thought leadership on Korea for a new generation. The award is presented across disciplines and to emerging thought leaders, from doctoral candidates to junior professors and respective research or non-profit professionals. The award is made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Sherman and family. You can view the presentations of former award winners at the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1392-2020-korea-emerging-scholar-lecture-awardee-announced
Video version of this lecture with presentation slides can be seen at the link below: https://youtu.be/CvgZgVYTMt0
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1627-sherman-family-korea-emerging-scholar-lecture-2022
December 6, 2022 - Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize and the winner of a PEN/Heim Grant, Cursed Bunny is the wildly original debut story collection from Bora Chung, a rising star of Korean literature. Published in the US for the very first time and translated by the acclaimed Anton Hur, Chung’s stories are modern fables for the internet age, offering biting critiques on the patriarchy, capitalism, politics, and the reign of big tech. Blending elements of horror, fantasy, surrealism and sci-fi, Chung creates an absurd, chilling universe that illuminates the ills of contemporary society.
Mirroring the simple style of the fairy tales and legends of storytellers like The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christen Anderson, the ten stories of Cursed Bunny are imaginative, thought-provoking and deeply unsettling, destined to haunt readers for weeks after reading.
In this episode of Author Talks, Bora Chung discusses her career in Korea and her English debut.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1635-author-talks-bora-chung
December 6, 2022 - A discussion on the most likely scenarios for the future of the Korean Peninsula, featuring: Korea Risk Group CEO Chad O’Carroll, NK News Director and Professor at Kookmin University Andrei Lankov, NK News Lead Correspondent Jeongmin Kim, and NK News Senior Analytic Correspondent Colin Zwirko, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. Utilizing forecasts that rely on the trajectory of current conditions, the experts debate the best possible case, the worst possible case, and the most likely scenario. The experts also opine on how to avoid the most dangerous contingencies and create conditions for positive developments. Join us for this discussion informed by a rich tapestry of journalistic and academic inquiry.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1630-three-futures-north-korea-and-the-korean-peninsula
November 22, 2022 - South Korea holds the proud distinction of being the first independent Asian country to participate in a FIFA World Cup tournament in 1954. Still, Korea's success in soccer is forever linked with the 2002 World Cup: while co-hosting the tournament with Japan, Korea became the first team outside of Europe and America to reach the semi-finals. That event propelled Korea to the next stage in the world of soccer, as it became a home of world-class players, a robust professional soccer league, and the most dedicated fans.
On the eve of Korea's eleventh total and tenth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance in Qatar, join us for a conversation with Steve Han about the history of soccer in Korea.
Steve Han is a journalist specializing in sports and entertainment. He is currently a chief editor for Korea at soccer editorial agency Ganassa, writing for FIFA+, Manchester City, and Borussia Dortmund. In addition to a 14-year career as a football writer at Goal between 2008 and March 2022, he has also freelanced for various publications, including FourFourTwo and Sports Chosun, and has appeared on BBC World News and Sky Sports.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1633-korea-fifa-world-cup
October 25, 2022 - Join us for a discussion on North Korea's domestic and foreign policy trends and how they tie in with the latest developments of nuclear weapons and missiles on and around the Korean Peninsula. The discussion features Open Nuclear Network (ONN) Senior Analyst Rachel Minyoung Lee and Analysts Jaewoo Shin and Tianran Xu, and Lauren Sukin, Assistant Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. Utilizing open source intelligence and satellite photos, as well as findings from academic inquiry, the experts unpack how new and developing weapons impact the security environment in Northeast Asia.
This program is produced in partnership with Columbia University’s APEC Study Center.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1604-korean-peninsula-nuclear-update
October 24, 2022 - As global superstars put everything on the line for a special one-night-only concert, they face struggles both cultural and personal that threaten to dismantle one of the industry’s hottest labels. Featuring a cast of K-pop and musical theater stars, with 18 Broadway debuts, KPOP is a multimedia experience that explores the relentless discipline, raw talent, and commercial ambition behind the international sensation.
KPOP has the distinction of being the first musical on Broadway celebrating Korean culture and it is the third Broadway musical that highlights API heritage with API representation in the cast and creative team.
Join us for a conversation with the creative team behind the scene and cast members as they prepare to make their Broadway debut.
About the Speakers:
HELEN PARK (Music & Lyrics, Music Production & Arrangements) is best known for her work as composer-lyricist and music producer for the upcoming Broadway musical, KPOP, for which she is a three-time Drama Desk nominee and recipient of a Lucille Lortel Award and Richard Rodgers Award. Additionally, Park co-wrote songs for the Oscar-nominated Netflix animated musical film Over the Moon, directed by Academy Award-winning animator Glen Keane. She holds an MFA from NYU’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program and is an alumnus of the advanced BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop.
BOHYUNG (Tiny) is proud to be making her Broadway debut in KPOP. She is a veteran K-Pop star, debuting as a member of SPICA as well as performing as a solo artist. She has performed at KCON LA, KCON Abu Dhabi, Rainbow Festival, Immortal Songs, King of Mask Singer, amongst others. @bohyungkim
KEVIN WOO (Jun Hyuk) is honored to make his Broadway debut in KPOP. As a successful Korean-American singer-songwriter and former member of K-pop boy band U-KISS, he dedicates this to his South Korean heritage. @kevinwoo_official
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1623-kpop-the-broadway-musical
October 19, 2022 - This Quick Take on Korea discussion covers the latest issues impacting South Korea, the U.S.-Korea Relationship, and North Korea, with expert insights from Rob Rapson, former Chargé d'Affaires of U.S. Embassy Seoul.
Robert Rapson is a former senior U.S. Foreign Service Officer whose 39-year diplomatic career spanned the Indo-Pacific region from Korea and Japan to Southeast Asia, India and Afghanistan. As Chargé d'Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission, led, managed, and motivated large multicultural U.S. Embassies in Seoul, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur to advance significant U.S. political, economic, commercial, security, law enforcement, and public diplomacy interests with those countries and across the Asia region during periods of major political transition and crisis. A recognized Korea/East Asia expert and skilled advocate, negotiator, team builder, strategic planner, editor and communicator who navigates with ease across senior-most levels of foreign governments, the corporate sector, and public audiences.
October 11, 2022 - How do our stories transform as they are passed down to each generation? Prize-winning poet Su Cho explores the legacies of language and lore in her unforgettable debut collection, The Symmetry of Fish. Selected by Space Struck author Paige Lewis for the National Poetry Series, these poems trace the narratives and phrases of a Korean American immigrant family with absorbing tenderness and curiosity. Cho threads stories of food and folktales through her meditations on joy, grief, friendship, faith, and coming of age in the middle of nowhere. This inventive debut illuminates how language is not lost over generations but distilled into potency— continuously remade, hitched to new associations, and capable of blooming anew.
In this conversation, Su Cho discusses her debut collection and the emerging tradition of Korean-American poetry.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1614-a-conversation-with-su-cho
October 6, 2022 - Join us for this discussion about the outside world’s attempts to reach the North Korean population through media, with Dong Hyuk Lee, Chief of Voice Of America’s Korean Service, and Dr. Jieun Baek, Fellow with the Korea Project and the Applied History Project at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1603-message-in-a-bottle-broadcasting-to-north-korea
September 23, 2022 - Join us for this expert panel discussion on the U.S.-ROK Alliance, featuring former National Security Council Senior Director for Asia Allison Hooker, Korea Society Board Chair Ambassador (ret.) Kathleen Stephens, and Korea Society Van Fleet senior fellow Dr. Katrin Katz, and moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. How can the U.S. and South Korea work together to pursue shared objectives in an increasingly fraught and complex security environment? To optimize the approach, what adaptations or evolutions are needed to the shared diplomatic, economic, and security agenda?
This program was made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our corporate sponsors. For more information about our supporters, please refer to our webpage here.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1602-u-s-rok-alliance-the-road-ahead
September 6, 2022 - Join us for this roundtable and podcast recording on North Korea-China Relations after The Singapore Summit, with Dr. Seong-Hyon Lee, senior fellow at the George H. W. Bush Foundation and a visiting scholar at Harvard University’s Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. In conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado, Dr. Lee’s talk explores the evolving relationship between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with a special focus on the time period between the U.S.-DPRK Summits in Singapore (June 2018) and Hanoi (February 2019). Dr. Lee scrutinizes documentary footage of the summits, reviews official Chinese and North Korean documents, and utilizes interviews with people in the know to reveal how Xi gradually increased his influence over Kim through their five summit meetings between March 2018 and June 2019. The talk concludes with some policy implications for the North Korean nuclear issue under the current Biden-Xi administrations.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1611-north-korea-china-relations-after-the-singapore-summit
September 1, 2022 - Still today, education remains inaccessible to millions of children across the globe. In meeting their educational needs, extensive technology use has become helpful in expanding the quality learning environment.
This Young Professionals' Network program features Sooinn Lee, the Co-Founder and CEO of Enuma, Inc. Founded in 2012, Enuma has developed multiple award-winning digital learning platforms for youth and children, including those from under-resourced environments. Join us for a timely conversation with Sooinn as she will discuss her ongoing work and achievements in providing children of various backgrounds with high-quality education, along with her far-reaching vision and goals. This discussion will be moderated by Jay Oh, Senior Director of Arts and Culture of The Korea Society.
This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1600-a-conversation-with-enuma-ceo-sooinn-lee
Recorded July 14, 2022 - We are pleased to share the audio from our National Outreach program in Atlanta. On July 14, 2022, The Korea Society hosted "The Comprehensive, Strategic U.S.-Korea Alliance," a conference in Atlanta, Georgia produced in partnership with the Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce.
This event was held at the Commerce Club Atlanta. The conference was the rollout of a strategic initiative of the Society to highlight the diplomatic, security, business and investment aspects of the multifaceted, dynamic U.S.-Korea relationship. It was composed of keynote speeches, two morning panels, a luncheon, and a closing reception. The conference served to connect the local Atlanta and the wider Southeast U.S. audience with high-impact speakers who provided insights on a series of engaging topics. We hope you enjoy!
PANEL TWO DISCUSSION
Moderator
Professor William I. Sauser, Jr. PhD, Auburn University Harbert College of Business
Panelists
Athar Khan, Director of International Specialty Sales, Delta Air Lines
Stuart Countess, President & CEO, Kia Georgia
Steven Jahng, Director/Head of External Affairs/Social Value, SK Battery America, Inc.
Yoonie Kim, Director, Korean Investment, Georgia Department of Economic Development
KEYNOTE ADDRESS*
Pat Wilson*, Commissioner for Georgia Department of Economic Development
CLOSING REMARKS*
Jae Kim*, President, The Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1592-the-comprehensive-strategic-u-s-korea-alliance
Recorded July 14, 2022 - We are pleased to share the audio from our National Outreach program in Atlanta. On July 14, 2022, The Korea Society hosted "The Comprehensive, Strategic U.S.-Korea Alliance," a conference in Atlanta, Georgia produced in partnership with the Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce.
This event was held at the Commerce Club Atlanta. The conference was the rollout of a strategic initiative of the Society to highlight the diplomatic, security, business and investment aspects of the multifaceted, dynamic U.S.-Korea relationship. It was composed of keynote speeches, two morning panels, a luncheon, and a closing reception. The conference served to connect the local Atlanta and the wider Southeast U.S. audience with high-impact speakers who provided insights on a series of engaging topics. We hope you enjoy!
PANEL ONE - SECURITY AND DIPLOMACY
Moderator
Ambassador (Ret.) Charles Shapiro, Senior Advisor, The Pendleton Group of consultants
Panelists
General (Ret.) Vincent K Brooks, Former United Nations Command / Combined Forces Command / US Forces Korea Commander
Major General Lee KyungKoo, Republic of Korea Defense Attaché
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1592-the-comprehensive-strategic-u-s-korea-alliance
Recorded July 14, 2022 - We are pleased to share the audio from our National Outreach program in Atlanta. On July 14, 2022, The Korea Society hosted "The Comprehensive, Strategic U.S.-Korea Alliance," a conference in Atlanta, Georgia produced in partnership with the Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce.
This event was held at the Commerce Club Atlanta. The conference was the rollout of a strategic initiative of the Society to highlight the diplomatic, security, business and investment aspects of the multifaceted, dynamic U.S.-Korea relationship. It was composed of keynote speeches, two morning panels, a luncheon, and a closing reception. The conference served to connect the local Atlanta and the wider Southeast U.S. audience with high-impact speakers who provided insights on a series of engaging topics. We hope you enjoy!
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1592-the-comprehensive-strategic-u-s-korea-alliance
July 19, 2022 - As one of the first Korean American actors to blaze a unique path through cultural and business barriers into the mainstream, John Cho’s esteemed career has spanned over two decades with compelling performances across film and television. Cho is also a former 7th-grade English teacher who grew up as a Korean immigrant kid in Texas and East L.A. (among many other places). This spring, he became an instant New York Times bestselling author when he published Troublemaker, an incredible middle grade novel highlighting the unique Korean American perspective as 12-year-old Jordan navigates the evening of the 1992 LA Riots.
In this conversation with The Korea Society, Cho discusses his debut novel and career.
“The novel weaves together large-scale issues of social injustice and interracial barriers with the intimate pain— and joy—of personal relationships. Equal parts suspenseful and emotionally insightful.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A gripping work of historical fiction. . . Exploring a significant historical event, the authors create an accessible yet emotionally complex read.” – Publishers Weekly
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1594-john-cho
July 13, 2022 - As part of our ‘Korea and Coronavirus Series,’ The Korea Society will again host a conversation with Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and Tom Byrne, The Korea Society’s President/CEO. Dr. Manki Song, Deputy Director General of IVI will also join the interview. The speakers will focus on South Korea’s efforts on becoming a ‘K -Global Vaccine Hub,’ a new initiative to strengthen vaccine capabilities on COVID-19 as well as future pandemics. They will also highlight IVI’s continuous journey on overcoming the pandemic and its future plans on building public safety. This program will be recorded at IVI in Seoul when President Byrne visits South Korea in late June.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1593-discussion-on-k-global-vaccine-hub-with-dr-jerome-kim-and-dr-manki-song
June 16, 2022 - The United States and South Korea have a well-established “gold standard” Free Trade Agreement. Now, as international economic relationships are shifting to strategic frameworks and concerns over supply-chain robustness and resiliency, Korean investment in the U.S is gaining attention and transforming the bilateral relationship into a new dynamic. The upcoming President’s Interview Series led by Tom Byrne, the President and CEO of The Korea Society will feature the representatives from three states for an in-depth conversation: Andrew Deye, Vice President, Head of Strategy at JobsOhio, Harry M. Lightsey III, Secretary of Commerce of South Carolina Department of Commerce, and Pat Wilson, Commissioner of Georgia Department of Economic Development. The panelists will discuss the significance of the new wave of Korean direct investment in the United States. They will also cover the business, economic and political angles of the investment in each state, and how this is contributing to the "comprehensive and strategic" partnership between the U.S. and Korea.
This program is made possible by the support from JobsOhio.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1591-catching-the-k-investment-wave-in-the-usa
June 15, 2022 - Meet the new generation of Korean American young adult novelists. Drawing inspiration from the Korean pop culture they grew up consuming and their personal journey as immigrant kids, these authors offer refreshing and compelling representations on myriads of subject matters, from intergenerational struggles and family bonds to identity issues. And they are conquering the bestseller lists while offering a mirror to the generations of young readers that they themselves did not have.
Join our conversation with Claire Ahn, Kat Cho and Mary H. K. Choi, as they discuss the popularity of YA novels featuring Korean and Korean-American characters, the changing perception in the publishing industry regarding Asian American YA novels, and their remarkable stories.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1587-ka-ya-korean-american-ya-novels-authors
June 7, 2022 - King's College London Professor of International Relations, KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance, Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident) at CSIS, and Non-resident Fellow at Sejong Institute Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo discusses his new book Shrimp to Whale, which provides an account of South Korea’s extraordinary transformation from “the ashes of colonialism, partition and a devastating war” into “a boisterous democracy, a vibrant market economy, a tech powerhouse, and home to the coolest of cultures.” Please enjoy a 25% discount on pre-orders on the book with code DISTRO25 on this link here.
This program was made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our corporate sponsors.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1573-shrimp-to-whale-south-korea-s-extraordinary-transformation
May 26, 2022 - Recently named The New York Times 2021 Breakout Star in Classical Music, Korean conductor Eun Sun Kim is the Caroline H. Hume Music Director of San Francisco Opera. The first woman to serve as music director of one of America's largest opera companies, she is "making history while ensuring the future of classical music in a digital age," as The New York Times declared.
This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1582-eun-sun-kim
May 24, 2022 - Chances are, you’ve read something you loved by the talented and prolific Marie Myung-Ok Lee. Her stories, criticism, and essays on everything from Picnicking in North Korea to navigating her son’s disability have been published in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Slate, Salon, Guernica, The Paris Review, and The Guardian, among others. She’s the author of the acclaimed novel Somebody’s Daughter and the YA classic, Finding My Voice. A sharp observer, a masterful storyteller, and an extraordinary and bitingly funny stylist, Lee uses those talents here to reveal the world we live in and imagine the world we could live in, too, in her latest novel The Evening Hero.
In The Evening Hero Lee wrestles with big questions and big themes: how war trauma insinuates itself between the generation of immigrants and their American-born children; the dire state of medical care in the US—from rural hospital closures to crazy, high-end shopping mall medicine; and what it means to be a good Korean, a good American, a good human. And she shows us that it’s never too late to become a hero.
In a conversation with Frances Cha, Lee talks about her illustrious career and her latest novel.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1581-marie-myung-ok-lee-with-frances-cha
May 19, 2022 - Born in Seoul and raised in Maryland, Peter Serpico’s route to Korean food came long after making a name for himself in New York City restaurants. His first bites of marinated short ribs and black bean noodles tasted like home, and a love affair with the flavors and techniques of his birthplace began. Written with Drew Lazor, Serpico's debut cookbook Learning Korean: Recipes for Home Cooking draws from his decades of professional cooking experience to elevate the greatest hits of at-home Korean dishes. In this insightful and endearing cookbook, new flavors, techniques, and ways to enjoy one of the world’s greatest cuisines are revealed by Serpico, chef and father.
In a conversation with Eric Kim, the New York Times bestselling author of Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home, Serpico discusses his career and his debut cookbook.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1580-peter-serpico-learning-korean-with-eric-kim
May 13, 2022 - Join us for this discussion on North Korea's evolving economy, state, and society with Dr. Andrew Yeo, the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at The Brookings Institution and Professor of Politics, Catholic University of America. Yeo's new book, State, Society, and Markets in North Korea, examines the extent and limitations of reform and development under leader Kim Jong Un, arguing that, "situational factors will continue to complicate the country’s future domestic prospects." This live webcast discussion is in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program was made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our corporate sponsors.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1579-state-society-and-markets-in-north-korea
May 12, 2022 - Amid intensifying U.S.-China strategic competition, a shifting Indo Pacific regional order, and an undaunted North Korea that continues to develop its nuclear weapons and missile programs, how can South Korea maximize its opportunities and defend against threats? Join us for this conversation about South Korea and a Regional Order in Flux with Dr. Andrew Yeo, SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at The Brookings Institution and Professor of Politics, Catholic University of America, and Dr. Patricia Kim, David M. Rubenstein Fellow at The Brookings Institution, moderated by Korea Society Van Fleet senior fellow Dr. Katrin Katz.
This program was made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our corporate sponsors.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1578-south-korea-and-a-regional-order-in-flux
May 10, 2022 - Join us as Dr. Todd A. Henry, Associate Professor in the Department of History and affiliate faculty member of Critical Gender Studies, Science Studies, and Film Studies at the University of California, San Diego (USCD), launches the Society’s new Current Directions in Korea Studies Series. Dr. Henry, a specialist of modern Korea, a social and cultural historian, and an expert in LGBTQ studies, is well-suited to launch our new series. From 2013 to 2018, he served as the inaugural director of Transnational Korean Studies at UCSD and has researched, lectured, and written extensively on topics of place, race, identity, and nation. From his first book, Assimilating Seoul: Japanese Rule and the Politics of Public Space in Colonial Korea, 1910-1945 (University of California Press, 2014) — the Korean translation of which was awarded a 2020 Sejong Book Prize in History, Geography and Tourism — to his recent edited volume, Queer Korea (Duke University Press, 2020), as well as two forthcoming books and a co-produced documentary on queer histories of authoritarian South Korea (1948-1993), Dr. Henry has been a groundbreaking scholar and an empowering educator in the field.
A frontrunner in promoting explorations of same-sex sexuality, gender variance, and other marginalized aspects of Korean society, culture, and history, Dr. Henry will examine how the field in general and his path specifically have evolved over the past few decades. He will discuss current scholarly, artistic, and activist approaches to non-normative embodiment, including the journey and impact of Queer Korea and his hopes for the future of Korean Studies.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/education/item/1583-queerness-as-an-embodied-and-critical-approach-to-korean-studies-with-todd-henry
May 1, 2022 - A great deal of stigma remains on conversations regarding mental health. Among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, the issue is often shrouded by silence and shame, allowing misconceptions and minimization of mental health concerns. Amid historic levels of anti-Asian violence, it is crucial to recognize the intergenerational trauma from immigration and racism and share stories that show the fullness of the AAPI experience in order to educate and form alliances.
Join us for an illuminating conversation with Dr. Shinhee Han, psychotherapist and co-author of Racial Melancholia, Racial Dissociation: On the Social and Psychic Lives of Asian Americans, and journalist Heidi Shin.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1575-building-resilience-aapi-identity-and-mental-health
April 28, 2022 - A long-married couple is forced to confront their friend’s painful past when a church revival comes to a nearby town … A woman in an arranged marriage struggles to connect with the son she hid from her husband for years … A well-meaning sister unwittingly reunites an abuser with his victims. Skinship by Yoon Choi is a breathtaking debut of an important new voice.
Through an indelible array of lives, Yoon Choi explores where first and second generations either clash or find common ground, where meaning falls in the cracks between languages, where relationships bend under the weight of tenderness and disappointment, where displacement turns to heartbreak. This collection of short stories is suffused with a profound understanding of humanity and offers a searing look at who the people we love truly are.
“To encounter these achingly truthful, beautiful stories of newcomer Americans is like gazing up at the starry vault of a perfect night sky; it’s immediately dazzling and impressive, and yet the closer and deeper you look, the more you appreciate the sheer countless brilliance.” —Chang-rae Lee
Maureen Corrigan/Fresh Air Top 10 Book of the Year ● Longlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection ● An NPR Book Best Book of the Year ● A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1556-a-conversation-with-yoon-choi
April 28, 2022 - With strategic competition between the United States and China intensifying and a new South Korean President set to shift Seoul’s foreign policy preferences, join us for this discussion on US-Korea-China relations, featuring: Dr. Seong-Hyon Lee, Harvard University Fairbank Center visiting scholar and Former Director of Sejong Institute Center for Chinese Studies, Yun Sun, Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the East Asia Program and Director of the China Program at the Stimson Center, Daniel Russel, Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, and Dr. Katrin Katz, Korea Society Van Fleet Senior Fellow, moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is produced in collaboration with Asia Society Policy Institute.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1574-us-korea-china-relations
April 27, 2022 - Join us for this exciting presentation by Ambassador Enna Park about Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. Officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, World Expos are a global gathering of nations dedicated to finding solutions to pressing challenges by offering a journey inside a universal theme through engaging and immersive activities. Korea became one of five candidates to host the World Expo after submitting its bid in June 2021. The other candidates are Moscow, Odessa, Rome, and Ryadh. The host country will be determined by the 170 BIE (Bureau International des Expositions) Member States in 2023, with each country casting one vote. Busan’s bid is based on the theme “Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future.” Busan is a global hub of both commerce and culture. This city is a transportation and logistics hub for Northeast Asia and its vibrant atmosphere is an incubator for artists such as musicians and filmmakers. In the future, Busan seeks to become an eco-friendly, smart city that harnesses Korea’s advanced digital technologies. Busan’s openness, diversity, and inclusivity make it the ideal host for the 2030 World Expo. If the bid succeedes, the Expo will take place in the city of Busan between May and October 2030.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1576-busan-s-bid-for-world-expo-2030-with-ambassador-enna-park
April 19, 2022 - The Korea Society is pleased to invite Mr. Kyung Shik Sohn, Chairman of CJ Group, for a conversation with the Society’s President/CEO Tom Byrne. In this upcoming episode of our President’s Interview Series, Chairman Sohn will discuss his remarkable success in growing CJ’s diversified businesses domestically and globally, and how CJ is managing an increasingly challenging global business climate. He will also inform us on his contributions to forging stronger U.S.-Korea ties. Chairman Sohn will also talk about his remarkable career and his vision as one of the most respected and influential leaders in the Korean business community.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1570-interview-with-cj-group-chairman-kyung-shik-sohn
April 7, 2022 - Riding the Korean Wave sweeping the world, the traditional Korean costumes have become increasingly visible in global media. In 2021, hanbok - the generic term referring to traditional style Korean clothing - was registered in the Oxford English Dictionary. In this comprehensive series of lectures, Dr. Minjee Kim, the preeminent scholar of Korean textile and fashion in the U.S., illustrates and elucidates hanbok in sartorial, socio-cultural, and historical contexts.
In the second lecture of the series, Dr. Kim discusses some distinctive qualities of men's hanbok in comparison with other dress traditions; terminologies of the components and their structural parts; colors, materials, and embellishments; and symbols and ideas behind design principles and ways of dress.
YouTube video with slides:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2-MFWJJn7s
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1560-hanbok-a-new-lexicon-of-world-fashion-men-s-hanbok
April 6, 2022 - Do you wonder what it takes and how to build success as an entrepreneur? Although interested, do you find running a startup company quite intimidating? If your answer is yes, join us for our upcoming Young Professionals’ Network program and take your passion to the next level.
The Korea Society is delighted to host a panel discussion featuring three successful Korean American entrepreneurs and startup expert – Ryan Kim (Founder and CEO, Kim’C Market), Sol Park (Managing Director, Korea International Trade Association) and Jun Yoon (Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Culinary Agents and Vice President, Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE). The discussion will be led by moderator Sang Lee, President of KSE and CEO of VegaX and Konstellation.
In this event, the panelists will spark thought-provoking conversations and inspire a new generation of leaders. They will delve into the realities, challenges, and success they experienced building their entrepreneurial ventures. The discussion will also provide the most important, transformative advice reflecting current K-startup business trends and success stories and share tactical strategies for new Korean businesses in building a solid ground in the US.
Come open-minded, find your potential, and kick start your entrepreneurial journey.
The Korea Society is excited to present this Young Professionals’ Network in partnership with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE).
This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1568-k-startups-empowering-the-future-of-young-entrepreneurs
March 31, 2022 - Sibling defectors from Pyongyang Seohyun Lee and Hyun-Seung Lee discuss their life in North Korea, their journey to escape, and their transition to life in the United States, alongside Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) President & CEO Hannah Song, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. Hyunseung and Seohyun Lee are prominent North Korean activists and siblings. They're the children of Ri Jong-ho, a high ranking North Korean defector who worked for decades in “Office 39,” which generates revenue for the North Korean leadership. Hyun-Seung and Seohyun were raised in Pyongyang, educated in China, and escaped North Korea in 2014 with their family after witnessing a series of brutal purges by Kim Jong Un. They speak to their experience as millennials from Pyongyang and share the true nature of the Kim regime and the reality of life in North Korea. The event marks the anniversary of the February 2014 publication of the historic UN Commission of Inquiry report on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
This program is made possible by the generous support from the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1548-pyonghattan-escapees-from-north-korea-s-capital
March 29, 2022 - New York Times staff writer Eric Kim grew up in Atlanta, the son of two Korean immigrants. Food has always been central to his story, from Friday-night Korean barbecue with his family to hybridized Korean-ish meals for one that he makes in his tiny New York City apartment. In his debut cookbook, Kim shares these recipes alongside insightful, touching stories and stunning images shot by photographer Jenny Huang. Playful, poignant, and vulnerable, Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home explores how new culinary traditions can be forged to honor both your past and your present.
In a conversation with Irene Yoo, Kim discusses his career in food writing and his debut cookbook.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1567-korean-american-food-that-tastes-like-home-with-eric-kim
March 22, 2022 - Womens’ Universities have emerged as premier institutions in higher education, amplifying womens’ voices from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. In the fourth installation of our Womens’ Leadership Series, please join us at The Korea Society to hear from Dr. Eun Mee Kim, President of Ewha Womans University in Seoul, and Dr. Sian Leah Beilock, President of Barnard College in New York City. They will share their experiences as presidents of two eminent women's colleges with long traditions in providing the highest-quality of liberal arts education, and they will also share their visions as thought leaders in new fields, new ideas and new technologies emerging in higher education in Korea and the U.S.
The conversation will be moderated by Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. Ambassador to Korea and Korea Society Board Chair. Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society will deliver special welcoming remarks.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1566-women-in-higher-education-a-discussion-with-dr-eun-mee-kim-dr-sian-leah-beilock
Recorded on Friday, March 18, 2022
March 15, 2022 marks the 10-year anniversary of the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). In celebration of this remarkable milestone, The Korea Society invites ROK Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo for a conversation with Korea Society President Tom Byrne.
The discussion assesses the achievements of the first decade of the KORUS FTA and the broader effects it has had on the Korea-U.S. bilateral relationship. It also examines future prospects of the two countries’ trade relationship and the deepening of the economic partnership between the two countries, while also examining the evolution of the trade architecture in the Indo-Pacific region.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1564-interview-with-rok-trade-minister-han-koo-yeo
March 8, 2022 - Soo Hugh, an acclaimed producer/writer and executive producer of Pachinko, one of the most anticipated drama series of 2022, talks about her career in television and the journey of adapting the bestselling novel into a series. Hugh will also be joined by Ria Tobaccowala, with whom she has launched The Thousand Miles Project, an incubator program to help bring more API stories to cinematic life and jumpstart fruitful careers in the entertainment industry.
Pachinko, which premiers on Apple TV+ in late March, is based on the international best-selling novel of the same name. Epic in scope but intimate in tone, the series chronicles the hopes and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family. It begins with a forbidden love and crescendos into a sweeping saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and America to tell the unforgettable story of war and peace, love and loss, triumph and reckoning.
The Korea Society Young Professionals’ Night program consists of industry professionals who share their career experiences and advice with the audience. It provides a wonderful opportunity for networking, and all professionals seeking to expand their careers are encouraged to come.
This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1561-the-showrunners-with-soo-hugh-and-ria-tobaccowala
March 7, 2022 - In advance of the Republic of Korea 2022 presidential election, the eighth since Korea’s democratization, The Korea Society invites experts in Seoul for a live webcast discussion with a forecast and impact analysis. Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Seoul/Tokyo bureau chief for The Washington Post, Karl Friedhoff, Marshall M. Bouton Fellow for Asian Studies at The Chicago Council, Jeongmin Kim, Lead Correspondent at NK News and NK Pro, and Dr. Katrin Katz, Korea Society’s Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow, join policy director Jonathan Corrado to discuss the implications of the vote for Korea, the U.S.-ROK Alliance and relationship, inter-Korean relations, and coordination on North Korea policy.
This program is made possible by the generous support from the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1559-korea-s-presidential-election-forecast-and-impact-analysis
February 24, 2022 - A Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) Live Seminar on the New Economy of Korean Peninsula featuring Korea Society President Tom Byrne as panelist.
Date & Time: February 24th, Thursday, 08:45–16:10 (KST)
Venue: Grand Hyatt Seoul, Seoul (Online).
Sponsor: Ministry of Unification.
Full length seminar is available at KIEP's YouTube page - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5AnUAeQKG8
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.kiep.go.kr/
February 23, 2022 - Join us for this discussion of Korean Smart Power, exploring opportunities and obstacles for Korea to leverage its cultural influence to advance its national interests, featuring Bernie Cho, President of DFSB Kollective, Jenna Gibson, PhD candidate at the University of Chicago, John Delury, Yonsei University Professor, and Victoria Kim, former LA Times correspondent, in discussion with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. In a wide ranging conversation spanning regions and industries, the panelists discuss the role of Seoul’s music, film, television, and education sectors in expanding Korean influence and prestige throughout its neighborhood and the world at large, as well as the impact this has for Korea’s diplomatic and geopolitical aims.
This program is made possible by the generous support from the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1552-korean-smart-power
February 17, 2022 - Riding the Korean Wave sweeping the world, the traditional Korean costumes have become increasingly visible in global media. In 2021, hanbok - the generic term referring to traditional style Korean clothing - was registered in the Oxford English Dictionary. In this comprehensive series of lectures, Dr. Minjee Kim, the preeminent scholar of Korean textile and fashion in the U.S., illustrates and elucidates hanbok in sartorial, socio-cultural, and historical contexts.
In the first lecture of the series, Dr. Kim discusses some distinctive qualities of women's hanbok in comparison with other dress traditions; terminologies of the components and their structural parts; colors, materials, and embellishments; and symbols and ideas behind design principles and ways of dress.
Minjee Kim is a historian and lecturer specializing in Korean dress and textiles, based in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2001. She received her PhD from Seoul National University, and formerly taught at Jeonju Kijeon College and Seoul National University in Korea, and Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is a co-editor of Dress History in Korea: Critical Perspectives on Primary Sources (London: Bloomsbury, forthcoming).
YouTube video with slides:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaMfaisyFlw
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1551-hanbok-a-new-lexicon-of-world-fashion-women-hanbok
February 15, 2022 - The role of medical doctors is important now more than ever in this pandemic era. The impact of influential Youtubers is also increasing, as the public heavily relies on the platform to obtain and share information. Yet it is rare to use both the titles of Doctor and Youtube creator to describe one person’s career like Dr. Jang’s.
The Korea Society is excited to welcome Dr. Ezra Hangjun Jang, Internal medicine specialist and renowned host of the Youtube channel, “Dr. Ezra Hangjun Jang”. Dr. Jang has amassed a significant YouTube following with more than 525,000 subscribers, allowing for a substantial audience to learn crucial information from each of his videos.
Join us as we listen to Dr. Jang’s insights on educating audiences through his Youtube Channel on healthcare matters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Jang will also highlight his career developments in becoming a doctor as well as a star Youtuber in the U.S.
The discussion will be led by moderator Dr. John Yoo, Pediatric Dentist of Beam City Dental and host of the popular Youtube channels, JBRO and Dr. John Yoo.
This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1558-a-medical-doctor-and-youtube-influencer-in-the-pandemic-era
February 15, 2022 - Join us for the second edition in our Global View series, a discussion with Yale University Elihu Professor of History Odd Arne Westad on the subject of his book Empire and Righteous Nation: 600 Years of China-Korea Relations, hosted jointly with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP). The discussion is moderated by Korea Society Board Chair Ambassador (ret.) Kathleen Stephens, and introductions are provided by NCAFP president and CEO Ambassador (ret.) Susan Elliott and Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne. This program will be live webcast for a virtual audience. Please RSVP to receive the viewing link by clicking the button below. There will also be a limited in-person audience by invitation only.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1553-empire-and-righteous-nation-600-years-of-china-korea-relations
February 2, 2022 - In the midst of supply chain shortages and increasing competition, how can the US and Korea partner on critical technologies and address national security imperatives? Join for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities for enhanced US-Korea tech and digital cooperation, featuring Dr. Miyeon Oh, director and senior fellow of the Asia Security Initiative in the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, and Troy Stangarone, Senior Director and Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI), in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1544-towards-a-us-korea-tech-alliance
January 6, 2022 - Join for a discussion on the future of North Korea policy, featuring: Frank Aum, senior expert on Northeast Asia at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Dagyum Ji, journalist for The Korea Herald covering North Korea and security, and Bruce Klingner, Senior Research Fellow for Northeast Asia at The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado, and with an introduction by Korea Society president & CEO Tom Byrne. Following a New Year's address by North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un, the panelists discuss what's next for North Korea policy, including analysis of various diplomatic approaches, changes to the internal situation, and implications for the U.S.-ROK Alliance.
For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1547-a-new-north-korea-policy
December 14, 2021 - Join us for this program co-hosted by The Korea Society and The National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) about the Korean Peninsula in the global perspective, featuring Walter Russell Mead, Global View Columnist at The Wall Street Journal and the James Clarke Chace Professor of Foreign Affairs and Humanities at Bard College. The discussion is moderated by Korea Society president & CEO Tom Byrne, with an introduction from NCAFP Board Chair Jeffrey R. Shafer.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1539-global-view-on-the-korean-peninsula
December 9, 2021 - When YouTube began sharing revenue directly with creators, an entirely new industry was born. Today, there are over 2 million creators around the world in its monetization program, building thriving businesses by sharing their own content to the worldwide audience. Among the most innovative and passionate YouTubers are those hailing from South Korea.
Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer at YouTube discusses the rise of K-content and the new creator economy; with Park Young Sun, former minister of SMEs and Startups of Republic of Korea; Bernie Cho, President of DFSB Kollective; and Dr. Sue Mi Terry, Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy Wilson Center; moderated by Korean YouTuber Seungkug Lee.
This program is made possible by the generous support from YouTube.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1542-k-content-youth-economy-beyond
December 8, 2021 - Join us for a conversation between Mr. Hak Cheol Shin, Chief Executive Officer of LG Chem, and Tom Byrne, the President and CEO of The Korea Society. In this third episode of the ‘President’s Interview Series,’ Mr. Shin will discuss his remarkable career starting out from 3M Korea and serving as the Vice Chair at 3M headquarter in the U.S. to his current role as the CEO of LG Chem. Since Mr. Shin took office in 2019, LG Chem's market capitalization in the Korean stock market has more than doubled to 55 trillion won (US$46.6 billion) from 24 trillion won (US$20.3 billion).
This interview will provide an opportunity to learn more about Mr. Shin’s role and leadership in LG Chem’s growth during the past two years as well as the company’s ESG based expanding business portfolio and the next growth engine moving forward. This program was recorded at LG Chem headquarters in Seoul when President Byrne recently visited South Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1541-interview-with-lg-chem-ceo-hak-cheol-shin
December 7, 2021 - An epic story of love, war, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Korean independence movement, Beasts of a Little Land follows the intertwined fates of a young girl sold to a courtesan school and the penniless son of a hunter. From the perfumed chambers of a courtesan school in Pyongyang to the glamorous cafes of a modernizing Seoul and the boreal forests of Manchuria, where battles rage, Juhea Kim’s unforgettable characters forge their own destinies as they wager their nation’s. Immersive and elegant, Beasts of a Little Land unveils a world where friends become enemies, enemies become saviors, heroes are persecuted, and beasts take many shapes.
Join in the conversation with author Juhea Kim about her debut novel.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1528-beasts-of-a-little-land-with-juhea-kim
December 2, 2021 - Food writer Eric Kim is known for sharing recipes accompanied with thoughtful storytelling and reflection. At first Kim pursued academia, teaching undergraduate literature courses while working towards a PhD in American Literature at Columbia. He unexpectedly found his path to success by writing and curating content for leading publishers in food media such as Food Network, Food52, and Saveur. Today, Kim is a staff writer at the New York Times and next year he will release his highly-anticipated debut cookbook Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home. Join us as Kim reflects on his career in food journalism, multimedia content creation, and book publishing.
The Korea Society Young Professionals’ Night program consists of industry professionals who share their career experiences and advice with the audience. It provides a wonderful opportunity for networking, and all professionals seeking to expand their careers are encouraged to come.
This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1538-new-food-media-with-eric-kim
December 2, 2021 - Pacific Forum President Emeritus and WSD-Handa Chair in Peace Studies Ralph Cossa provides a media and member-friendly wrap-up of the year by way of politics and security on and around the Korean Peninsula, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. A member of the ASEAN Regional Forum’s Experts and Eminent Persons Group, Cossa reflects on wider regional trends as well, to include Korea’s dealing with China-US tensions and US-Korea cooperation in condemning the Myanmar coup.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1518-thinking-northeast-asia-the-year-in-review
Korea Society Inaugural Van Fleet Policy Signature Event
November 17, 2021 - Former Ambassador and Admiral Harry Harris, UNC/CFC/USFK Commander General Robert Abrams, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift will sit down with Korea Society Board Director and former UNC/CFC/USFK Commander General Walter “Skip” Sharp for a discussion exploring Northeast Asia geopolitical and Korean Peninsula security and diplomatic opportunities and challenges from the perspectives of the longstanding ROK - U.S. Alliance. Featuring introductory remarks by Young Woon Kong, President of the Strategic Planning Division of Hyundai Motor Group. Limited in-person audience by invitation, and live webcast.
The Korea Society is grateful to Premium Sponsor Hyundai Motor Company for its generous support of The Inaugural Van Fleet Policy Signature Event.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1516-u-s-diplomacy-and-security-in-korea-2021
November 15, 2021 - Candid analysis from Former Members of Congress on the upcoming US Midterms Elections. How will it impact the Congressional legislative agenda in terms of domestic and foreign policy? What will their foreign trade and security priorities be? How can the US work with allies and partners such as The Republic of Korea? This program is produced in partnership between the Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) and The Korea Society. Featuring the Hon. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT, 2013-2019), the Hon. Mike Bishop (R-MI, 2015-2019), and the Hon. L.F. Payne (D-VA, 1988-1997).
November 12, 2021 - Join us as Seung-yoon Lee, CEO, and Co-Founder of Radish Fiction, shares “lessons learned” from his years of experience in media innovation. Before taking on his current position as the Global Strategy Officer at Kakao Entertainment, he founded Radish Fiction, serialized fiction app bringing curated premium, and original stories to readers everywhere, and Byline, the world's leading crowdfunded journalism platform. Seung-yoon was also recognized as one of the inaugural members of Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia.
Next-generation entrepreneurs, fiction lovers, members, and friends of The Korea Society and Korea Finance Society are all invited to this discussion moderated by Mark Kim from the Korea Finance Society. Following the COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, we will have limited in-person capacity. The registration for in-person attendance will be first-come, first-served basis. The session will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person or prefer to participate virtually.
The Korea Society is excited to present this session of the Young Professionals’ Network series in partnership with the Korea Finance Society (KFS). KFS seeks to build a community to promote the advancement of Korean and Korean-American financial professionals in the United States through networking, education, and mentorship. We are dedicated to providing a platform for sharing expertise among Korean financial professionals, as well as educational and career programs for young Korean financial professionals and college students to maximize their opportunities for career success.
This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1534-lessons-learned-with-ceo-co-founder-of-radish-fiction-seung-yoon-lee
November 4, 2021 - Council on Foreign Relations Director of the Program on US-Korea Policy and Senior Fellow Scott A. Snyder, Atlantic Council Senior Fellow and former U.S. National Intelligence Officer for North Korea Markus Garlauskas, and Stimson Center nonresident fellow Rachel Minyoung Lee join Senior Director Stephen Noerper and Policy Director Jonathan Corrado for a discussion of the latest developments on and around the Korean Peninsula and thoughts on how media, members, and analysts current and aspiring might best hone skills and insights on Korea. As premier analysts with unique insights, Snyder, Garlauskas, and Lee speak to tropes, prejudice and generalizations that stymy sound analysis and suggest ways to approach Peninsular affairs anew.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1517-what-makes-a-great-korea-analyst
November 3, 2021 - Celebrating the 10th year of our Young Professionals’ Network (YPN) series, The Korea Society is excited to announce the YPN 10th Anniversary Special with singer-songwriter Eric Nam, one of the most popular and recognizable celebrities in Asia. As a Korean American singer, songwriter, entertainer, and TV personality from Atlanta, Georgia, Eric has been inspiring his fans and the younger generation through his musical performances and insightful commentary on important contemporary issues. He has been named GQ Korea's Man of the Year and appeared on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia.
Join our YPN Special to hear Eric’s thoughts on balancing the cultural boundary between Korea and the U.S. as an entertainer with a fanbase in both countries. This interview will also provide a rare opportunity to hear Eric's personal story and vision of his life and career.
This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1530-10th-anniversary-special-with-eric-nam
November 1, 2021 - Join us for this conversation about Asian American involvement in U.S. politics featuring Congressman Andy Kim. How has the role of Asian Americans in U.S. politics evolved over time and responded to pressing issues? This conversation is moderated by Tony Kim, board director for The Korea Society and Partner at Centerview Partners. Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne joins the conversation to convey questions from the audience.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1533-asian-american-involvement-in-u-s-politics-featuring-congressman-andy-kim
October 7, 2021 - Stanford University Director of the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, founding director of its Korean Studies program, and William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea Gi-Wook Shin shares insights on rising anti-China sentiments in South Korea and their implications for the upcoming South Korean presidential election, as well as the US-ROK alliance. Professor Shin, in conversation with Senior Director Stephen Noerper, also explores these sentiments relative to Korean feelings toward Japan and the United States.
This event is co-sponsored by Columbia University’s APEC Study Center.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1515-the-rise-of-anti-china-sentiments-in-korea
September 23, 2021 - In the first program of a new series chronicling the rise of global cooperation between the United States and Korea, Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne discusses supply chain resilience and semiconductors in conversation with Tami Overby, McLarty Associates Senior Director and former president of the US Korea Business Council, and John Neuffer, President and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association. The program opens with remarks on the importance of US-Korea cooperation on semiconductors by Won-kyong Kim, the Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics Inc.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1522-the-us-korea-global-partnership-supply-chain-and-semiconductors
September 9, 2021 - Harvard University Director of the Korea Project and Adjunct Lecturer John Park shares insights into recent North Korea developments and China’s interplay. Subsequent to the Moon-Biden summit and marking the anniversary of its mutual defense pact, the PRC and DPRK reaffirmed ties. Park, in conversation with Senior Director Stephen Noerper, sheds light on the implications for stability in Northeast Asia and implications for the US-ROK alliance.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1514-north-korea-inc-and-china
July 22, 2021 - When experts analyze the worldwide success of K-pop, all point to one watershed moment in 2012: Psy's music video Gangnam Style was uploaded to YouTube. As YouTube became the main platform for music video release, K-pop broke through the language and cultural barriers and reached out to the world. Through YouTube, K-pop songs are watched and shared around the globe, and Korean artists communicate with their ever-increasing and dedicated fans everywhere.
Robert Kyncl, Chief Business Officer of YouTube, discusses how YouTube grew its global viewership and impact while promoting the cutting edge of K-culture, especially K-pop, to the world. Joon Park, the leader of the first generation idol group g.o.d., and producer Robert Ock will join the conversation to be moderated by Eva Pilgrim of ABC News.
This program is made possible by the generous support from YouTube.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1511-youtube-k-pop-with-robert-kyncl
July 21, 2021 - Join us for a conversation between Mr. John Rim, President and CEO of Samsung Biologics, and Tom Byrne, the President and CEO of The Korea Society. In this second episode of the ‘President’s Interview Series,’ President Rim will discuss his extensive career and senior leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as his current role as the head of Samsung Biologics. With over 30 years of experience, President Rim played a key leadership role in facilitating the growth of Samsung Biologics into one of the world’s largest contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO).
This interview will also provide an opportunity to learn more about the role of Samsung Biologics in the global biopharmaceutical industry including the recent agreement with the US biotech firm, Moderna, for fill-finish manufacturing of its path breaking mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine. This program was recorded at Samsung Biologics headquarters in Songdo, Incheon when President Byrne recently visited South Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1509-talking-covid-19-vaccine-cooperation-with-president-john-rim
June 15, 2021 - Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon discusses his new book Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World on its release, in conversation with Korea Society board chairwoman Ambassador Kathleen Stephens and with a welcome by Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne. This event is co-hosted with the Korea Economic Institute of America.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1501-resolved-uniting-nations-in-a-divided-world
June 10, 2021 - Nunchi is Korea’s superpower. A sixth sense for winning friends and influencing people, this time-honored skill helps you connect with others so you can succeed in everything from business to politics to love. In The Power of Nunchi: The Korean Secret to Happiness and Success, Euny Hong explains the practice of nunchi in a highly prescriptive guide for social success.
Hong—whose “incisive and humorous” (New York Times Book Review) reporting on Korea is always necessary reading—explains how nunchi is a part of daily life in Korea, how a great deal of communication is based not on words but on the overall context of an interaction. Hong argues that it is what catapulted South Korea in half a century from one of the world’s poorest countries to one of its richest, coolest, and most technologically advanced. The Korean economic miracle has always been based on nunchi: the ability to “eye measure” other nations’ rapidly evolving needs, manufacture export products to meet them, and adjust plans based on the universe’s only constant—change.
In everything from finding love to excelling at work, Hong’s simple, effective, and relatable guide to mastering nunchi will help you to open doors you never knew existed.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1497-power-of-nunchi-with-euny-hong
June 3, 2021 - Join us for this discussion about the dynamics of U.S.-Japan-Korea trade relations and regional economic integration, featuring Asia Society Policy Institute Vice President Wendy Cutler, Waseda University Professor Emeritus and Economic Research Institute for East Asia and ASEAN Senior Research Advisor Shujiro Urata, and Korea Development Institute and Johns Hopkins University Professor Wonhyuk Lim. How can the three countries overcome obstacles to cooperate on shared challenges to achieve prosperity and shape the economic rules of the road? What will the Biden administration mean for U.S. trade policy? This program is co-hosted by the Korea Society, the Japan Society and Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), with moderation by Korea Society president Tom Byrne, and an introduction by Japan Society president Joshua W. Walker.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1487-challenges-and-opportunities-for-u-s-japan-korea-trade-relations
Recorded June 1, 2021 - In our inaugural episode of the ‘President's Interview Series', we are pleased to invite Yongmaan Park, Chairman of Doosan Infracore for a conversation with The Korea Society’s President Tom Byrne. As one of the most successful and powerful business leaders in Korea and the world, Chairman Park will discuss his extensive career and leadership role as the Chairman of Doosan Infracore and former Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Chairman Park will also share his views and insights on key issues and challenges in the U.S.-Korea economic cooperation post pandemic. This interview will also provide a rare opportunity to hear Chairman Park’s personal story and vision of his life.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1495-a-conversation-with-chairman-yongmaan-park
May 25, 2021 - Believe it or not, BTS and Blackpink are not the entirety of Korean popular music. At the birthplace of K-pop, "idol" groups share the stage with the new generation of "trot" singers, power balladeers, hip-hop artists and indie bands. Music critic Youngdae Kim surveys the recent history of popular music in Korea and how it has evolved as K-pop exploded all around the world.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1500-from-ga-yo-to-k-pop
May 25, 2021 - Join us for this rapid response analysis on the first summit meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. In a discussion covering the latest trends regarding the U.S.-Korea Alliance, geostrategic coordination, North Korea issues, and COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy, Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne is joined by former UNC/CFC/USFK Commander General (ret.) Vincent Brooks, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs George W. Ball Adjunct Professor Ambassador (ret.) Christopher R. Hill, and Dr. Peter J. Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1503-u-s-korea-summit-analysis
May 19, 2021 - Do you want to learn more about Covid-19 vaccines and the global vaccination effort? Please join The Korea Society for a conversation on COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution with Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and Tom Byrne, Korea Society President/CEO. Dr. Kim, who was named one of “The 50 Most Influential People in Vaccines” in 2014 by the vaccine industry organization Vaccine Nation, will share the importance of COVID-19 vaccines combating this prolonged pandemic. Dr. Kim will highlight the central role of IVI in accelerating safe and effective vaccines worldwide, provide the most up to date COVID-19 vaccine news, and remark on the challenges surrounding global vaccination.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1498-all-about-covid-19-vaccines-with-global-vaccine-expert-dr-jerome-kim
May 6, 2021 - Statues, paintings, and masks—like the bodies of shamans and spirit mediums—give material form and presence to otherwise invisible entities, and sometimes these objects are understood to be enlivened. Dr. Laurel Kendall explores how magical images are expected to work with the shamans and spirit mediums in contemporary South Korea and compares the use of these shamanic images with similar practices in Vietnam, Myanmar, and Bali. The question of empowered images concerns not only what they are expected to do but how they are fabricated, marketed, cared for, disposed of, and sometimes transformed into art-market commodities and museum artifacts.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1494-sacred-images-and-magical-things
May 7, 2021 - University of Missouri Assistant Professor and Institute for Korean Studies Co-Director Aram Hur, the 2021 Sherman Scholar award recipient, speaks on May 6 at 3 PM to Korea’s Changing National Story and Democratic Future. Hur addresses Korean nationalism, a “rapidly fragmenting and changing” national story, and the danger of democratic rollback. Senior director Stephen Noerper describes Hur’s selection and address as “incredibly important given the costs of such fragmentation in Korea, but comparatively in the United States of late and by extension to a world seeing rollback in Myanmar, Thailand, Russia and elsewhere.”
During the program, Korea Society President and CEO Tom Byrne introduces Hur, and inaugural Sherman Scholar Award recipient and Columbia University professor Katrin Katz presents her academic resume. Following Hur's presentation, USC Professor and Korean Studies Institute Director David Kang provides commentary, and Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado facilitates the audience discussion.
The annual award and lecture, now in its fifth year, aims to grow US thought leadership on Korea for a new generation. The award is presented across disciplines and to emerging thought leaders, from Ph.D. candidates to junior professors and respective research or non-profit professionals. The award is made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Sherman and family. You can view the presentations of former award winners here.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1482-sherman-family-korea-emerging-scholar-lecture-2021
April 27, 2021 - Join us as we welcome renowned businesswoman Angie Byun as she reflects on her career as a leader in the media, entertainment, and fashion industries. Learn insider secrets about her executive roles with Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker, Wired, and Golf Digest and how those experiences helped her land her current position as CEO at AB WORLD. The discussion will be led by moderator Asiah James, Director of Emerging Audiences at Condé Nast, followed by a Q&A session.
The Korea Society Young Professionals’ Night program consists of industry professionals who share their career experiences and advice with the audience. It provides a wonderful opportunity for networking, and all professionals seeking to expand their careers are encouraged to come.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1489-media-and-entertainment-spotlight-a-conversation-with-ab-world-ceo-angie-byun
April 22, 2021 - Samul nori, the South Korean percussion genre with powerful rhythmic forms, has reached international popularity. First created in Seoul in 1978 by a quartet of musicians, samul nori (which translates simply into "four things play") is a neo-traditional musical repertory that has been performed on many international stages by professional ensembles and amateur musical enthusiasts around the world.
Professor Katherine In-Young Lee explores the history and development of samul nori and its importance as a sonic and cultural symbol of South Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1483-samul-nori-dynamic-rhythms-from-korea
April 21, 2021 - U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) joins The Korea Society to share her journey in becoming one of the first Korean American women elected to Congress in its 230-year history. As an immigrant, small business owner, and previous California State 65th district Assemblywoman, we will explore how Congresswoman Kim pursued the American dream to become a successful Korean American leader and politician.
The conversation will be moderated by Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. Ambassador to Korea and Korea Society Board Chair. Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society will deliver a special welcoming remarks at the event.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1490-women-in-congress-a-conversation-with-u-s-representative-young-kim
April 16, 2021 - Join us for a discussion on regional roles in building inter-Korean peace and unification with Columbia University adjunct professor Katrin Fraser Katz, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior research analyst Kathryn Botto, and Columbia University adjunct professor, Weatherhead East Asian Institute research scholar and Society senior director Stephen Noerper. Policy director Jonathan Corrado moderates the discussion, which enjoys the support of the UniKorea Foundation. Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR) partners for this exciting discussion.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1476-role-of-regional-players-in-inter-korean-peace-and-unification
April 8, 2021 - Once considered a dubious cuisine relegated to the "ethnic food" category, Korean food is now hotter than ever in the United States and beyond. Ingredients like gochugaru and gochujang show up on menus of American fast food chains and local grocery aisles, while Korean cooking shows and meokbang videos have become a genre of their own on streaming platforms and social media, such as Netflix and YouTube. Today, KFC also stands for Korean Fried Chicken and the noodle dish jjapaguri from the Oscar-winning movie Parasite has its own Wikipedia entry.
Professor Robert Ji-Song Ku explores the rising popularity, appreciation, and appropriation of Korean food around the world and particularly in the United States, and its relationship to the global proliferation of Korean popular culture, a phenomenon commonly known as hallyu, the Korean Wave.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1480-hot-hot-hot-korean-food-in-the-age-of-kpop
April 1, 2021 - Stimson Center senior fellow and China Program director Yun Sun and Asia Society Arthur Ross director of the Center for US-China Relations Orville Schell join senior director Stephen Noerper to discuss where Korea sits relative to China and US priorities. They explore China policy in the new US administration, alliances and expectations, and prospects for improvements or further deterioration in Sino-US ties. This program is made possible thanks to the support of the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1477-korea-and-sino-us-relations
March 26, 2021 - Yul Kwon, Google Senior Director of Product Management and the first Asian American winner of the CBS reality show Survivor, will join the Society to share his diverse career trajectories in product management, technology, law, and media. Yul has worked with major government agencies and private companies including Google, Facebook, the Federal Communications Commission, the US Senate, McKinsey, and PBS. As the first Asian American winner of the CBS reality TV show ‘Survivor’, he will also discuss how he used that platform to voice what it means to be a Korean American in today's age. Moderated by TV Journalist & Storyteller Julie Chang.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1479-surviving-the-professional-world-advice-from-yul-kwon
March 25, 2021 - There is a long and illustrious history of fermentation in Korean cuisine. Different types of fermented food - doenjang, ganjang, gochujang, and kimchi to name just a few - are integral and essential to the Korean way of eating and cooking.
Join Irene Yoo as she provides an overview of Korean art of fermentation and tips on how to incorporate Korean fermented food in your everyday cooking.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1475-the-korean-art-of-fermentation
March 18, 2021 - Michael D. Shin, a Fellow of Robinson College, Cambridge, looks at the late Joseon period and the Japanese colonial period to examine the historical causes of Korean division and investigate their impact on inter-Korean reconciliation in this program supported by the UniKorea Foundation. Understanding the deep historical causes of Korean division sheds light on the persistence of the division after the end of the Cold War.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1465-the-historical-causes-of-korea-s-division-and-challenges-to-reconciliation
March 11, 2021 - The saga of King Sukjong, Queen Inhyeon, and Concubine Jang Hui-bin is one of the most famous episodes in the 500-year-long history of Joseon dynasty. Filled with palace intrigues and passionate love affairs, the story of the 19th king of Joseon, his virtuous queen, and one of the most infamous women in the history of Joseon dominates the popular culture and imagination even today. But what was the real story behind the legend?
Professor Minsoo Kang, who recently published a translation of Record of the Virtue of Queen Inhyeon, Lady Min, speaks about the importance of this story, the historical myth that has built around the characters, and its place in modern Korean society.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1474-the-king-the-virtuous-queen-and-his-wicked-consort
March 4, 2021 - Join us as Nelson Chai, Chief Financial Officer of Uber, shares "lessons learned" from more than a decade of experience in senior positions at some of the world's leading publicly traded companies, including Uber, CIT Group, Merrill Lynch, and NYSE Euronext, among others. Members and friends of The Korea Society and Korea Finance Society are invited to the discussion, moderated by Korea Finance Society Co-Chairman Mike Joo and Sandor Hau.
The Korea Society is excited to present this Young Professionals’ Night webcast in partnership with the Korea Finance Society (KFS). KFS seeks to build a community to promote the advancement of Korean and Korean-American financial professionals in the United States through networking, education, and mentorship. We are dedicated to providing a platform for sharing expertise among Korean financial professionals, as well as educational and career programs for young Korean financial professionals and college students to maximize their opportunities for career success.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1469-lessons-learned-with-nelson-chai
March 4, 2021 - Since the pandemic started, restaurant and food service businesses had to combine flexibility and ingenuity in order to survive. Constantly dealing with ever-changing regulations and restrictions, restaurateurs had to quickly pivot and develop new business models, including outdoor dining and shipping nationwide.
Join us for a roundtable conversation with three Korean American restaurateurs in New York - Christina Jang of New Wonjo; Simon Kim of Cote; and Ray Park of Red Poke - as they discuss the challenges they face during the pandemic and the future of restaurants.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1470-restaurants-in-the-covid-19-era-a-roundtable
March 4, 2021 - Woodrow Wilson Center director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy Jean Lee converses with senior director Stephen Noerper on ROK-DPRK relations. They address impasse and opportunity between North Korea and South Korea and offer recommendations for US and other policy makers on peninsular realities and possibilities. This program is made possible thanks to support from the Korea Foundation.
The Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR) is a promotional partner for this program.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1464-new-developments-in-inter-korean-relations
February 26, 2021 - In the second episode of our Women’s Leadership series, we are pleased to welcome South Korean Minister for Trade Yoo Myung-hee for a conversation on her 25-year career in shaping the international trade infrastructure. As Deputy Minister for FTA Negotiations, and later Director-General for Bureau of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Yoo Myung-hee has been at the forefront of numerous high-profile trade agreements, including the 2018 US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) and the 2019 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, Minister Yoo has been integral in reforming Korea’s trade policy to respond to the current crisis as well as providing an outlook on the future of multilateral trade after COVID-19. The first female trade minister for the Republic of Korea, Minister Yoo will speak on her accomplishments and challenges in the field of international trade and cooperation as well as remark on her candidacy for Director-General of the World Trade Organization as one of two final candidates.
Moderated by Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, former US Ambassador to Korea and Korea Society Board Chair, this discussion offers a unique opportunity to gain insight from two pioneering female leaders in the U.S. -Korea relationship.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1471-women-in-trade-a-talk-with-trade-minister-yoo-myung-hee
February 23, 2021 - Covid-19 increased online education platforms, replacing classrooms with computer screens all across the globe. This has left many teachers, students, and parents at the mercy of education and consumer technology. Susan Kim, CEO of Edmodo, an education technology company with over 100 million users worldwide, joins The Korea Society to discuss consumer technology, online education, and start ups in the modern age. Based on her multiple leadership roles including Google, eBay, and EatWith, she will give insights on business, start-ups, and the edtech industry and how it will shape the future. The discussion will be led by a moderator Sang Lee, President of Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE) and President and CEO of DarcMatter and Konstellation.
The Korea Society is excited to present this Young Professionals’ Night webcast in partnership with the Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE) and Council of Korean Americans (CKA).
KSE is a nonprofit organization seeking to cultivate and develop the technology startup ecosystem in the United States, particularly involving Korean-American and South Korean founded companies.
The Council of Korean Americans (CKA) is a national nonprofit organization seeking to advance the national voice and influence of the Korean American community through collaboration and leadership development.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1472-a-conversation-with-edmodo-ceo-susan-kim
February 18, 2021 - Join us for a discussion about scenarios for North Korean development and inter-Korean economic integration. Seoul National University economics Professor Byung-Yeon Kim, former World Bank economist and a consultant on Asian affairs Brad Babson, and NK Pro analyst Peter Ward join Korea Society President Tom Byrne in conversation. Together, they investigate what domestic reforms will be necessary to empower development and forecast potential roles for South Korea, the U.S. and the international community. Korea Society Policy Director Jonathan Corrado moderates audience questions.
This program is supported by a grant from the UniKorea Foundation.
This event is co-sponsored by the Columbia University’s APEC Study Center.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1456-pathways-to-a-brighter-future-for-north-korea-s-economy
February 4, 2021 - The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) executive director Greg Scarlatoiu and Bush Institute senior fellow Victor Cha join senior director Stephen Noerper for a discussion of human rights in North Korea and its placement on the Biden administration’s new policy agenda. The event marks the anniversary of the historic UN Commission of Inquiry report release. This program is made possible thanks to support from the Korea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1463-human-rights-and-north-korea-honoring-the-anniversary-of-the-un-commission-of-inquiry-report
January 28, 2021 - In our inaugural episode of The Korea Society's Women in Leadership series, we are pleased to welcome Ambassador Kathleen Stephens for a conversation on her distinguished career. Having extensive experience in international relations, Amb. Stephens, a decorated former U.S. diplomat, will share her special and deep connections to Korea. She will also highlight her involvement in promoting the U.S-Korea relationship as a former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Peace Corps volunteer, and current President of Korea Economic Institute and Chair of The Korea Society.
Please join our inspiring interview with Amb. Stephens as she remarks on her challenges and progress in her glass ceiling shattering career, as well as her efforts to support and amplify women’s voices. The discussion will be led by a moderator, Vivian Lee, Emmy-winning TV journalist.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/women-s-leadership-in-the-u-s-korea-relationship/item/1462
January 26, 2021 - North Korea senior analysts Robert Carlin and Glyn Ford speak about the political and economic implications of the party congress with senior director Stephen Noerper. Stanford University’s Carlin and Track2Asia’s Ford provide critical insight on possibilities for change, impasse and next steps in this timely, newsmaker event. This program is made possible thanks to support from the Korea Foundation.
The Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR) is a promotional partner for this program.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1460-north-korea-s-eighth-party-congress
January 24, 2021 - 14-year-old Eun-hee moves through life like a hummingbird searching for a taste of sweetness wherever she may find it. Ignored by her parents and abused by her brother, she finds her escape by roaming the neighborhood with her best friend, going on adventures, exploring young love and experiencing everything that comes with growing up in a country on the brink of enormous change.
Written and directed by Bora Kim and starring the extraordinary young actress Ji-Hu Park, House of Hummingbird delicately captures a turning point in a young woman's life.
Bora Kim, writer-director of House of Hummingbird, joins the Korea Society for a director's talk.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1459-house-of-hummingbird-streaming-and-a-director-s-talk
January 13, 2021 - The Magical Language of Others is a powerful and aching memoir, a tale of deep bonds to family, place, and language.
After living in America for over a decade, Eun Ji Koh’s parents return to South Korea for work, leaving fifteen-year-old Eun Ji and her brother behind in California. Overnight, Eun Ji finds herself abandoned and adrift in a world made strange by her mother’s absence. Her mother writes letters, in Korean, over the years seeking forgiveness and love―letters Eun Ji cannot fully understand until she finds them years later hidden in a box.
In this incandescent memoir, E. J. Koh fearlessly grapples with forgiveness, reconciliation, legacy, and intergenerational trauma. Join us for an in-depth conversation with E. J. Koh about her memoir, poetry, and translation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1455-the-magical-language-of-others-with-e-j-koh
December 16, 2020 - Six years ago, the founders of the online dating service Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) sat down with The Korea Society to share their stories on starting a new business. (Click Here) Today, we rejoin CMB to discuss how they have reached and managed their success to become one of the major online dating services globally. A Korean American entrepreneur Dawoon Kang, Co-founder and Chief Dating Officer of CMB, will share her knowledge on starting new business, marketing insights, and practical advice to young professionals interested in establishing their own business. We will also explore the art of online dating while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion will be led by a moderator Sang Lee, President of Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE) and CEO of Darc Matter, followed by a Q&A session.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1453-getting-together-with-coffee-meets-bagel
A joint program with NCNK
Featuring:
Gen (ret.) Vincent Brooks
Suzanne DiMaggio
Amb. Jeffrey Feltman
in conversation with Keith Luse and Stephen Noerper
To learn more, visit www.ncnk.org and www.koreasociety.org
December 10, 2020 - In K-pop Confidential, the YA novel from journalist Stephan Lee, a Korean-American girl plunges into the complex world of an idol factory and K-pop trainees in South Korea while staying true to herself in the process.
Join us for a lively conversation with Stephan Lee about his debut novel and everything K-pop, including its ever-increasing popularity in the U.S., the challenges the K-pop trainees face, and the issues Korean Americans grapple with as they find their own heritage.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1452-k-pop-confidential-with-stephan-lee
December 10, 2020 - In this podcast interview, Andray Abrahamian offers insights from his new book, Being in North Korea, an exploration of North Korean society from the inside, citing personal experiences gained by the author over 30 trips to the DPRK. In conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado, Abrahamian discusses interactions from his time working at a nonprofit that teaches North Koreans about entrepreneurship and economic policy. Abrahamian is a senior adjunct fellow at Pacific Forum. Sign up below to ensure that you receive a link to the podcast interview when it's released on December 10.
Published by Stanford University APARC and distributed by Brookings University, the book is available for sale here.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1440-being-in-north-korea-a-special-podcast-interview-with-andray-abrahamian
December 3, 2020 - South Korea in the 1950s was home to a burgeoning film culture, one of the many “Golden Age cinemas” that flourished in Asia during the postwar years. One of the most important filmmakers of the time was Han Hyung-Mo, director of the era’s most glamorous and popular women’s pictures including the blockbuster Madame Freedom (1956).
Christina Klein provides an illuminating analysis of Han's career and films with careful attention to key issues of modernity—such as feminism, cosmopolitanism, and consumerism.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1451-cold-war-cosmopolitan-han-hyung-mo-korean-cinema-of-the-1950s
December 3, 2020 - Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy Scott Snyder joins Senior Director Stephen Noerper to discuss next steps on denuclearization and dialogue with North Korea post-US Presidential election. Snyder, author of South Korea at the Crossroads, weighs the likelihood of a North Korean test or other attention-grabber pre or post-inauguration, the dispositions of Washington, Seoul and Pyongyang, and the possibility of renewed talks.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1446-next-steps-with-north-korea
November 19. 2020 - The global recognition of K-pop, K-drama, and K-movies has brought with it much interest in Korean translation. Recently, Sharon Choi, a freelance translator for Bong Joon Ho, the Oscar-winning Director of ‘Parasite’, received much international attention for her excellent translation work.
If you are bilingual in Korean and English, seeking a career in the translation industry, or even interested in Korean language, this YPN program is the perfect chance to learn more about this exciting profession. Join us for a discussion with Wansoo Suh, a NYC-based, renowned freelance interpreter, on her professional experiences throughout her 25 year career. Learn about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the translation world with our moderator Janet Cushey, a young professional who is in her early career in the media and translation industry.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1450-the-korean-wave-and-translation-a-conversation-with-wansoo-suh
November 19, 2020 - Join us for a discussion on international economic sanctions on North Korea with William Newcomb, Fellow at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies and former Member of the Panel of Experts on DPRK Sanctions at the United Nations, Darya Dolzikova of the Royal United Services Institute, and Cameron Trainer of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. In a conversation moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado, the three experts discuss the role of sanctions in the negotiation process, proliferation finance, maritime evasion, implementation challenges, humanitarian exemptions, and multilateral coordination.
This program is supported by a grant from the UniKorea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1435-north-korean-sanctions-and-adaptation
November 18, 2020 - When David Yoon’s debut novel Frankly In Love hit shelves last year, it was an instant New York Times bestseller and a William C. Morris Award finalist. With his sophomore novel Super Fake Love Song, David Yoon offers another contemporary YA must-read where a case of mistaken identity kicks off a string of (fake) events that just may lead to (real) love.
Join us for an in-depth conversation with David Yoon as he discusses his career and highly-anticipated second novel.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1449-a-conversation-with-david-yoon
November 12, 2020 - Television as we know it has transformed in the last two decades, away from network television mainly produced in the form of sitcoms, police procedurals, and medical or courtroom dramas, towards serial narratives, with clear storylines developed across episodes. At the same time, the notion of “quality television” has changed the way we evaluate TV content, from intentionally mindless entertainment to innovative cultural works. These shifts have been fortuitous for the rise in popularity of Korean television shows in the US, since Korean narrative television has long been formatted as stand-alone, complete series, with clearly defined beginnings and endings.
Dr. Michelle Cho will introduce you to the characteristics of Korean television serials (K-dramas) that account for their intense binge-ability, and contextualize the place of Korean television content in our increasingly global media landscape.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1359-k-drama-fever-global-tv-in-the-us
November 10, 2020 - The Korea Society and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) are delighted to present Leveraging Big Data, AI, and Patents for Business Growth on November 10th, 2020 from 6pm to 8pm EST.
Our first session will feature Tim Hwang, CEO of FiscalNote. FiscalNote is a global technology and media company that Tim co-founded in 2013 at the age of 21. FiscalNote feeds big data to a powerful machine learning algorithm to provide its clients with the right policy information and AI-driven insights to better navigate market risk and uncertainty and maximize new opportunities. In 2016, the World Economic Forum announced FiscalNote as Technology Pioneers, and Forbes named Tim in its annual 30 Under 30 list. TaeSoo Sean Kim, Partner at Ice Miller LLP, will leverage his own expertise in IP and technology licensing while moderating the talk with Tim. You will expect to hear Tim’s personal journey as a tech entrepreneur, FiscalNote's business and growth strategy, IP portfolio management strategy, and Tim’s vision in running a successful and socially responsible data analytics company in today’s politically tumultuous times.
The second session will be a lecture led by two prominent patent attorneys based in Washington, D.C. Michael Dzwonczyk and Hyunseok Park at Sughrue Mion, PLLC will enlighten us on patent challenge proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. A patent clearance search may reveal certain patents held by others that your company needs to consider in the product development process. You wish to proceed with your proposed design concept, but also want to minimize any risk potential for patent infringement claims. What options do you have? Michael and Hyunseok will explain key differences among Ex Parte Reexamination (EPR), Inter Partes Review (IPR), and Post-Grant Review (PGR), and offer guidance on invalidation grounds, standards, cost, time, and likelihood of success. The audience will gain a solid understanding of how each patent challenge avenue best meets client priorities and circumstances.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1448-leveraging-big-data-ai-and-patents-for-business-growth
November 5, 2020 - Washington insiders Keith Luse, Executive Director of the National Committee on North Korea, and Frank Jannuzi, President and CEO of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, reflect on the results of the US Presidential election for Korea and Northeast Asia in conversation with Senior Director Stephen Noerper. Luse and Jannuzi, both longtime, former Senate Foreign Relations Committee senior staff members, opine on the impact by way of policy and personalities, as well as potential new initiatives.
This event is co-hosted by the Columbia Business School’s APEC Study Center.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1434-after-the-us-presidential-election-gauging-the-results-for-korea-and-northeast-asia
October 29, 2020 - After the success of Crazy Rich Asians and Parasite, the demand for representation of Asians and Asian-Americans on screen is rising. But what about behind the camera? Listen to our conversation with three Korean-American directors - Andrew Ahn, So Yong Kim, and Lee Isaac Chung- as they discuss their films and careers, their experience of working within and outside of the Hollywood system, and the challenges they face when they try to bring their own story to the screen.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1439-korean-american-directors-a-roundtable
October 27, 2020 - The Korea Society is pleased to join KOTRA in presenting valuable lessons on career development through the K-Move program series. K-Move is a project that KOTRA has been organizing for younger Korean audiences abroad, while inviting leading professionals from different fields to share their stories on employment and settlement in the U.S.
In this meaningful program, the Society and KOTRA, as co-hosts, will offer words of hope and encouragement to the young Korean professionals of today with their life and career experiences.
The recent pandemic and its enormous impact on the global economy have led to unfortunate and difficult situations for Korean job seekers in the U.S. The experienced group of mentors invited will provide useful advice and directions on how we could overcome those challenges in this unprecedented time.
[K-Move] Developing Your Career with Mentorship will consist of two separate sessions. In the first part, a renowned guest speaker, Soonkyu Shin, will talk about his success as a 22-year veteran of Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH) as well as a writer despite the challenges as a blind person. Mr. Shin will share his life experiences on how he immigrated to the United States, chose his career, overcame challenges, and set up his life mottos and plans.
In the second part, we will provide practical employment tips that could be immediately applicable to the real-life situation. This will be held in a form of ‘panel discussion’, which will be led by a moderator, William Juhn, Attorney at Eisenberg & Baum's Law Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and with two successful Korean American mentors: Esther Ahn, Head of User Experience for YouTube TV, and Ye Jin Kim, Senior Vice President, Global Creative at IT Cosmetics. They will not only share the episodes of their employment process, their employment strategies, but also will prospect potential limitations and solutions in the current job market. The discussion will be followed by a 10 minute Q&A session.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1444-k-move-a-webinar-developing-your-career-with-mentorship
October 15, 2020 - Join us for this discussion on prospects for a peace regime and inter-Korean social integration with Frank Aum, United States Institute of Peace, Hannah Song, President & CEO at Liberty in North Korea, Rachel Minyoung Lee, former intelligence analyst for the U.S. government, and Joseph Kim, Human Freedom Initiative, George W. Bush Institute. How might the U.S. and South Korea cooperate with regional partners to pursue a long term peace process? How do generational dynamics and social changes in North and South Korea affect inter-Korean cooperation?
This program is supported by a grant from the UniKorea Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1431-new-views-on-korean-peace-regime-and-unification
October 8, 2020 - Trefoil or “three-leaved plant” is a stylized form found in artifacts and architecture across culture and time. Dr. Minjee Kim begins the story with her first encounter with a gold headdress ornament of the Balhae kingdom (698-926) and traces the migration of its trefoil form throughout the 4th-6th century across Asia. Then, she travels to France, where “fleur-de-lis” adorned French crowns, clothing, textiles, and furniture as a symbol of royalty, leading to its wide contemporary appropriation by many Western institutions. The journey ends with the long and rich tradition in Kyrgyzstan where the motif is still strongly embedded in various realms of material culture of the people.
While offering a view on Korean artifacts within a wider context of material resonance in human history, Dr. Kim highlights the way these artifacts adorned the body and how the craftsmanship was employed to articulate the social hierarchy.
For the video version of this program (including images and slides), go here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS9QlybRpsQ
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1364-a-sacred-emblem-trefoil-in-early-korean-metalwork-and-beyond-with-dr-minjee-kim
October 1, 2020 - Daniel Russel, Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, and Susan Thornton, Project Director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy and Visiting Lecturer in Law at Yale University, join Senior Director Stephen Noerper for a discussion on the upcoming US Presidential election, with an eye to US policy implications for Korea and Northeast Asia. This all-star session draws on the vast foreign service experience of both Russel and Thornton, who helped lead US policy respectively as Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1430-looking-toward-the-us-presidential-election-and-korea-and-northeast-asia-policy
September 24, 2020 - Listen to our conversation with Hee Seo, the first Asian ballerina to be named principal dancer - ballet's highest title - at the American Ballet Theatre, as she discusses her illustrious career and thoughts on the future of performing art.
Her dancing and fluid line exude an unhurried purity that sums up all that is lovely about ballet. - The New York Times
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1425-a-conversation-with-hee-seo
September 17, 2020 - Join Alexander Chee and Ed Park in their conversation on Younghill Kang, the first Korean-American novelist and a pioneer of Asian American literature. As they discuss the life and career of Kang and his novel East Goes West, the two eminent writers reflect on the emergence of Korean American literature in the 20th century and Kang's legacy.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1423-east-goes-west-younghill-kang-his-life-and-works
September 16, 2020 - Join us for a discussion on challenges and opportunities for continued nuclear negotiations with North Korea, featuring Markus Garlauskas, former U.S. National Intelligence Officer for North Korea, Soo Kim, RAND, and Ankit Panda, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. What are the chances that North Korea denuclearizes and what can the U.S. and South Korea do to increase those chances? Should an interim deal with snapback measures be considered good progress, or should a comprehensive deal be pursued?
For more information, please visit the link beow:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1422-prospects-for-diplomacy-with-north-korea
September 10, 2020 - USC Professor and Korean Studies Institute Director David Kang joins Senior Director Stephen Noerper to discuss progress and challenges in Korea-US relations. They weigh the fallout from the host nation support talks, shifts in joint military exercises, and priorities in US-ROK relations, with an eye toward invigorating the alliance seventy years since the start of the Korean War.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1372-us-korea-relations-defining-the-alliance-anew
August 12, 2020 - America's leading authority on BTS, K-Pop, and East Asian entertainment, Tamar Herman returns to the Korea Society with her book BTS: Blood, Sweat & Tears.
BTS has conquered Western music charts and social media on their way to being the biggest band in the world. With record-breaking firsts and three Billboard No. 1 albums within a year, their music and messaging has gone on to transcend the limitations of language, geography, and genre.
Going behind-the-scenes of today's biggest pop band and focusing on the members, the music and the fans, Tamar Herman brings the extraordinary story of BTS to life.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1412-bts-blood-sweat-tears-with-tamar-herman
July 27, 2020 - The Korea Society honors the service and sacrifice of veterans on the anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, signed on July 27, 1953. This live, virtual ceremony combines historic video with remarks from Korea Society President Tom Byrne, the Korean Consul General to New York, Ambassador Won-sam Chang, Korean War Veterans Area Commander Salvatore Scarlato, and Korean War Veteran and retired US Congressman Charles Rangel. Scarlato and Rangel will receive the James A. Van Fleet award on behalf of American veterans who served during the Korean War at the Korea Society upcoming annual gala.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1388-the-korean-war-at-70-annual-armistice-day-salute
July 22, 2020 - The Korea Society and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) are delighted to present Building and Protecting Your K-Brand in the YouTube Era. Over the last two decades, YouTube has demonstrated its versatility, achieving far more than the launch of successful careers for the likes of Justin Bieber and BTS. Businesses of all sizes increasingly adopt this highly effective yet affordable advertising platform as part of their marketing strategy to attract audiences and drive sales. With this backdrop, our upcoming seminar will explore various legal and business aspects of managing content on YouTube while building your K-brand on this rapidly expanding channel.
Keri S. Bruce, Partner at Reed Smith LLP will lead our first session by examining relevant copyright, trademark and advertising law issues. She will also offer practical guidance on minimizing potential risks and seeking infringement remedies. In the second session, you will hear insightful perspectives and first-hand experiences from three prominent K-brand YouTuber panelists - (1) MJ Choi, founder of I Love Dance, a popular K-pop dance studio which also creates K-pop content featuring various groups of dancers; (2) Seonkyoung Longest, a prolific producer of K-food cooking videos; and (3) Liah Yoo, founder of KraveBeauty, who shares her makeup tutorials and product guides. Zena Kim, Director of Litigation & Legal Operations at A&E Networks, will be moderating the panel discussion.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1408-building-and-protecting-your-k-brand-in-the-youtube-era
July 20, 2020 - Side by Side: Out of a South Korean Orphanage and Into the World weaves the stories of nine inter-country adoptees—selected out of 100 original interviews— as they recall their families of origin, their relinquishment to orphanages, and their adoptions and lives abroad. Starkly minimalist, Side by Side is composed entirely of intensely intimate, first-person narratives, filmed in Seattle, Chicago, Boston, New York City, Paris, Stockholm, Amsterdam, and Melbourne.
Glenn Morey has worked in film since 1981 as a writer, creative director, commercial and documentary filmmaker, including as an Executive Producer for the Mustapha Khan documentary film, House on Fire: Black America Responds to AIDS, featuring Julian Bond, Rep. Maxine Waters, Kweisi Mfume, Maya Angelou, and many other African-American leaders; awarded Best Documentary for the Houston International Film Festival, broadcast on PBS and selected for a number of international film festivals. As the CEO of the Morey Group of branding, advertising, and online publishing companies, he is the recipient of hundreds of creative advertising awards, as well as recognition by Adweek and Advertising Age magazines. Glenn’s personal story as an inter-country adoptee from South Korea, was the initial motivating and creative force behind Side by Side.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1411-side-by-side-streaming-and-a-director-s-talk
July 16, 2020 - As consumers continue to cut the cord, how will we define the future of TV? How does this paradigm shift change the future of advertising? Cathy Oh, Global Head of Marketing & Analytics at Samsung Ads, explores these topics in conversation with CeFaan Kim, reporter at WABC-TV Eyewitness News.
Throughout her career, Cathy has worked at some of the world’s largest and most prestigious companies including Samsung, Apple and NBC Universal. If you are a tech aficionado, or would like to learn about what it's like to be a woman in tech and media, join us for this intimate fireside chat.
The Young Professionals’ Night program consists of industry professionals who share their career experiences and advice with the audience. All professionals seeking to expand their careers are encouraged to tune in.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1415-marketing-in-a-digital-world
July 9, 2020 - First published in Pyongyang in 1988, Friend by Paek Nam-Nyong is one of the few North Korean novels that has reached an international audience. Professor Immanuel Kim, the translator of Friend and a specialist in North Korean literature and cinema, offers a glimpse into contemporary life in North Korea through this novel and other popular culture from Pyongyang.
"a beguiling introduction to the everyday, with none of the rockets and military parades that the words “North Korea” often bring to mind" - The New York Times
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1399-friend-a-novel-popular-culture-of-north-korea
June 29, 2020 - Korean professional baseball has caught the eye of sports-deprived American baseball fans during the coronavirus pandemic. Join us for a conversation about the unique and appealing aspects of Korean baseball, with former MLB and KBO pitcher Chan Ho Park, former manager of the Lotte Giants in Busan Jerry Royster, Yonhap baseball correspondent Jee-Ho Yoo, and former U.S. Ambassadors to Korea and Korean baseball superfans Kathleen Stephens and Mark Lippert.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1410-korean-baseball-answering-the-call-for-sport-in-the-covid-era-with-chan-ho-park-and-jerry-royster
June 25, 2020 - The Society marks seventy years since the start of the Korean War with a tribute to those who served and sacrificed. Join for a special release featuring remarks by the Korea Society Board Chairwoman Ambassador Kathleen Stephens; General (ret.) Vincent Brooks, former Commander of the United Nations Command /Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea; Columbia University Law School Professor Jeong-Ho Roh; Korea Society President Tom Byrne; and Korea Society Senior Director Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1387-the-korean-war-at-70-commemorating-the-start-of-the-korean-war
June 22, 2020 - Award-winning singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer Grace Kelly has built an incredible career in jazz, which includes the release of 13 acclaimed albums before entering her mid-twenties. In this Young Professionals’ Night webcast, Grace unpacks her stunning career in a chat with writer Will Friedwald. Join us as we dive into Grace’s musical journey -- from her first album release at the tender age of 12, to her performance at President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, as well as winning the John Lennon Songwriting Contest $20,000 Song of the Year Award for her song "Feels like Home", and more. Furthermore, learn how she is adapting as an artist in the time of COVID-19.
Plus, we have a special treat: socially-distanced performances by Grace Kelly from her very own living room -- including a special rendition of Arirang!
The New York Times on Grace Kelly: “…broad tone and tenacious flow on the alto saxophone, clearly in possession of virtuoso talents… impressive singing voice, flitting among a range of styles.”
For Grace Kelly's latest work, please visit her site:
https://gracekellymusic.com
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1402-jazz-night-with-grace-kelly
June 19, 2020 - Early on in his life, Kyungmoon Kim discovered that he had an exceptional palate. As he immersed himself in the world of wine, he leveraged his palate and his natural aptitude for memorization to build an extensive base of wine knowledge. In 2016, Kyungmoon Kim won the Master Sommelier Certification and joined the Court of Master Sommeliers; currently, there are only 247 Master Sommeliers worldwide.
Now Kyungmoon Kim is expanding the horizon in the beverage world and taking on the mission to bring exciting artisanal soju from Korea to the U.S.
Listen to the Master Sommelier’s unique story and his exploration of the world of wine, traditional Korean liquors, and cocktails. He will also offer a few tips on creating delicious cocktails at home.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1398-from-wine-to-soju-stories-from-the-master-sommelier
June 15, 2020 - Over the months journalists have worked tirelessly to provide reliable and up to date information on COVID-19. Timothy Martin, Korea bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, is among these journalists. His reporting has shed light on the outbreak in South Korea, giving U.S. readers an in-depth account of the situation in the country and the actions taken to stem the spread of the virus. In this webcast, Timothy speaks with AAJA - NY chapter president, Frank Bi, on his experience covering the coronavirus pandemic in South Korea. He also gives us a look into his career in journalism, and shares his advice for journalists entering the field.
The Korea Society is excited to present this Young Professionals’ Night webcast in partnership with the Asian American Journalists Association’s New York chapter. AAJA's New York chapter is the largest chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association with more than 770 members in New York and the surrounding region. Its mission is to advance the representation of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in newsrooms as well as in the fair and accurate coverage of AAPI issues.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1409-young-professionals-night-with-timothy-martin
June 11, 2020 - Harvard University visiting fellow and Sophia University professor Sandra Fahy joins senior director Stephen Noerper for a discussion of her latest work, Dying for Rights. Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy professor Sung-yoon Lee, who reviews the book in Korean Studies, joins the discussion.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1386-north-korean-human-rights
June 11, 2020 - South Korea’s impressive, timely and comprehensive strategy in controlling the spread of the coronavirus has earned praise from the director general of the WHO. In this webcast moderated by Korea Society President Thomas Byrne, Mr. Dae Joong Lee, Director of Development, Finance Division at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in South Korea, discusses how the country coordinated among ministries, agencies and the private sector in its response to the pandemic. The conversation will also examine the government’s fiscal measures taken to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1400-korea-s-campaign-against-the-coronavirus-pandemic-a-view-from-the-ministry-of-economy-and-finance
June 4, 2020 - “Banchan” is often translated as “side dishes” and understood as “appetizers” at Korean BBQ restaurants. But that is not the whole story! Learn the real story of banchan, a category unto themselves and the ubiquitous feature of Korean home cooking.
Shin Kim, a chef and culinary entrepreneur, will lead the viewers to explore the delectable world of banchan in its many forms and share some of her recipes that can be easily prepared at any home.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1397-banchan-story-korean-home-cooking
June 3, 2020 - Korean War Veterans area commander and Long Island chapter head Sal Scarlato shares reflections on the Korean War years in conversation with senior director Stephen Noerper. Scarlato, a Marine veteran, offers insights on the sacrifice of those who served and efforts to raise awareness of the service and valor of Korean War veterans.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1374-korean-war-veteran-tales
May 28, 2020 - A riveting tale of four women navigating contemporary Korea, If I Had Your Face is a debut novel from Frances Cha, a former travel and culture editor for CNN in Seoul. This utterly compelling novel follows the interconnected lives of four young women balancing on the edge of survival in contemporary Seoul, a world of strict social hierarchies, extreme plastic surgery and K-pop fan mania. Cha will discuss her debut novel and career as a journalist, always having a foot in both Korea and the US and writing about contemporary Korea in English.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1390-frances-cha-if-i-had-your-face
May 21, 2020 - Korean War veterans advocate Hannah Y. Kim joins policy director Jonathan Corrado for a conversation on her global journey to meet Korean War veterans. Kim, founder of Remember 727 and former chief of staff to Congressman Charles Rangel, highlights the discussion with photos from her travels.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1385-korean-war-at-70-honoring-korean-war-veterans-from-around-the-world
May 20, 2020 - What impact is the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic crisis having now and going forward on the relationships between the U.S., South Korea, and India? How does it impact their respective visions for the future of regional institutions and relationships in the Indo-Pacific? What is the prognosis for U.S. and Chinese leadership -- and rivalry -- and how does this impact the region? Is a regional economic or security architecture more or less possible, or desirable, post-pandemic?
Join us for a conversation with Representative Ami Bera (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Study Group on Korea, Deputy Chief of Mission for the South Korean Embassy in Washington Moon Seoung-hyun, and President of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum Mukesh Aghi, moderated by Korea Society Board Chair Ambassador Kathleen Stephens. With vibrant economic ties and a common commitment to democracy, how can Washington, Seoul, and New Delhi work together to respond to transnational threats and a rising China?
This program is produced in proud collaboration between the Korea Society and the Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC). FMC’s Congressional Study Group on Korea is a non-partisan, non-advocacy legislative exchange program that provides educational opportunities for Members of Congress and congressional staff on critical issues related to U.S.-ROK bilateral partnership.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1396-indo-pacific-relations-in-the-time-of-covid19
May 19, 2020 - South Korean literature in translation has been experiencing a global efflorescence in recent years. There are at least 6 Korean novels being released in the United States in the first half of 2020, with more to follow. Professor Jae Won Chung will discuss the commercial and critical success of Korean novels in the United States, the types of Korean novels that appear to be popular in the international market, and the range of new styles, genres, and voices that soon-to-be published titles will offer English-language readers.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1380-reading-in-translation-korean-novels-in-the-u-s
May 15, 2020 - Internationally acclaimed artist Ik-Joong Kang in conversation about his art and career with Dr. Katherine Anne Paul, Curator of Asian Art, the Birmingham Museum of Art.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1358-artist-talk-ik-joong-kang-with-dr-katherine-anne-paul
May 14, 2020 - In these uncertain times, we regard self-care as a way to manage anxiety and alleviate stress. Often, skincare comprises an essential part of many self-care routines. Tune in to see how Glow Recipe co-founders, Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, are adapting content during this time to align with a self-care centric beauty philosophy, and how they continue to lead Glow Recipe with a K-Beauty inspired approach for every product and campaign. Furthermore, discover how Sarah and Christine have transformed Glow Recipe, which began as a Korean skincare curation brand in 2014, into a successful skincare line of their own, with products such as the cult-favorite Watermelon Sleeping Mask.
Aspiring entrepreneurs will not want to miss this program! Sarah and Christine's success in creating and leading Glow Recipe will undoubtedly offer valuable insight for starting a business.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1394-korean-inspired-glow
May 14, 2020 - Dr. Jung H. Pak discusses her new book - Becoming Kim Jong Un - on the rise of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, in conversation with Society President Tom Byrne. Pak, a Brookings Institution Senior Fellow and former CIA analyst, provides a behind-the-scenes look at Kim’s character and motivations and chronicles his nuclear ambitions and summitry with President Trump.
The book is available for purchase at Penguin Random House.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1395-becoming-kim-jong-un-with-jung-pak
May 8, 2020 - What are the challenges a chef faces when she decides to open a restaurant? How do you break the stereotype that “women make good cooks, but men make better chefs”? And how do you not only survive but thrive in the hyper-competitive restaurant kitchens and food scene in New York and London? And what do you cook when you have to stay home, due to the unprecedented world-wide pandemic?
Meet two inspirational chefs - who happen to be female Korean Americans - who are doing all that and more: Chef Esther Choi and Judy Joo, chef, television personality, and the author of Korean Soul Food. Listen and join in on their conversation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1362-a-conversation-between-chefs-esther-choi-judy-joo
April 30, 2020 - A chef known for defining Korean food in America brings a powerful culinary legacy into your kitchen. Hooni Kim, chef/owner of Danji and Hanjan, will discuss his eagerly-anticipated cookbook, My Korea: Traditional Flavors, Modern Recipes, his insight and deep knowledge on Korean cuisine, and the challenges he faces as a restaurateur in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderated by Andrew Friedman.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1377-chef-hooni-kim-with-andrew-friedman
April 17, 2020 - Stanford University Professor Gi-Wook Shin joins Korea Society Senior Director Stephen Noerper for a timely breakdown of the April 15 Korean legislative elections. Professor Shin, Director of the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Director of Korean Studies, and William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea, examines the voice of the electorate and impact of the National Assembly election results for the Moon administration and Korean politics.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1360-korean-election-analysis
April 16, 2020 - South Korea’s coronavirus response has been lauded for its integration of new technologies and aggressive trace-and-test measures. To help the international community understand this approach, a crowd-sourced team has translated Korea’s coronavirus playbook, a 90 page set of instructions made by the Korea Center for Disease Control advising local public health officials to plan for an array of contingencies. In this special podcast interview with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado, translation team leaders Alex Bae, Sehyo Yune, and Jungmin Hwang discuss the project and the insights gained from it. The document is available to view at the team’s website here.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1383-podcast-translating-korea-s-coronavirus-response-playbook
April 14, 2020 - Learn how South Korea managed to bring COVID-19 under control in this recorded interview between the Korea Society’s President, Thomas Byrne, and Professor of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital, Dr. Kim Woo Joo. Deemed by the media as South Korea’s “most prominent coronavirus expert”, Dr. Kim explains how he and the country learned from past epidemics to mobilize the public and private sectors to combat the novel coronavirus. Tune in to learn what lessons the U.S. and other countries can glean from South Korea’s successes.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1379-covid-19-lessons-from-south-korea-a-conversation-between-korea-s-top-coronavirus-expert-dr-kim-woo-joo-and-korea-society-president-thomas-byrne
April 10, 2020 - Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Japan Studies Dr. Sheila Smith and Korea Society Senior Director Dr. Stephen Noerper examine the political impact of the coronavirus outbreak in Japan and Korea, in conversation with Japan Society President and CEO Dr. Joshua W. Walker and with an introduction by Korea Society President Thomas Byrne. In this live webcast program, co-hosted by the Japan Society and the Korea Society, the three discuss the domestic responses and impact of COVID-19 to date and regional implications, to include relations between the two states, Tokyo 2020 Olympics and evolving domestic realities.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1378-geopolitics-of-coronavirus-japan-and-korea
April 3, 2020 - Orville Schell, Arthur Ross Director of the Center on US-China Relations at the Asia Society, examines developments in China’s foreign policy toward the Korean Peninsula in conversation with senior director Stephen Noerper. Schell discusses China’s commitment to denuclearization, orientation toward Pyongyang and Seoul, views on Korean unification, and the current news cycle, to include the geopolitics of the coronavirus response.
For more information, please visit the link beow:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1354-china-s-foreign-policy-and-relations-on-the-korean-peninsula
March 26, 2020 - CSIS Korea Chair Victor Cha and George W. Bush Presidential Center Director of Human Freedom Lindsay Lloyd discuss Cha's new report, Regaining Lost Ground in the North Korean Human Rights Movement in conversation with Korea Society Senior Director Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1376-regaining-lost-ground-in-the-north-korean-human-rights-movement-with-victor-cha-and-lindsay-lloyd
February 27, 2020 - Three of the most acclaimed restaurateurs in New York talk about the past, present and future of “Korean” restaurants in the city and beyond: Simon Kim of Cote; Jenny Kwak of Haenyeo; and Ellia Park of Atoboy & Atomix. Moderated by Matt Rodbard.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1349-beyond-32nd-street-korean-restaurants-of-the-moment
January 30, 2020 - This public roundtable dialogue explores recent changes and pathways for reform in the North Korean economy, with special focus on transitions and lessons learned in Cuba. Jaime Reusche, Vice President and Senior Credit Officer for the Sovereign Risk Group at Moody’s Investors Service and Peter Ward, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Vienna and NK Pro analyst, join Korea Society President Tom Byrne to share insights and analyses.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1344-changes-in-the-north-korean-economy-roundtable
Long before he swept the Oscars with Parasite, Director Bong Joon-Ho visited The Korea Society to talk about his career and films in February 2010.
Listen to the highlights from his conversation with Michael Atkinson.
February 7, 2020 - University of Connecticut History Professor Alexis Dudden explores recent history and possible overtures in Korea-Japan relations in conversation with Korea Society Senior Director Stephen Noerper. Exploring trade and historical disputes, as well as well as Washington’s past and potential involvement, Dudden, author of Troubled Apologies Among Japan, Korea and the United States, as well as a recent New York Times piece, examines signs of progress, possible offramps and continuing challenges.
With the kind participation of the Columbia University Center for Korean Research.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1345-korea-japan-relations-looking-back-looking-forward
January 30, 2020 - North Korea challenges reporters’ efforts at providing clarity and revealing hidden dynamics given information gaps and a lack of access. Korea Risk Group CEO Chad O’Carroll, NK News Podcast host Jacco Zwetsloot and freelance journalist and outgoing Asian American Journalist Association New York President Hannah Bae speak with Society Policy Director Jonathan Corrado on how reporters overcome these obstacles to gain credible and durable insight.
For more information, please visit the links below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1343-covering-north-korea
https://www.nknews.org/category/north-korea-news-podcast/latest
December 5, 2019 - John Park, Korea Project Director at Harvard’s Kennedy School, joins Society Senior Director Stephen Noerper for a discussion on Korea’s current relations with Japan, China and the United States. Concluding a year that saw discord between Seoul and Tokyo and a pause in Washington-Pyongyang dialogue, Dr. Park addresses next-steps on the Peninsula and prospects for dialogue, denuclearization and enhanced regional relations.
This program enjoys the support of Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR).
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1329-korea-s-regional-relations
November 21, 2019 - Retired General Vincent Brooks, former Commander of US Forces Korea/Combined Forces Command/United Nations Command, revisits the Korea Society for a discussion of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, to include the latest on the US-ROK alliance, North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, dialogue efforts, and confidence building.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1328-korea-security-update
November 15, 2019 - North Korea has warned that it will pursue a so-called “new path” if substantive progress isn't made in negotiations with the United States by the end of the year. But what's behind this deadline, and what should we expect in the coming months? To find out, Korea Society Policy Director Jonathan Corrado sits down with two experienced analysts for insights on timelines, sequencing, and the art of diplomacy.
Dr. Jung Pak is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution Center for East Asia Policy Studies. She previously held senior positions at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Annika Betancourt is a visiting fellow at Brookings and has experience with diverse aspects of the North Korea portfolio, including human rights, humanitarian aid and diplomacy from her time with the U.S. State Department.
October 30, 2019 - History plays a role in shaping current events all over our the world -- but it seems to be especially alive in Korea. Scholars and practitioners that work on the Korean Peninsula can all agree on the importance of learning lessons from the past, but that is where the consensus stops. Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo is an Associate Professor in International Relations at King's College London and author of the book US-North Korea Relations from Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un. In this discussion with Korea Society Policy Director Jonathan Corrado, Pardo attempts to “see through the cycle” and attribute rational explanations to Pyongyang’s mercurial behavior, asserting that North Korea’s has used brinkmanship and bargaining to achieve its main goal, which he considers to be diplomatic normalization with the US.
October 24, 2019 - Author Seth Berkman discusses the release of his new book on South Korea’s women’s hockey team at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. In conversation with Society Policy Director Jonathan Corrado, Berkman, whose work has appeared in The New Yorker and SPIN and on ESPN, chronicles the tale of a group of young women who brought the Koreas closer in new ways.
This program enjoys the support of Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR).
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1324-a-team-of-their-own-how-an-international-sisterhood-made-olympic-history
October 17, 2019 - New generation scholars from Korea and China join Society Senior Director Stephen Noerper for a discussion on developments in regional politics and security, North Korea’s denuclearization, and visions for the Korean Peninsula. This National Committee on American Foreign Policy event offers unique insights from young professionals for members and media. Speakers include: Dr. Jihwan Hwang from the University of Seoul, Dr. Jina Kim from the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis (KIDA), Dr. Xiaoyu Pu from the University of Nevada, Reno, and Nan Li from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of American Studies.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1322-new-thinking-from-korea-and-china
October 11, 2019 - University of Colorado Boulder Visiting Assistant Professor Ivanna Sang Een Yi addresses P’ansori Mountain Pilgrimages: Land as Interlocutor in Contemporary Korean Oral Performance and Literature. In a presentation both spoken and sung, Professor Yi conceptualizes the contemporary practice of p’ansori san kongbu, mountain study, as a form of pilgrimage. A reception follows the lecture, the third in this annual lecture series encouraging new thought leadership on Korea in the United States.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1321-2019-sherman-family-emerging-scholar-lecture
October 10, 2019 - Join us for a fun evening to learn about - and taste! - the signature alcoholic beverages of Korea: Soju and Makgeolli: what makes them so unique and tasty, and how they are becoming ever so popular outside of Korea. Meet the young Korean Americans continuing and putting their own marks on the tradition.
Alice Jun is a champion for authentic Korean food and drink, and has been brewing makgeolli since she was a child. She started Hana Makgeolli as a passion project, but due to overwhelmingly positive feedback she received on her makgeolli, she is building Hana Makgeolli as the foremost purveyor of artisanal Korean rice alcohol in the U.S.
Daniel Lee introduced soju, the popular Korean spirit, to his friend at George Washington University, Maxwell Fine, some time ago in New York. The two decided to make their own without artificial sweeteners and other additives, as a sideline to their day jobs in finance and law. Named for the Manhattan block known as Koreatown, they introduced West 32 Soju in 2017.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1332-korean-sool-101
October 9, 2019 - Senior analyst Yang Xiyu, Senior Fellow at China’s Institute of International Studies, joins Society Senior Director Stephen Noerper for a discussion of China’s role on the Korean Peninsula, its relations with South Korea, recent meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and China’s commitment to denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. An experienced diplomat, Yang was the inaugural director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Office for Korean Peninsula Issues.
This program enjoys the support of Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR).
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1320-china-korea-relations
October 3, 2019 - Harvard University’s William Overholt discusses the release of his new edited volume, North Korea: Peace? Nuclear War? with Society President Tom Byrne. Overholt tackles the range of approaches to North Korea, the interplay of development and security, leaders Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un, and challenges to alliance management.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1319-north-korea-peace-nuclear-war
Septermber 19, 2019 - Mr. Jihoon Rim, executive advisor and former CEO at Kakao and Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, shares his experiences as the leader of Kakao, the most widely used mobile platform in Korea. His in depth insight is relevant for young professionals seeking to expand their networks and deepen their knowledge of the Korean mobile platform industry. Burgeoning entrepreneurs will also benefit from Mr. Rim’s experience as CEO. This engaging discussion is moderated by Ms. Minnie Roh, CUNY TV’s news correspondent on Asian American Life.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1318-a-conversation-with-jihoon-rim-former-ceo-of-kakao
September 12, 2019 - Hong Gildong, who is sometimes referred to as the Korean Robin Hood, is by far the most famous literary character from classic Korean literature. His story as a maverick outlaw, powerful magician, and a wise king is told in the Joseon dynasty novel The Story of Hong Gildong. Unfortunately, there has been a great deal of miscomprehension about the origin and nature of the famous work, the complexity of which has only recently been explored by scholars. In this lecture, Professor Minsoo Kang will offer a detailed examination of the history and literary significance of the novel and reveal little-known facts behind its authorship.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1315-hong-gildong-the-invincible-and-righteous-outlaw-by-professor-minsoo-kang
September 12, 2019 - Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Sheila Smith joins Korea Society Chairman Ambassador Thomas Hubbard for a discussion on the recent challenges to Korea-Japan relations posed by the dispute over Japanese export controls. Amid the growing discord, Smith and Hubbard weigh in on possible offramps and paths forward, as well as the nature of the US role in facilitating discussion among its two Northeast Asia allies. Co-sponsored with the Japan Society.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1317-korea-japan-relations-and-the-us-role
JULY 26, 2019 — NEW YORK —A ceremony to honor those who served in the Korean War took place on Friday, July 26, 2019, at 12 noon at the New York Korean War Veterans Memorial in Battery Park, New York. The event, which marks the 66th Anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953, is hosted by the nonprofit, nonpartisan The Korea Society, which promotes awareness, understanding and cooperation between the United States and Korea.
The ceremony will feature the unveiling of a plaque that shows the newly updated Republic of Korea figures for casualties, wounded and missing in action in the war that waged from 1950-1953. Since the creation of the New York Korean War Veterans Memorial in 1991, the original statistics have been dramatically revised. South Korea’s official count has grown to 137,899 dead, 450,742 wounded, and 24,495 missing, while on the American side, the U.S. government reports 36,574 American dead, 103,284 wounded and more than 7,800 missing.
The creation of the plaque is a collaborative initiative including active participation from New York City Council Member Paul Angelo Vallone (19th District), the Battery Conservancy, and the New York Korean Consulate.
The event will honor New York-based Veterans of the Korean War representing both the U.S. Armed Forces as well as the South Korean military.
The 20-minute ceremony will commence with the Presentation of Colors. Thomas J. Byrne, President of The Korea Society, and Ambassador Hyo-Sung Park, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in New York, will provide welcoming remarks. Council Member Vallone, who represents northeast Queens, will make brief remarks as will Salvatore Scarlato, President of the New York Department of the Korean War Veterans Association. The ceremony will conclude with Retiring of Colors and Solemn Taps played by SSG Daniel Haddock, West Point.
“Today’s ceremony reminds us of the strong, continued U.S.-South Korea alliance that remains vibrant and crucial to peace and prosperity in the region, thanks to those who fought and died for both countries in the Korean War,” said Korea Society President Byrne.
ARMISTICE DAY SALUTE 2019
Friday, July 26, 2019 | 12 PM
Korean War Memorial at Battery Park
New York, NY 10004
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1305-armistice-day-salute-2019
July 11, 2019 - Ten years since Wonder Girls and BoA became the first Korean artists to appear on Billboard's main U.S. music charts, K-pop is at the forefront of the increasingly globalized U.S. music scene. With BTS undeniably at the top of the music world and Blackpink making K-pop history by performing at Coachella, K-pop is no longer an incidental phenomenon but an integral part of American pop culture of 2019. In this talk, Tamar Herman, K-pop columnist for Billboard, reflects on the rise of K-pop in the U.S. during the last decade and ponders its future.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1304-a-decade-of-k-pop-korean-music-s-ascent-in-the-u-s
June 27, 2019 - The path of becoming an entrepreneur is not an easy one. Robert Lee from Rescuing Leftover Cuisine and Celina Lee from Give One Dream will join moderator Joseph Juhn from KSE and share their experience in turning personal visions into businesses.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1302-lesson-learned-passion-in-entrepreneurship-aligning-vision-and-passion
June 26, 2019 - The Kaesong Industrial Complex was a jointly run corporate park pairing South Korean capital and management with North Korean land and labor. A symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation and the hoped start to wider collaboration, Kaesong was launched in 2004 as part of the South Korean government’s Sunshine Policy, but closed down in 2016 after North Korea’s continued nuclear and missile testing. International Crisis Group senior adviser Chris Green is the author of a new report titled, “The Case for Kaesong: Fostering Korean Peace through Economic Ties.” It mobilizes new datasets to re-examine the park's legacy and impact.
June 24, 2019 - Joseph Kim was born and raised in North Korea. At the age of 12, his father died of starvation and he was separated from his mother and sister. In 2006, Joseph escaped North Korea into China. A year later, he was resettled in the United States as a North Korean refugee.
Since then, Joseph has shared his story from the TED stage, has published a memoir, Under the Same Sky, has graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Bard College, and now works at the George W. Bush Institute as an assistant on the Human Freedom Initiative.
Join us for a special event co-hosted with Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) as Joseph Kim recounts his fight to survive in North Korea, how he managed to escape and reach freedom, and why he believes there is hope for his people.
June 20, 2019 - Harvard Medical School Global Surgery Scholar Kee B. Park, M.D. and Korea Foundation-Vrije Universiteit Brussel Korea Chair Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo examine North Korea’s growing injury burden and the regime’s ability to respond. They address marketization, affluence, political factors, domestic and international resource mobilization, sanctions impact, and roadmaps for a multistakeholder national system.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1300-trauma-care-and-north-korea
June 19, 2019 - K-Factor is a unique concert presented by Lincoln Center, casting a light on the often overlooked musical innovations and radical spirit of the global phenomenon that is K-pop. On June 20, a 50-piece symphony orchestra will perform live at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, with a program comprising a curated set of songs arranged to highlight the distinct musical ingenuity present in Korean music new and old. The selections showcase well-known hits by K-pop artists like Blackpink, BTS, EXO, Red Velvet, Seo Taiji and more, placing them in dialogue with noteworthy deep cuts and milestone recordings dating back to the early 1900s. The show seeks to create a historical and aesthetic context that is as entertaining as it is revelatory. For more information on the concert, visit www.kfactor.org.
Meet Jakob Dorof, creative consultant of this original concert; Chris Lee, A&R Executive at SM Entertainment and CEO of CTGA Europe; and Soeun Lee, a K-pop star turned New York attorney. They will discuss the creative evolution of K-pop, the musical ingenuity and many signature features of Korean music new and old, and its ongoing impact on contemporary music around the world.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1303-a-conversation-on-k-factor-an-orchestral-exploration-of-k-pop-at-lincoln-center
June 13, 2019 - Stanford University Visiting Fellow Andray Abrahamian and Korea Economic Institute Nonresident Fellow Yonho Kim join Society President Thomas Byrne to discuss how North Korea’s marketization has impacted social ties, communication, governance, and culture.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1295-marketization-and-north-korea
May 8, 2019 - Master artist Kim Kyeong-Ho is a pioneer and transmitter of the art of Sagyeong, Korean Sutra Copying. He was appointed by the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor as the sole Traditional Sutra Copying Skills Transmitter, and is both an accomplished artist and teacher of this unique art that had not been practiced for 600 years since the Joseon Dynasty. During the lecture, Master Kim will speak about the process and ingredients used in his sutra transcription as well as his philosophy and approach to this thousand years old art form. He will also demonstrate a transcription with gold powder for 5 minutes.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1294-korean-illuminated-sutra-transcription-talk-demonstration
May 2, 2019 - The term han is difficult if not impossible to translate into English – at least not in a word or two. Words such as “rage” or “deep sorrow” are not sufficient to capture the complex of emotions that it evokes. Yet it is something that Koreans can readily identify when they see it. This talk examines some historical examples of han taken from both literature and real-life events. They will include the Great Revival Movement of 1907; the death and funeral of Sunjong, the last Korean emperor, in 1926; and both early-20th century and postwar literature. Through this examination, Prof. Michael Shin hopes to provide a better understanding of han – and of why generation after generation of Koreans seem to be able to feel it so acutely.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/education/item/1288-a-brief-history-of-han
May 3, 2019 - Professor Georgy Toloraya breaks down the DPRK-Russia summit, Russian support for South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s peace offensive, and support for peninsular development in conversation with Senior Director Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1293-russia-s-role-on-the-korean-peninsula
April 18, 2019 - Professor Gordon Flake (Perth USAsia Center) offers perspectives on Korea Looking North and Looking South in a presentation to senior professionals at the Korea Society.
April 11, 2019 - Author and Young China Group founder Zakary Dychtwald addresses generational dynamics affecting domestic politics and foreign policy in Northeast Asia. He examines aspirations, innovation and employment in conversation with Society associate director Jonathan Corrado.
This event is co-hosted by the Columbia Business School’s APEC Study Center.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1243-new-generation-thinking-in-china-and-korea-with-zakary-dychtwald
April 4, 2019 - Kimchi and soju are staples of daily life in Korea and tend to represent the cuisine for foreigners. Though kimchi and soju are strongly associated with Korea, their history has remained elusive. Cambridge's Michael D. Shin delves into the origins of these foods by looking at the eating and drinking culture of the Joseon period. This gives us a fuller picture of the life of the peasantry during that time, helping us to understand what makes kimchi and soju so characteristically Korean. This talk introduces the book Everyday Life in Joseon-Era Korea, which presents aspects of the period from the perspective of the peasantry.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/education/item/1276-the-origins-of-kimchi-and-soju
April 3, 2019 - The Korea Society welcomes former United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/US Forces Korea Commanders Generals (ret.) Vincent Brooks and Walter “Skip” Sharp for an insightful hour of analysis on Korea and prospects for peace and confidence-building going forward. General Brooks, who recently completed his tenure in Korea and spoke at Stanford University in March, reflects on the state of the US-ROK alliance, US negotiations with North Korea, and progress in inter-Korea relations, in conversation with General Skip Sharp, a member of the Korea Society Board of Directors.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1291-next-steps-on-the-korean-peninsula
March 28, 2019 - Adam Mount, Mira Rapp-Hooper and Ankit Panda discuss the results of a consensus effort of fifteen experts from the US, ROK, Japan, Canada, and UK to develop a strategy toward a North Korea that maintains nukes. They warn that without a major shift in strategy, a nuclear-armed North Korea will expand its ability to aggress against its neighbors, conduct illicit activities around the world, and resist efforts to improve the welfare of its population.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1239-federation-of-american-scientists-international-study-group-on-north-korea-policy-briefing
March 14, 2019 - Simultaneity presents an ongoing series based on the Korean Dansaekhwa monochrome movement by artist Suh Seung Won (b. 1941), a pioneer of geometric abstraction in Korean contemporary art. Expanding on a career across five decades, Suh’s Simultaneity series explores his continued meditations on the concurrence of time and space, expressed through interactions between geometric forms and the underlying surface.
This exhibition primarily shows Suh’s works created between 1970 and the present, in which the rigid geometric forms found in his earlier works shift into more obscure, diaphanous patterns, creating new depths within the surface of the picture plane. This expansion of Suh’s previous abstractions produces works which appear monochrome from a distance, but upon closer examination are revealed to be composed of a variety of colors, allowing the artist to show the coexistence of the visible and the invisible aspects of reality.
Suh seeks to enable the unseen to be seen through the use of the physical medium of paint to render the “world of nirvana”, the intangible phenomena beyond human awareness. The harmonious balance between space and form found in the Simultaneity series exposes a truth beyond the limits of visible human reality. For Suh Seung Won, these works explore the ways in which the consistency of time can be interpreted through the consistency of space in a unification of form, color and surface.
Works by Suh Seung Won are included in the permanent collections of The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Korea), Seoul Museum of Art (Korea), The British Museum (UK), Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art (Japan), Shimonoseki Museum (Japan), and the Brooklyn Museum (US). His works have been featured in key international exhibitions, including “Five Korea Artists, Five Kinds of White” at the Tokyo Gallery (1975), “Korea: Facet of Contemporary Art” at the Tokyo Museum (1983), “Art Contemporain Coreén” at the Cordeliers Convent in Paris (1995), “The Facet of Korean and Japanese Contemporary Art” at the Gwangju Biennale (2000), and “Origin” at the Galerie Perrotin in Paris (2016).
This exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Donghwa Cultural Foundation.
ASIA WEEK ARTIST TALK:
with Suh Seung Won
Followed by:
Special recorded commentary by Raphael Rubinstein
Art critic and curator Raphael Rubinstein will address the work of Suh Seung Won in the context of 20th century abstraction and contemporary painting, noting how Suh has developed a distinct approach that highlights the perceptual, meditative qualities of abstraction in which the borders between figure and ground seem to dissolve.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1266-asia-week-artist-talk-with-suh-seung-won
March 7, 2019 - AP’s lead North Korea photographer Wong Maye-E shares images of North Korea and its people, in conversation with Society senior director Stephen Noerper.
This program enjoys the support of Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR).
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1238-photography-of-north-korea
March 1, 2019 - The Stimson Center and Korea Society provide a first look at the US-DPRK summit results. Project 38 North at the Stimson Center Director Joel Wit joins senior director Stephen Noerper in a rapid reaction assessment of the second Trump-Kim summit. This news maker event identifies takeaways, highlights dynamics between the US and North Korean leaders, explores progress toward denuclearization, and speaks to change in North Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1246-reflections-on-the-trump-kim-summit
February 28, 2019 - The year 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the March First Movement, the largest uprising against Japanese rule during the colonial period (1910-1945). The movement’s now mythic status in Korean nationalism has obscured much of its complexity. This talk with Prof. Michael Shin aims to put the movement into a broader context by discussing some of its lesser-known or forgotten aspects. By doing so, it will be possible to have a better understanding of how the movement was a crucial movement in the development of Korean nationalism and how it is important to understanding Korea today.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1248-the-march-first-movement-100-years-on
February 25, 2019 - Famed producer Won Dong-Yeon--the creative force behind Along with the Gods and Masquerade--speaks to the state of Korean film today and intricacies of the film industry at home. He also reflects on the power of Korean directors, producers and actors for the global box office.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1245-korean-film-today-with-won-dong-yeon
February 20, 2019 - Korea’s most prized literary masterpiece: a Buddhist journey questioning the illusions of human life—presented in a vivid new translation by PEN/Hemingway finalist Heinz Insu Fenkl
Often considered the highest achievement in Korean fiction, The Nine Cloud Dream poses the question: Will the life we dream of truly make us happy? Written in 17th-century Korea, this classic novel’s wondrous story begins when a young monk living on a sacred Lotus Peak in China succumbs to the temptation of eight fairy maidens. For doubting his master’s Buddhist teachings, the monk is forced to endure a strange punishment: reincarnation as the most ideal of men.
On his journey through this new life full of material, martial, and sensual accomplishments beyond his wildest dreams, he encounters the eight fairies in human form, each one furthering his path towards understanding the fleeting value of his good fortune. As his successes grow, he comes closer and closer to finally comprehending the fundamental truths of the Buddha’s teachings. Like Hesse’s Siddhartha, The Nine Cloud Dream is an unforgettable tale that explores the meaning of a good life and the virtue of living simply with mindfulness.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1244-the-nine-cloud-dream-with-heinz-insu-fenkl
February 14, 2019 - South Korea's National Assembly Speaker, the Honorable Moon Hee-sang, delivers an address on Striving for Peace on the Bedrock of the ROK-US Alliance. The speech comes in advance of the second summit between the US President and North Korean leader.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1247-striving-for-peace-on-the-bedrock-of-the-rok-us-alliance
February 1, 2019 - Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Executive Director Greg Scarlatoiu, Bush Institute Director for Human Freedom Lindsay Lloyd, and CSIS Korea Chair Victor Cha speak to the landmark UN COI human rights report a half decade on from its release.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1236-human-rights-and-north-korea
January 25, 2019 - Track2Asia Director Glyn Ford discusses his new book Talking to North Korea with Society senior director Stephen Noerper. Informed by extraordinary access to the country’s leadership, Ford investigates the regime from the inside, acknowledging that North Korea is a deeply repressive state that nonetheless has sections of its leadership determined to end its isolation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1235-talking-to-north-korea-with-glyn-ford
January 10, 2019 - Begin 2019 with renowned Buddhist teacher and writer Haemin Sunim. Born in Korea and educated in the United States, he has more than a million Twitter and Facebook followers. His books The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down--published in thirty languages--and Love For Imperfect Things have sold more than four million copies. Join Haemin Sunim for an hour of insightful conversation and reflection.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1232-love-for-imperfect-things-how-to-accept-yourself-in-a-world-striving-for-perfection-with-haemin-sunim
January 15, 2019 - Korea Risk Group CEO Chad O’Carroll and German diplomat Jan Janowski examine how to navigate information deficits when communicating within or reporting on North Korea. Lean into the new year with this informative session aimed at policy and corporate supporters, members, and media.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1233-reading-north-korea-with-chad-o-caroll-martina-aberg-somogyi-and-jan-janowski
December 20, 2018 - Join us for a discussion on opportunities and next-steps in negotiations on Korea. Eminent thought leaders David Kang and Thomas Hubbard keynote the discussion and appear in conversation with Thomas Byrne. This program follows-on the Fall 2018 address by ROK President Moon Jae-in to the Council on Foreign Relations/Korea Society/Asia Society.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1228-negotiations-denuclearization-and-inter-korean-progress
December 6, 2018 - Dr. S. Heijin Lee, Assistant Professor at NYU and freelance journalist Lai Frances delve into representations of gender roles in Kpop. They explore the traditional notions of masculinity and femininity reflected in artists’ concepts and LGBTQ+ issues in Kpop.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1213-gender-politics-of-kpop
December 6, 2018 - Brookings Institution Senior Fellow and SK-Korea Foundation Chair Jung H. Pak and Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Korea Chair Senior Fellow Sue Mi Terry address the progress and pitfalls in inter-Korean relations, Seoul-Washington ties, and US-DPRK dialogue. Dr. Pak joins us at the Society, while Dr. Terry joins via video uplink. Dr. Stephen Noerper, Senior Director for Policy, moderates this lively and engaging discussion with Drs. Pak and Terry, two of America’s preeminent thought leaders on Korea. This event is co-hosted by the Columbia Business School’s APEC Study Center.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1225-korea-at-a-crossroads-looking-back-at-2018
November 29, 2018 - Social media advances K-pop’s reach around the globe, with YouTube and Twitter buzzing with the latest content from Korean artists. Tumblr Content Insights Associate and K-pop specialist, Beatrice Vantapool, and BuzzFeed’s Sarah Han, explore how technology has connected and created fans worldwide.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1222-k-pop-social-media
November 16, 2018 - While male-focused narratives have led Western and American comics, manhwa (Korean comics) are leading the charge for women and gaining popularity as a cultural export, reaching fans worldwide via mobile apps. Artists Narae Lee, Ministry of Culture Grand Prize winner, and Kyungran Park discuss their craft at The Korea Society. Sun Bang, CEO of TappyToon, provides insight into this rapidly expanding global industry.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1224-women-on-manhwa-the-future-of-korean-comics
November 15, 2018 - The Korea Society invites you to the gallery talk and closing reception of the exhibition, Kwang Young Chun: Aggregation. Artist Kwang Young Chun discusses his craft and the techniques used to create his acclaimed artwork.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1221-aggregation-artist-talk-closing-reception
November 9, 2018 - Congressional Research Service Asia Affairs specialists Mark Manyin and Emma Chanlett-Avery speak on the US Congress and Korea issues. Authors of important CRS reports on US-South Korea relations and negotiating with North Korea, Manyin and Chanlett-Avery appear in conversation with Senior Director Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1215-capitol-hill-and-korea-with-crs-experts-mark-manyin-and-emma-chanlett-avery
November 1, 2018 - The Korea Society and the Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs Association (KSE) address the topics of fintech, financial services, and technology. Panelists explore how innovative technologies and influential tech entrepreneurs are disrupting and redefining the traditional finance industry.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1216-ypn-future-of-fintech-technological-advancements-and-disruption-of-incumbents
October 25, 2018 - US Naval War College Professor and Asia-Pacific Studies Group Director Terence Roehrig discusses the nuclear umbrella in Northeast Asia in the context of deterrence theory and US strategy. In conversation with the Society’s Stephen Noerper, Roehrig examines the role of the nuclear umbrella in South Korean and Japanese defense planning and security calculations, including the potential for either the ROK or Japan developing its own nuclear weapons.
Professor Roehrig also addresses US and South Korea efforts at North Korean denuclearization in this context.
The Korea Society is co-hosting this program with Columbia University's Center for Korean Research.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1211-korea-at-a-crossroads-japan-south-korea-and-the-united-states-nuclear-umbrella-with-u-s-naval-war-college-professor-and-asia-pacific-studies-group-director-terence-roehrig
October 11, 2018 - Delve into K-beauty with Renée, known online as Gothamista, a prominent beauty guru on YouTube! Having a keen interest in core ingredients used in K-beauty products, she shares the latest K-beauty skin care tips and her favorite skincare regime for the fall. Moderated by Devon Abelman, Allure’s digital beauty reporter, covering viral makeup trends, rainbow hair, K-beauty and more.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1203-k-beauty-with-renee-of-gothamista
October 11, 2018 - The Diplomat’s Ankit Panda discusses North Korea nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and diplomatic pathways aimed at mitigating these threats. Panda, also an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, joins Associate Director Jonathan Corrado in this Young Asia Policy Professionals event, which is open to the public.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1201-nukes-missiles-and-ways-to-talk
October 2, 2018 - The 1988 Seoul Olympics represents South Korea’s first foray as international host and hub. Senior Director and Columbia Adjunct Professor Stephen Noerper leads a special lunchtime discussion marking the thirtieth anniversary of the closing ceremony of the ‘88 Summer Games, which proved vital for Korea’s global “coming out,” Seoul’s development, and democracy’s hold. This program features a special call in from Georgetown University Professor, and fellow sports diplomacy enthusiast, Victor Cha.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1200-remembering-the-seoul-summer-games
September 27, 2018 - Styling and beauty are quintessential elements of the Kpop lifestyle. Devon Abelman, Digital Beauty Reporter at Allure Magazine, uncovers Kpop hair, skincare, and beauty trends.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1208-kpop-beauty
September 27, 2018 - Asia business and policy veterans Philip Sherman and David Anderson convene an Old Asia Hands luncheon to discuss negotiations around the Korean Peninsula. This group of seasoned professionals weighs the prospects for success in current ROK-DPRK and US-DPRK negotiations, with remarks by Senior Director Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1199-korea-at-a-crossroads-inter-korean-relations-and-next-steps-in-us-dprk-dialogue
September 25, 2018 - This event was produced in collaboration with Council on Foreign Relations and Asia Society.
His Excellency Moon Jae-in, President of Republic of Korea, addresses the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea’s alliance with the United States and efforts to denuclearize North Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1206-a-conversation-with-moon-jae-in
September 20, 2018 - Architect and educator Dongsei Kim--recipient of the 2018 Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Series award--explores how the discipline of architecture and landscape architecture investigates the Demilitarized Zone. Through the prism of spatial design and with three concrete examples, Professor Kim argues for a reformulation of exclusionary border conditions into inclusive spaces that become synergistic and productive for both Koreas.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1197-imagining-the-impossible-the-dmz-as-a-productive-territory
September 13, 2018 - Kimchi is a staple side dish, known as banchan, in Korean cuisine. Made from salted and fermented vegetables, there are various types of kimchi, unique from region to region, depending on ingredients and weather conditions. Through its fermentation process, kimchi becomes a superfood containing vitamins A and B and minerals such as calcium and iron. Susan Durso, Founder of Anomaly Season, discusses her contemporary take on traditional kimchi with Lynda Liu, host of Feast Meets West, a podcast on Heritage Radio Network.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1193-development-of-kimchi-in-modern-days
September 13, 2018 - Professor and author Bruce E. Bechtol, Jr. discusses his new release, North Korean Military Proliferation in the Middle East and Africa: Enabling Violence and Instability. In dialogue with Senior Director Stephen Noerper, Bechtol speaks to the DPRK’s ongoing sales of conventional weapons, ballistic missile and WMD systems and technology, as well as collaboration, in the world’s more volatile regions.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1196-korea-at-a-crossroads-north-korean-military-proliferation-in-the-middle-east-and-africa
September 7, 2018 - As discussions to denuclearize North Korea develop, a number of vexing problems, seen in previous negotiations, have resurfaced. How can the United States and South Korea avoid the trappings while still benefiting from the successful elements of the past? To find out, The Korea Society's associate director for policy Jonathan Corrado sat down with two experts from Ploughshares Fund, Director of Policy Tom Z. Collina and Roger L. Hale Fellow Catherine Killough. They shared insights to challenge the conventional wisdom and inject some fresh air into the conversation.
August 23, 2018 - Communications Director of the Korea Economic Institute of America in Washington DC, Jenna Gibson, presents on the commodification of K-culture on a global scale. Ms. Gibson reflects on regional marketing strategies and the economic impact of Korea’s exportation of Kpop.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1192-kpop-101-series-the-economy-of-kpop
August 2, 2018 - Billboard columnist and Forbes contributor, Tamar Herman, explores the origins of the hallyu wave. From Seo Taiji & Boys in the 1990s to international sensation BTS, how has Kpop evolved? Ms. Herman outlines the elements which distinguish Kpop, notes milestones, and discusses the potential of the global music phenomenon.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1189-the-history-of-kpop
July 19, 2018 - The Korea Society welcomes Wookwan, cookbook author of Wookwan’s Korean Temple Food: The Road to the Taste of Enlightenment, to introduce Korean temple food built on the philosophy of Buddhism along with the long tradition of Korean cuisine. Korean temple food “does not only provide nutrition for a healthy body, but preparing the food is a practice of mediation as well.” Wookwan, a respected monk and temple-food expert, will demonstrate the preparation of several dishes while sharing knowledge on each ingredient on how to retain natural flavors.
The event, co-organized by Korean Cultural Center New York and International Contents Platform, ICP, is not to be missed with inspiring talks followed by a tasting reception.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1176-taste-of-korean-temple-food-with-wookwan
June 14, 2018 - How do we frame the Trump-Kim summit? What are critical next-steps? Get a Washington insider perspective with Mansfield Foundation President and CEO Frank Jannuzi and National Committee on North Korea Executive Director Keith Luse. Frank and Keith served as senior advisors to US Senate Relations Committee Chairs, and both bring unique contacts and sensibilities to this discussion on dialogue with North Korea and efforts to prevent conflict. Jannuzi and Luse join Korea Society Senior Director Stephen Noerper. This event is conducted in proud partnership with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP).
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1129-after-talks-what-next-with-north-korea
May 17, 2018 - The Korea Society and the Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs association (KSE) address blockchain as a transformational technology and developments in blockchain and crypto markets affecting the South Korean economy.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1097-ypn-blockchain-the-revolution-in-decentralization
May 11, 2018 - Priscilla Moriuchi, Recorded Future’s Director for Strategic Threat Development, discusses the evolution of North Korea’s cyber strategy, including cryptocurrency theft, sabotage, espionage, and everyday internet usage by Pyongyang’s elites. Priscilla is the former head of the National Security Agency's East Asia and Pacific cyberthreats office. Today, Priscilla uses a variety of tools to generate unparalleled depictions of North Korea’s state-level online behavior.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1092-evolution-of-north-korea-s-cyberthreat
May 10, 2018 - In this roundtable podcast recording, young professionals in Asia policy explore the implications and consequences of the Moon-Kim and Trump-Kim meetings. The discussion revolves around alliance relations, regional dimensions, precedents, new opportunities, and cautionary elements. Featuring: the Asia Society's Isaac Stone Fish, the National Committee on American Foreign Policy's Rorry Daniels, the Diplomat's Ankit Panda, and Columbia University's Henri Feron.
May 1, 2018 - Priscilla Moriuchi, Recorded Future’s Director for Strategic Threat Development, has peered into the secretive online behavior of North Korea's elites, and she's here to tell us all about her findings. Combining an astute analysis of Pyongyang's strategic culture with unique access to digital data sets and shrewd analysis, Moriuchi gives us the low down on the drivers and patterns of North Korean digital life, including social networking, news gathering, and cyber attacks.
Music credits:
Track one courtesy of Elias Schutzman and Adam Bufano.
Track two courtesy of Brian Moore.
April 25, 2018 - Stanford University Center for International and Security Cooperation visiting scholar Katharina Zellweger addresses the current state of humanitarian efforts in North Korea. Having visited North Korea more than seventy times, Ms. Zellweger describes current challenges, transparency and government relations, and the impact of sanctions on humanitarian assistance to North Korea. Ms. Zellweger speaks to her current Hong Kong-based NGO efforts aimed at the disabled and children in institutions in North Korea. Kathi Zellweger speaks with the Korea Society’s Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1091-north-korea-and-humanitarian-assistance
April 19, 2018 - Chef Douglas Kim, owner of Jeju Noodle Bar in the West Village, presents ramyun, the Korean equivalent of Japanese ramen, demonstrating distinct Korean flavors and ingredients. Brian Goldberg, the owner of Mr. Bing, with locations in the East Village, Urbanspace, and Madison Square Park, serves Beijing-style jianbing, one of the most popular Chinese street foods. The two speakers share stories of promoting comfort foods perfectly suited to the taste buds of native Koreans and Chinese, while also appealing to customers in New York City and worldwide. Moderated by Matt Rodbard, the Editor in Chief of TASTE and author of Koreatown: A Cookbook, a New York Times bestseller.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1084-finding-comfort-in-asian-cuisine-with-jeju-noodle-bar-mr-bing
April 13, 2018 - Accomplished film, television, and theater director Jang Jin speaks at The Korea Society. The creative talent behind films such as Good Morning President and Welcome to Dongmakgol, Director Jang shares his experience working in various sectors of the Korean entertainment industry.
Moderated by Samuel Jamier of Subway Cinema.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1089-director-s-talk-with-jang-jin
April 11, 2018 - Russian scholar Anna Kireeva returns to the Korea Society for a discussion on Russia’s position toward the Korean Peninsula and support for multilateral dialogue aimed at denuclearization. Moscow State University of International Relations Associate Professor Kireeva speaks to President Putin’s re-election and enhanced push in Asia, accusations of Russia’s role as a spoiler on the UN Security Council given differences with the US and others, and its potential contribution to expanding peace on the Korean Peninsula. Dr. Kireeva speaks with Dr. Stephen Noerper, Korea Society Senior Director.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1088-russia-korea-and-prospects-for-multilateral-dialogue
April 6, 2018 - Dr. Benn Steil, Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses his new book, The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War. Dr. Steil uses archival documents to portray how the initiative’s champions in the State Department were able to realize this grand plan despite immense complexity, uncertainty, and pushback at home and abroad. Steil explains the significance and implications of the Marshall Plan for our modern world, including lessons learned for the Korean Peninsula. Steil joins Korea Society President Tom Byrne in conversation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1087-the-marshall-plan-in-retrospect-implications-for-the-modern-world
April 4, 2018 - Dr. Jung H. Pak, SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korean Studies and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, addresses the lead-up to the potential summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Dr. Pak speaks to areas of potential progress, provides cautionaries, and articulates the challenges associated with the historic meeting. Dr. Pak also addresses how a Kim-Trump meeting could possibly shift regional dynamics and what that would mean for US policy. Dr. Pak speaks with Dr. Stephen Noerper, Korea Society Senior Director.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1083-us-dprk-summit-too-big-to-fail-and-multiple-dimensions-of-risk
March 9, 2018 - North Korean cyber attacks are hitting the headlines on almost a daily basis as the regime demonstrates an increased ability to innovate and expand the scope of their cyber operations. The Korea Society talks to AlienVault threat analyst Chris Doman, who teaches us about the North's largest hacking group and Pyongyang's latest innovation - hacking cryptocurrency.
Music courtesy of Elias Schutzman and Adam Bufano.
March 7, 2018 - Does the announcement of North Korea's willingness to negotiate with the US represent a breakthrough? Did the maximum pressure campaign of sanctions and deterrence move Pyongyang to the announced inter-Korean summit and possibly the negotiation table with the Americans? Is there more at play or is this part of the strategy of North Korea Inc.? Are Seoul and Washington in alignment in dealing with North Korea Inc.?
Harvard University Kennedy School's Korea Working Group Director, Dr. John Park, addresses media, members and other supporters on the breaking headlines, as well as on the evolution (and devolution) of North Korea’s external trade and commercial ties, notably with China. Dr. Park joins in dialogue with Dr. Stephen Noerper, senior director for policy at the Korea Society and adjunct professor at Columbia University.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1071-north-korea-inc
February 22, 2018 - Join an intimate conversation with defector Seongmin Lee, who escaped North Korea in 2009. Hailing from the border town of Hyesan, Lee witnessed the tumultuous social and economic change in the wake of the 1990s famine. Lee converses with associate policy director Jonathan Corrado in this event marking the fourth anniversary of the release of the UN Commission of Inquiry Report on North Korea human rights.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1070-dialogue-with-a-north-korean-defector
February 16, 2018 - Part 2 of this series - Marking thirty years since the shift from authoritarianism to democracy in South Korea, the Korea Society hosts analysts and experts for an intimate discussion of the transition then, the flowering of democracy since, to include the Candlelight Movement, and the state of Korea’s democracy today. This is a small-group, special recording session.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1068-korea-s-transition-to-democracy-thirty-years-on
February 15, 2018 - Marking thirty years since the shift from authoritarianism to democracy in South Korea, the Korea Society hosts analysts and experts for an intimate discussion of the transition then, the flowering of democracy since, to include the Candlelight Movement, and the state of Korea’s democracy today. This is a small-group, special recording session.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1068-korea-s-transition-to-democracy-thirty-years-on
February 12, 2018 - Step into the global phenomenon known as Hallyu, or the Korean wave, with Chung Chung Lee, creator behind the fashion label LIE and son of legendary designer, LIE SANG BONG. Chung Chung is a pioneer in expanding awareness of Korean fashion at 2018 New York Fashion Week through “Concept Korea,” a biannual fashion show supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. At the Korea Society's event, Chung Chung shares the inspiration behind his past seasonal fashion shows. For fashionistas interested in learning more about up-and-coming K-fashion trends, this event is not to be missed!
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1075-the-rise-of-k-fashion-lie
February 7, 2018 - These first-Wednesday monthly roundtables draw members and supporters from policy, corporate, media, academe, and the United Nations to discuss and debate Korea’s leadership, regional relations or the North Korea challenge. The 2018 kickoff addresses issues of politics and policy in the lead-up to the Winter Games and takes place two days prior to the Opening Ceremonies. Korea Society senior director and Columbia adjunct professor Stephen Noerper addresses the lead-up to the Winter Games with a call-in from the Council on Foreign Relations' Scott Snyder and the Center for a New American Security's Patrick Cronin.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1063-politics-policy-and-pyeongchang-2018
February 1, 2018 - Against the backdrop of China’s mounting influence and North Korea’s growing nuclear capability and expanding missile arsenal, South Korea faces a set of strategic choices that will shape its economic prospects and national security. In South Korea at the Crossroads, Scott A. Snyder examines the trajectory of fifty years of South Korean foreign policy and offers predictions—and a prescription—for the future. Pairing a historical perspective with a shrewd understanding of today’s political landscape, Scott Snyder contends that South Korea’s best strategy remains investing in a robust alliance with the United States.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1062-south-korea-at-a-crossroads
January 26, 2018 - This noon session serving policy and corporate leaders examines politics, stability and security on and around the Korean Peninsula. This session features Dr. Sue Mi Terry, who has assumed leadership of Korea programs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Dr. Terry, who appears widely in media and was featured at a recent New Yorker event, speaks with Dr. Stephen Noerper, Korea Society senior director, and lends thoughts to likely developments in politics and security for Korea and her neighbors in 2018.
For more information, please visit the link below:
https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1061-forecasting-korean-politics-and-security
December 15, 2017 - Author Ned Forney and retired Admiral J. Robert Lunney discuss the Heungnam Evacuation and Lunney’s “Ship of Miracles” in this special holiday event commemorating the United Nation’s first humanitarian evacuation. Forney speaks to his major Seoul daily release profiling six descendants of those saved, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Lunney, who welcomed President Moon to Virginia during his first US visit as President, shares reflections on those harrowing days, acts of heroism, and the extraordinary flight to freedom.
A holiday reception follows, marking the December 1950 evacuation for members and guests, to include visitors from the United Nations nearby. The event also marks the 60th anniversary of the first Korea Society board meeting on December 12, 1957. Come celebrate the holidays and be touched by tales of sacrifice and the triumph of the human spirit and Korea-US friendship.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/heungnam_remembered.html
November 14, 2017 - The Hon. Lee Hee-beom, President and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, speaks to members, media and dignitaries in advance of the XXIII Winter Games. The day after a United Nations resolution supporting the Games, President Lee shares insights into the path toward PyeongChang, final steps ahead of the February 9 Opening Ceremonies, and his hopes for PyeongChang and Korea as grand host of these historic events. Joining President Lee will be Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism the Hon. Do Jonghwan, Gangwon Province Vice Governor Song Seokdoo, and Paralympic hockey star Jung Seunghwan.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/pyeongchang_2018_launch_featuring_olympic_committee_president_lee_hee-beom.html
November 9, 2017 - Pacific Forum CSIS President Ralph Cossa discusses the political and security landscape of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. President Cossa reflects on North Korea’s uptick in missile and nuclear capabilities, challenges in Korea-US relations, trilateral coordination among Korea, the US and Japan, and China in the wake of the 19th People’s Congress. Senior director and Columbia adjunct professor Stephen Noerper facilitates this special year-end wrap-up on politics and security around the Korean Peninsula.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/politics_and_security_in_korea_and_northeast_asia_year_in_review.html
November 8, 2017 - Will Russia play a constructive role in helping stem tensions around the Korean Peninsula? Or will it play the role of spoiler given a decline in US-Russia relations? How do the approaches of Moscow toward Pyongyang and Seoul square with those of Beijing? How is South Korea responding? Noted Russian professor Anna Kireeva speaks to dynamics in Korea’s relations with Russia and China, as well as Russia’s Asia pivot, as part of the Society’s ongoing series on Korea’s regional relations in this special luncheon discussion.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/korea-russia-china_relations_new_realities_for_the_korean_peninsula.html
November 8, 2017 - Korea Society President Thomas Byrne calls in from Seoul to give us insights on President Donald Trump’s first state visit to the Blue House. As the security threat from North Korea grows, Tom provides on the ground impressions and reflections on the US-Korea alliance, the personal relationship between President Trump and President Moon, and the US-Korea trade relationship. Tom, who is also coming off a trip to Beijing, then discusses the upcoming Trump-Xi visit, highlighting the major issues that will dominate those talks.
October 26, 2017 - Members, professors, students and alumni gather to hear Ewha Womans University President Heisook Kim. Among the forefront of Korean educators, President Heisook Kim speaks to the challenges and opportunities in higher education and the growth of women leaders. An alumni reception follows.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/growing_women_leaders_featuring_ewha_womans_university_president_heisook_kim.html
October 23, 2017 - In the course of his career, painter Po Kim worked in three distinct modes, gestural abstraction, realist still-life and symbolist figuration. Raphael Rubenstein's talk will examine each of these periods and look at how Po Kim's work related to the art of the period, especially that of other artists working in New York. Rubenstein will also seek to understand the motives that sparked his stylistic restlessness, and ask whether his early experiences of war and violence in Korea and Japan may have helped inspire his evident faith in the power of art.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/gallery-talks/po_kim_making_impossible_demands_on_art.html
October 3, 2017 - Best-selling author and former Washington Post Northeast Asia bureau chief Blaine Harden discusses his riveting King of Spies on its date of release. His third work on Korea recounts the untold story of one of the most powerful spies in US history working on the Peninsula during the Korean War.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/king_of_spies_with_author_blaine_harden.html
October 5, 2017 - Are the United States and North Korea on a collision course? Does tough rhetoric mean eventual conflict? The Heritage Foundation’s Bruce Klingner and BowerGroup Asia’s Sue Mi Terry speak to the current high tensions around the Korean Peninsula and ways forward. Both met with North Korean representatives in Stockholm, and these two premier analysts are among those to whom North Korea has reached out for a better understanding of the Trump Administration and its Korea policy. Society senior director Stephen Noerper facilitates this special rapid-reaction, lunchtime dialogue.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/stumbling_into_a_war_nobody_wants_how_to_avoid_conflict_with_north_korea.html
September 14, 2015 - Chef Hooni Kim, the owner of Danji, a Michelin-starred Korean restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen, and Simon Kim, the proprietor of Cote, a modern Korean steakhouse in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, share their remarkable and challenging experience promoting Korean cuisine in New York City and globally. Marja Vongerichten, host of the PBS TV series “Kimchi Chronicles,” and the author of a companion cookbook titled, Kimchi Chronicles: Korean Cooking for an American Kitchen, moderates the evening program.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/cuisine/bringing_the_flavors_of_cote_and_danji_to_the_korea_society.html
September 7, 2017 - (Part 2) - Leap from satire to Korean drama and other works by a mid-century master. Delve into a China raw, volatile and often uncontrollable in a novel equal parts muckraking, a transnational love story, and panoramic social critique.
Two of America’s premier translators of Korean literature, the Fultons reflect on two recent releases: Sunset, a first ever English-language compilation of the works of the great midcentury writer Ch’ae, known widely for his satire, and Cho’s striking novel portraying China on the verge of world dominance. Cho’s The Human Jungle provides a literary complement to the Society’s ongoing work on Korea’s regional relations.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/found_in_translation_sunset_a_chae_manshik_reader_and_cho_chongnaes_the_human_jungle_with_bruce_and_ju-chan_fulton.html
September 7, 2017 - (Part 1) - Leap from satire to Korean drama and other works by a mid-century master. Delve into a China raw, volatile and often uncontrollable in a novel equal parts muckraking, a transnational love story, and panoramic social critique.
Two of America’s premier translators of Korean literature, the Fultons reflect on two recent releases: Sunset, a first ever English-language compilation of the works of the great midcentury writer Ch’ae, known widely for his satire, and Cho’s striking novel portraying China on the verge of world dominance. Cho’s The Human Jungle provides a literary complement to the Society’s ongoing work on Korea’s regional relations.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/found_in_translation_sunset_a_chae_manshik_reader_and_cho_chongnaes_the_human_jungle_with_bruce_and_ju-chan_fulton.html
August 1, 2017 - Award-winning author Krys Lee speaks to the release of her debut novel, How I Became a North Korean, at this first cultural event at the Korea Society’s new location at 350 Madison Avenue at 45th Street. A Yonsei University assistant professor of creative writing, Krys Lee is a recipient of the Rome Prize and finalist for the BBC International Short Story Award. This captivating new release tells the story of three young people who struggle to make new lives in the dangerous area where China borders North Korea. Krys Lee appears in conversation with Korea Society senior director and Columbia University professor Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/how_i_became_a_north_korean.html
July 12, 2017 - With growing cyber attacks possibly linked to North Korea and an eye to the vulnerability of financial and government systems, the Korea Society hosts a private round table discussion on North Korea's Cyber Threat. The discussants for this by-invitation session are the Council on Foreign Relations' Adam Segal and Symantec's Vikram Thakur. Adam Segal is the Ira A. Lipman Chair in Emerging Technologies and National Security and Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. Vikram Thakur is a Senior Manager within Symantec's Security Response Team. The session is moderated by Society President Thomas Byrne and Senior Director Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/north_koreas_cyber_threat.html
July 5, 2017 - On July 4, 2017, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile. Washington called for a global response, and the United Nations Security Council met July 5 on the DPRK launch. Offering insight into the politics surrounding the launch and possible responses is Korea Society Chairman and former United States Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Thomas Hubbard. Offering insights into market impacts is Korea Society President Thomas Byrne, formerly with Moody’s. This rapid reaction report is moderated by senior director Stephen Noerper and produced by Peter Stuehmke.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/north_koreas_icbm_launch.html
May 11, 2017 - Korea Society President Thomas Byrne convenes a discussion on Korea-China Relations, with former Newsweek Beijing Correspondent Isaac Stone Fish and Stimson Center Senior Associate Yun Sun, formerly with the International Crisis Group's office in Beijing. This session follows on the Society's March Korea-China session with Harvard's John Park and focuses on the twists and turns of South Korea's economic and political relations with China, and examines the complexity of China's support for UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/korea-china_relations_part_ii.html
May 10, 2017 - Stephen Noerper in conversation with AsiaEast producer Stephen Costello. Costello served with the Kim Dae Jung Peace Foundation USA and Atlantic Council. He is in Seoul to meet with advisors to the new administration.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/special_taping_rapid_reaction_on_the_korean_presidential_elections.html
May 10, 2017 - Join Korea Society senior director and Columbia University adjunct professor Stephen Noerper in conversation with Tong Yang, Korea Foundation and Korea Stanford Alumni Chair of Korean Studies Gi-Wook Shin. Professor Shin appears remotely from Stanford University. This rapid reaction program examines the winner and losers in the election, priorities and next steps for the new Korean President, and implications for United States policy given tensions around the Korean Peninsula.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/special_taping_rapid_reaction_on_the_korean_presidential_elections.html
May 4, 2017 - Perth USAsia Center CEO and Professor Gordon Flake and former Australian Foreign and Defense Minister Stephen Smith join in conversation with Korea Society President Thomas Byrne to examine new middle level diplomacies under MIKTA. Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia comprise this new initiative. Flake,a leading global expert on Korea, and Smith posit new possibilities associated with the arrangement.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/middle_level_diplomacies_mikta_and_the_search_for_a_strategic_rationale.html
March 10, 2017 - Former ROK Minister for Trade Jong-Hoon Kim, Vice President and Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler, and US Chamber of Commerce SVP Tami Overby assess the performance and progress of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement five years after implementation in a discussion moderated by the Korea Society's president, Tom Byrne.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/trade_talks_korus_fta_at_5.html
March 7, 2017 - Korea-China Relations, featuring John Park, Harvard University, in conversation with senior director Stephen Noerper. John Park, co-author of Stopping North Korea Inc. (MIT, 2016), returns from Beijing and Seoul and offers new insights into the dynamics between the PRC and two Koreas. Seizing on sanctions and other preventive efforts to check DRPK nuclear weapons development, Park, who lectures at the Kennedy School, examines the business of North Korea, ties that may or may not bind, and the realities with which the new US administration must grapple.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/korea-china_relations.html
February 23, 2017 - US-Korea-Japan Trade Relations: Recent Developments and Future Prospects, co-sponsored with the Japan Society and the Asia Society Policy Institute. Despite enduring frictions, Korea and Japan are critically important trade partners and enjoy strong trade with the United States. Shotaro Oshima, former Special Representative of the Government of Japan for the TPP, Wendy Cutler, Vice President and Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan, Korea, and APEC Affairs, and others examine trade relations and recent developments and challenges, as well as the future for multilateral trade initiatives. This program takes place at the Japan Society.
For more information, please visit the links below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/us-korea-japan_trade_relations_recent_developments_and_future_prospects.html
http://www.japansociety.org/event/us-japan-korea-trade-relations-recent-developments-and-future-prospects
February 24, 2017 - To mark the third anniversary of the release of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry Report, the Korea Society welcomes Seong-ho Ji, a North Korean defector and human rights activist. Ji speaks on North Korean human rights at an intimate roundtable discussion moderated by Dr. Stephen Noerper, senior director.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/north_korean_human_rights_marking_the_third_anniversary_of_the_un_commission_of_inquiry_report_with_activist_seong-ho_ji.html
February 16, 2017 - Despite women blazing the trail at tech companies like Naver and Kakao, a deep divide remains among men and women at the top. Less than ten percent of startup founders are women in Korea, while a quarter of startups are run by women in Silicon Valley. Join us in conversation with principal investor Hee-Eun Park of Altos Ventures. She chats entrepreneurship, gender, investing in startups and what it is like to lead in Silicon Valley with Korea Society director Nikita Desai.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/women_in_tech_a_conversation_with_altos_ventures_hee-eun_park.html
February 2, 2017 - Featuring BowerGroupAsia managing director for Korea, Sue Mi Terry, and Park Strategies senior vice president Sean King, in conversation with senior director Stephen Noerper. Terry and King, two of the city’s hottest analysts of Korean and East Asian trends and shifts, speak to concerns about North Korea, China’s rise, and the early staking of the Trump administration. Bringing sensibilities born of business, academe and intelligence, Terry and King raise the specter on what to watch, scenarios unfolding, and the complexities of decision making in a new era.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/forecasting_for_2017_politics_and_security_of_korea_and_east_asia.html
January 19, 2017 - Changyong Rhee, Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, and Alexander “Sandy” Wolfson, Managing Director and Head of Global Country Risk Management at Citi, discuss key economic challenges and assess global risks facing Asia and Korea in the years ahead. Rhee and Wolfson offer an overview of the short-term outlook and risks facing the region and address implications of low growth or a "new mediocre" for the region, in discussion with President Tom Byrne.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/forecasting_for_2017_key_economic_challenges_for_korea_and_asia.html
December 13, 2016 - Jieun Baek discusses North Korea’s Hidden Revolution, her new book on the information network growing within North Korea through exposure to foreign films, television, and books. Baek argues that access to information is sparking irreversible change in the social and political consciousness of North Korean citizens.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/north_koreas_information_revolution.html
December 12, 2016 - Have a jOlly hOliday with Inspector O!
The Korea Society offers its members and policy program participants a special gift in celebrating the release of the final Inspector O novel, The Gentleman from Japan, at 12 noon on December 12. Join us on 12-12 at 12 for the secretive and celebrated Church reading live (and sharing some thoughts on Korea policy going forward). A signing follows, so stock up for holiday giving, and enjoy sweet dumplings as we bid the year adieu.
In this new release, Church, a former Western intelligence officer, returns to the secret world of North Korean intelligence and Inspector O. A Spanish factory near Barcelona is secretly producing--under the guise of a dumpling maker--a key machine for the production of nuclear weapons. Western intelligence has gotten wind of this and believes that the machine is meant for North Korea. It is deemed imperative either to disable the machine before it leaves the factory or intercept it. Inspector O is recruited by an old friend to take part in an operation to disrupt the plans for shipping the device.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/a_gentleman_from_japan.html
December 12, 2016 - CSIS Korea Chair Victor Cha and Georgetown University Distinguished Professor Robert Gallucci release their advisory for the incoming President and next administration on how best to deal with issues and concerns on the Korean Peninsula.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/advising_the_next_us_president_on_korea.html
December 6, 2016 - Korea Society president Thomas Byrne, retired General Walter "Skip" Sharp, former U.S. commander in Korea, and Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. ambassador to Korea and William J. Perry Distinguished Fellow in the Korea Program at Stanford's Shorenstein APARC , engage in discussion about the new U.S. president and political, economic and security options on Korea and East Asia.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/the_new_u.s._president_korea_and_east_asia.html
December 1, 2016 - Korea Society president Thomas Byrne facilitates a conversation with the International Monetary Fund’s Asia and Pacific Department’s Deputy Division Chief, Koshy Mathai, on how the Korean economy and regional markets fared in 2016.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/a_year_in_review_koreas_economy_and_regional_markets.html
November 17, 2016 - Dive deep into the K-Beauty world with Soko Glam co-founders Charlotte and Dave Cho. The evening will begin with a panel discussion led by Vogue editor Monica Kim about Chos’ journey with Soko Glam and The Klog, and how their company has become the destination for everything K-Beauty.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/contemporary-korea/k-beauty_guru_charlotte_cho_from_soko_glam.html
November 3, 2016 - Pacific Forum CSIS President Ralph Cossa reflects on 2016 developments impacting Northeast Asia, from the step-up in tensions on and around the Korean Peninsula to the South China Sea, in conversation with Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/a_year_in_review_regional_politics_and_security.html
October 25, 2016 - This presentation by Brandon Gauthier will examine how portrayals of North Korea by the U.S. government and popular media diminished the possibility of diplomatic cooperation between the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) over the second half of the twentieth century. It will specifically argue that policymakers and journalists, among other observers in U.S. society, primarily made sense of the DPRK’s often-brutal actions by describing it as either a puppet of the Soviet Union and China or as an irrational actor incapable of pragmatic dialogue. These reductive caricatures—a product, in part, of evolving ideologies in American society related to the Cold War, foreign policy, and race—blinded policymakers to the nationalistic motives behind North Korea’s decision-making and led the general public to misunderstand events in Korea. While analyzing how intertwined links between culture and national identity influenced American foreign policy in East Asia, this discussion thus highlights the fundamental misperceptions that so often shaped U.S. decision-making vis-à-vis the DPRK since the Korean War.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/changing_american_perceptions_of_north_korea_since_1948.html
October 21, 2016 - Georgetown University professor and CSIS Korea chair Victor Cha discusses Powerplay, his new book that examines the evolution and importance of America's alliances with Korea and other nations in East Asia. Cha argues that the US must maximize stability and economic progress amid Asia’s increasingly complex political landscape. In conversation with senior director Stephen Noerper. A book signing follows.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/powerplay_the_origins_of_the_american_alliance_system_in_asia.html
October 13, 2016 - Tchah Sup Kim has experimented with a wide variety of genres and methods, including pop art, geometric abstraction, mail art, readymade objects, environmental art, and minimalism. Although the styles and materials have changed over time, Kim’s artwork always expresses a quest for the transcendent—as well as a critique of the Western-centric perspective.
Born in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture, Kim and his family moved to Gyeongju, Korea, in 1944. He graduated from Seoul National University in 1963 and represented Korea at the Biennale de Paris in 1966. In 1974, a scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation enabled him to study at the Pratt Institute in New York.
Kim’s work was exhibited in the National Print Exhibition, 20th Biennial: 30 Years of American Printmaking at the The Brooklyn Museum (1976), Prints: Acquisitions, 1973-1976 at the Museum of Modern Art (1977), and Six Artists from Korea at the Grace Borgenicht Gallery (1995). The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwachon, Korea, the Library of Congress, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Cincinnati Art Museum all include Kim’s work in their permanent collections.
This exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Dongwha Cultural Foundation.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/exhibition/prometheus_the_art_of_tchah_sup_kim.html
September 29, 2016 - Dr. Minjung Lee, visiting scholar at University of California Davis, outlines the evolution of traditional attire throughout Korean history, reveals her research methods, and shares tales about her career as a costume designer for KBS television dramas.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/korean-studies/lectures/royal_threads_historical_representations_in_costume_design.html
October 6, 2016 - Mansfield Foundation president Frank Jannuzi and NCNK executive director Keith Luse, both former senior advisors to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, discuss the positions of candidates Clinton and Trump respective to Korea and Asia with Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/korea_east_asia_and_the_us_presidential_election.html
September 15, 2016 - Frank Ahrens, who served eighteen years as a journalist with the Washington Post, reflects on his experience living and working in Korea. Ahrens was the highest-ranking non-Korean executive at Hyundai Motor Company. A book signing follows.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/seoul_man.html
September 15, 2016 - Speaker of the Republic of Korea’s 20th National Assembly, Chung Sye-kyun, addresses current developments on the Korean Peninsula, the Korea-US alliance, and Korea’s regional and global leadership in a special address to Korea Society members and guests.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/national_assembly_speaker_chung_sye-kyun.html
September 12, 2016 - Ha Young-sun, chairman of the board of the East Asia Institute; Chun Chaesung, chair of EAI’s Asia Security Initiative Research Center; and Sohn Yul, dean and professor of the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University; address inter-Korean tensions and South Korea’s security concerns in a panel discussion moderated by senior director Stephen Noerper.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/security_challenges_on_the_korean_peninsula.html
September 8, 2016 - Pacific Forum CSIS executive director Brad Glosserman and Council on Foreign Relations fellow and director Scott Snyder, authors of The Japan-South Korea Identity Clash, address progress and potential in Korea-Japan relations in a session co-presented with the Japan Society. North Korea has conducted a fourth nuclear test, a long range missile test and multiple intermediate and short range missile launches this year. As a result, South Korea and Japan have accelerated their cooperation bilaterally, and trilaterally with the United States. The logjam of blocked Korea-Japan relations given territorial and historical memory disputes appears to have given way to the necessity for and practicality of security cooperation. However, this process has been slower and more fitful than many expected. Despite their proximity, their deeply intertwined histories and the convergence of many interests, there are considerable misperceptions in each country about the other. Glosserman and Snyder root many of these problems in the competing sense of national identity in each country. Glosserman and Snyder opine on constraints and opportunities, as well as shared concerns over North Korea's provocations and China's growing reach.
For more information, please visit the link below:
http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/next_steps_in_korea-japan_relations.html
July 25, 2016 - The general theme of the round table will be Korea, the US Presidential Campaigns, and Rising Tensions on the Peninsula. We welcome Sang Sin LEE, a research fellow from the Korea Institute for National Unification; the Hon. Jin PARK, President. Asia Future Institute; President Jinwook CHOI of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU); and Professor Hyun-Wook KIM of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Dr. Jin Park will speak to Korea and the Clinton and Trump campaigns, President Choi to ROK policy toward the DPRK, Professor Kim to ROK-US relations, and Dr. Lee to ROK public perceptions of North Korea.
June 2, 2016 - In the wake of recent security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and in advance of the US Presidential elections, USC Korean Studies Institute director and noted professor David Kang discusses the progress, pitfalls, and potential in US-ROK relations. Moderated by the Society’s Stephen Noerper and co-hosted by the Global Society of Korea. For more information, please visit the link below: http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/prospects_for_and_progress_in_us-korea_relations.html
May 31, 2016 - The creators behind EXP (Bora Kim, Karin Kuroda, and Samantha Y. Shao), the first non-Korean K-pop boy band, discuss the themes of cultural authorship and originality, posing the question, what is lost in translation with regard to identity within the Korean wave with Maud Lavin--Professor, Visual Studies and Art History, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. For more information, please visit the link below: http://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/contemporary-korea/remapping_identity_politics_in_k-pop.html
May 25, 2016 - In his new release, Fault Lines in a Rising Asia, ambassador, scholar, and analyst Chung Min Lee addresses the downsides of Asia’s rise and the conventional narrative that surrounds it. Dr. Lee examines Asia's economic ascent in contrast with the dangerous, diverse and divisive security challenges that persist. For more information, please visit the link below: http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/fault_lines_in_a_rising_asia.html
May 18, 2016 - Keynote speaker Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, and Van Fleet Award recipient Kwon Ohjoon, Chairman & CEO of POSCO, deliver remarks at The Korea Society's 2016 Annual Dinner. For more information, please visit the link below: http://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/annual-dinner/2016_annual_dinner.html
May 17, 2016 - Joseph McChristian, president of the Van Fleet Foundation, discusses the life and legacy of Korean War commanding general James Van Fleet. McChristian, Van Fleet’s grandson, examines his grandfather's “will to win,” love for the peoples of Korea, and deep commitment to the US-Korea alliance. For more information, please visit the link below: http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/the_legacy_of_general_james_van_fleet.html
April 14, 2016 - Stephan Haggard, author of Hard Target: Engaging North Korea, provides an assessment of a North Korea that is undergoing substantial economic and social change under the Kim Jong Un regime, in conversation with Korea Society president Thomas Byrne. For more information, please visit the link below:http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/engaging_north_korea.html
April 6, 2016 - The New York-based Korea Society and Washington-based Korea Economic Institute (KEI) held a pre-Korean Parliamentary election roundtable discussion on Wednesday, April 6, at The Korea Society headquarters in NYC. South Koreans vote for National Assembly members on April 13. The election will impact domestic policy and has importance in advance of the 2017 ROK Presidential election. Infighting in both the conservative ruling and opposition parties during the nomination process has made predicting outcomes difficult. KEI Vice President Mark Tokola and Columbia Professor Charles Armstrong led this private discussion on the political dynamics behind the National Assembly elections and the implications of various outcomes.
March 29, 2016 - In conversation with the 2016 Project Bridge Youth Ambassadors, Dr. Stephen Noerper, Senior Director of Policy, examines the major social, political, and economic factors responsible for today's North Korea.
March 31, 2016 - SparkLabs Co-Founder & Partner Bernard Moon introduces a new Internet of Things (IoT) accelerator planned for launch in Songdo and Seoul which provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to take the lead of the global IoT trend. Ilan Abehassera, founder and CEO at Insensi and a SparkLabs portfolio company, speaks to the ins and outs of managing a hardware startup company. For more information, please visit the link below:http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/global_internet_of_things_trend_and_korea.html
March 17, 2016 - Now in force for four years, the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) has seen some observers question the extent of trade benefits and economic gains for the US and Korean economies. Michael Beeman of the US-Korea Business Council provides insights into the evolution of the KORUS FTA, challenges, opportunities and new directions, in conversation with Korea Society President Tom Byrne. For more information, please visit the link below:http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/us-korea_trade_fta_at_4_years.html
March 9, 2016 - Experience the K-Beauty regimen firsthand at The Korea Society's first ever K-Beauty Show! Learn about K-Beauty trends, the emergence of K-Culture, and meet beauty experts including Alicia Yoon of Peach & Lily, makeup artist Seong Hee Park, Cosmopolitan's Deputy Beauty Editor Jessica Matlin, and fashion & lifestyle blogger Patricia Chang. The K-Beauty Show will include a panel discussion, as well as giveaways and 1-on-1 beauty consulting.For more information, please visit the link below:http://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/contemporary-korea/k-beauty_show.html
March 4, 2016 - Join us for a corporate luncheon event with Seung Bak, Co-founder & CEO of Dramafever, David Kim, Attorney at The Hollywood Lawyers, and Brian Lee, Partner at SKIG and former GM at Maker Studios. This joint Kotra NY-IP Desk-Korea Society event offers aspiring and existing entrepreneurs key insights on starting and exiting an entertainment-media startup and advice on navigating thorny intellectual property issues. Seung Bak is the CEO and co-founder of DramaFever, the leading online destination for international television shows and movies. Seung led the company since its inception in 2009, including a sale to SoftBank in 2014 at greater than 10x invested capital. Prior to founding DramaFever, Seung was Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Capital IQ, a leading provider of information services to the global financial community. Seung served a variety of marketing, sales, strategy, finance, and operational roles in helping Capital IQ grow from a seed stage startup to a $400+ million revenue business. Previously, he was an investment banker at CapitalKey Advisors, the precursor to Capital IQ, where he advised venture-stage and middle-market companies. Seung is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization NYC Chapter. Seung earned a BA in Economics from the University of Rochester. David Yung Ho Kim is the Lead Entertainment Attorney at The Hollywood Lawyer in Los Angeles, and practices in the areas of film, television, music, new media, licensing and talent representation. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley as a Regents' & Chancellor's Scholar, with cum laude honors in History, he then moved to study law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva), the nation's premiere Jewish institution with one of the top-ranked entertainment and IP law programs in the nation, where he served as the school's first non-Jewish student body president. With an eclectic background of employment and experiences in litigation, copyright law and in-house counsel work as an entertainment attorney for past employers such as the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, CJ Entertainment America, and East West Artists, David now spends most of his time negotiating deals, drafting contracts and advising companies and talent in areas related to media and entertainment. When he’s not working, David loves meditating, doing yoga, playing the piano and loving on people, be it family, friends, or strangers.Brian Lee is a Partner at SKIG, a NYC-based accelerator focused on helping early- stage companies scale audience and revenue. Prior to SKIG, Brian was General Manager and Vice President at Maker Studios, the worlds premiere multi-channel network. At Maker Studios, Brian led the Music and Merchandise divisions from conception all the way through to its eventual $500M acquisition to Disney in 2014. As Head of Music, Brian oversaw all of its departments including, network partnerships, original programming and audience development. His success as GM was rooted in his ability to converge traditional music industry stars such as Snoop Dogg, Will.i.am , and Far East Movement with up and coming YouTube talent such as Christina Grimmie, Mike Tompkins, and the Epic Rap Battles of History. Prior to his role at Maker Studios, he was founder and CEO of Knocksteady, a digital content and social merchandising company based in Los Angeles. Knocksteady served as the precursor to both Maker Music and Shop.Maker.Tv and was acquired by Maker Studios in 2012. Brian earned a Bachelors of Arts in both Political Science and International Relations from the University of California Irvine.For more information, please visit the link below:http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/understanding_intellectual_property_for_media_startups.html
March 3, 2016 - Frayed relations between Korea and Japan appear to be on the mend with the late December announcement aimed at drawing the comfort women issue to a close. In conveying his apology to President Park, Prime Minister Abe voiced hope for a new era in relations with South Korea. The US hailed the step forward by its key allies in Northeast Asia. Meanwhile, China's step-up of military activity in the South China and East China Sea and North Korea's January nuclear test and February missile test heightened shared concerns and underscored the need for bilateral cooperation. Korea Society Chairman Thomas Hubbard, discusses recent progress in Korea-Japan relations with Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Dr. Sheila Smith in this timely and forward-looking session, co-organized with the Japan Society. For more information, please visit the link below:http://www.koreasociety.org/policy/korea-japan_relations_potential_and_progress.html