A Discussion of David Halberstam's The Coldest Winter

with

Bruce Cumings
Professor of History, University of Chicago.
Author, The Origins of the Korean War.

Thomas McGrath
Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

Yung Duk Kim
Former President and CEO, Hyundai Corporation (USA).
Independent management, technology and finance consultant.

George Drake
Former Professor, Sociology at Western Washington University.
Creator of the Korean War Children’s Memorial in Bellingham, Washington.

Evans J.R. Revere
President, Korea Society.

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

David Halberstam’s final book, The Coldest Winter, a new history of the Korean War, has been on America’s bestseller lists for months. The widespread attention being garnered by the book seemingly is at odds with the popular perception in the U.S., which often labels the conflict in Korea as the “forgotten war.” In this respect, the publication of The Coldest Winter provides an invaluable opportunity to reexamine how and why the tragic events of more than half a century ago remain relevant to the search for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula today. Join us for a presentation and panel discussion revisiting this devastating period of Korea’s recent past and its continuing connections to contemporary American history.

The program will include a presentation by prominent Korean War scholar Bruce Cumings on how Halberstam’s work relates to our evolving understanding of the Korean War. This presentation will be followed by a discussion with Thomas McGrath, who was deployed as a soldier with the U.S. Army in Korea during the war, Yung Duk Kim, who was caught up in the war as a young civilian, and George Drake, Director of Research of the Korean War National Museum. They will share their first-hand experiences of this turbulent era in a conversation moderated by Evans J.R. Revere, the president of The Korea Society. The program will conclude with a Q&A session involving all of the participants.

Bringing the period to life, a series of vivid photographs from The Korea Society’s traveling exhibition, Living Through the Forgotten War: Portrait of Korea, will be on display during the program.

About the Speakers

The late David Halberstam was the author of fifteen books, including The Best and the Brightest, his reportage on the Vietnam War that won the Pulitzer Prize.

Bruce Cumings is professor of history at the University of Chicago and author of The Origins of the Korean War. His research and writing focuses on modern Korean history, East Asian political economy and U.S.–East Asia relations.

Thomas McGrath served with the Tenth Field Artillery Battalion of the U.S. Army in Korea from 1953 to 1954. Following the war, McGrath practiced tax law, becoming a partner in the firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

Yung Duk Kim experienced the war as a young civilian from North Korea when the war broke out. Following the war, Kim joined the Hyundai Group as and engineer, eventually becoming the president and CEO of Hyundai Corporation (USA) in 1987. Retired from Hyundai since 1997, he is currently an independent management, technology and finance consultant.

George F. Drake served with the U.S. Army Security Agency in Korea during 1952 and 1953. He later served as professor of sociology at Western Washington University, where he directed the University’s East Asian Studies Center and International Programs department. Drake is the creator of the Korean War Children’s Memorial in Bellingham, Washington, which honors Korean War servicemen and women for their humanitarian aid to the children of Korea during the conflict.

Evans J.R. Revere is the president of The Korea Society in New York City. He came to the Society after a 35-year career in government service, most of that as a U.S. diplomat and one of the Department of State’s leading Asia experts. During his State Department career, Mr. Revere served as principal deputy assistant secretary and acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, chargé d’affaires and deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul (2000-2003) and as the deputy leader of the U.S. team conducting negotiations with North Korea (1998-2000).

Film Screening
In connection with this event, The Korea Society will screen the noted Korean War drama Spring in my Hometown on January 24 at 6:30 PM as part of its 2008 Classic Movie Night series .