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ew Beginnings Project: Post-Election Prospects for U.S.-ROK Relations
During a press conference held in New York at The Korea Society, three members of the New Beginnings project delivered a summary of their just released report on the post-election prospects for U.S.-ROK relations.
The New Beginnings project was launched in January, 2008 under the joint auspices of The Korea Society and Stanford University's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. With the inauguration of a new administration in South Korea and presidential elections scheduled in the U.S. for later in the year, 2008 affords great potential for Seoul and Washington to renew and refocus their alliance. In recognition of this potential, the project's objective is to formulate recommendations on ways to improve bilateral relations for the consideration of the two nations' leaders.
The members of the project who participated in the press conference were Michael H. Armacost, Shorenstein Distinguished Fellow, former U.S. ambassador to Japan and the Philippines and former undersecretary of state for political affairs; Thomas C. Hubbard, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea; Evans J.R. Revere, president of The Korea Society; Gi-Wook Shin, director of the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center; and David Straub, a former director of Korean and Japanese affairs at the State Department.
Even though the U.S. and ROK have overcome diplomatic turbulence as well substantive differences over their respective approaches to North Korea in recent years, it was noted that obstacles to closer engagement still remain. In particular, concern was voiced that anti-trade sentiment in the U.S. Congress would delay progress in implementing the KORUS Free Trade Agreement. On the other hand, a note of optimism was struck on the prospects for Korea's inclusion in the visa waiver program, a step that all agreed would enhance the vitality of the alliance by facilitating more person-to-person contacts.
The summary and full-text of the New Beginnings report is available online.
“New Beginnings” in the US-South Korean Alliance
June 3, 2008 in San Francisco.
Listen or download audio here.
| Speaker(s): |
Michael Armacost, Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
Evans J.R. Revere, President, Korea Society; Cyrus R. Vance Fellow in Diplomatic Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Gi-wook Shin, Director of Shorenstein APARC
Daniel Sneider, Associate Director for Research, Shorenstein APARC
David Straub, Pantech Research Fellow, Shorenstein APARC |
| Description: |
South Koreans’ recent election of Lee Myung-bak as their new president has provided the United States an opportunity to revitalize its alliance with the Republic of Korea. Join members of “New Beginnings,” a nonpartisan policy study group of former senior U.S. officials and other experts on Korea, for a discussion of the results of President Lee’s visit and of the prospects for forging a real partnership with South Korea. |
GROUP OF EXPERTS AND FORMER OFFICIALS TO RELEASE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING U.S.–KOREA TIES 
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM ♦ Registration
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM ♦ Discussion
Members of
New Beginnings, a nonpartisan policy study group made up of former senior U.S. officials, academics and other experts on Korea, will release their recommendations for updating and strengthening the U.S.–South Korea alliance at a press conference at The Korea Society (950 Third Avenue, Eighth Floor) in New York on April 15 at 10 AM.
The group travelled to Seoul recently to meet South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, his top advisers and other leading figures in the U.S.-ROK relations. The group believes that the election of President Lee, who will visit New York and Washington next week and hold a summit with President Bush at Camp David, offers a major opportunity to further transform the U.S.-Korea alliance into a global partnership.
Sponsored by The Korea Society and Stanford University's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, the New Beginnings project was launched in January 10, 2008 to recommend current and next U.S. administrations ways to improve bilateral relations with South Korea.
At the press conference, members will summarize their report and recommendations, and answer questions about their findings. Full copies of the report will be available. The group members include:
Michael H. Armacost, Shorenstein Distinguished Fellow, Stanford University; former U.S. ambassador to Japan and the Philippines; former undersecretary of state for political affairs
Thomas C. Hubbard, McLarty Associates; former U.S. ambassador to South Korea and the Philippines
Evans J.R. Revere, president of The Korea Society; former principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs; former deputy chief of mission, U.S. Embassy, Seoul
Gi-Wook Shin, director of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center; director of the Stanford Korean Studies Program; Korea Stanford Alumni Chair of Korean Studies; professor of sociology, Stanford University
David Straub, Pantech Research Fellow, Shorenstein APARC, Stanford University former State Department Korean and Japanese Affairs director
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