As The Korea Society celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2007 by gala events in Seoul, Los Angeles and New York, it is clear that the work we are doing is now far more extensive and far more important than anything we have done in the past.

This web-site, which is constantly being updated and expanded, clearly reflects these important trends, and I invite all those interested in today's Korea to explore it fully, and to participate in our programs as members of The Korea Society.

The expansion of our work is a direct reflection of the growing impact and importance of the Republic of Korea itself, economically, politically and culturally. Our programs deal directly and repeatedly with these fields. In the cultural area, for example, a well-attended August program called "Hallyu: Korean Pop Culture Sweeps Across Asia," was followed by our decision to become the organizer of the New York Korean Film Festival which is presented annually in collaboration with Samsung Electronics. This year's Festival ran from August 25 through September 2. It featured 14 full-length films, a short film festival and a rare retrospective of films by Lee Man-hee.

The growing importance of our work derives from the rapidly changing situation on the Korean peninsula. U.S. and South Korean perceptions of North Korea are changing and to a large extent diverging. This places tensions on the long-standing ROK-U.S. military alliance, which we have explored at an off-the record conference held at the end of 2005. Official dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang is now essentially non-existent, making The Korea Society's contacts with and insights into North Korea increasingly important. We are continuing to develop the information-technology exchange program started four years ago between Syracuse University in upstate New York and Kim Chaek University in Pyongyang. Our objective is to increase the volume and flow of information in and out of North Korea, thereby easing that country's transition to more normal relations with its neighbors.

So welcome to our website, which I hope will be a doorway through which you can enter into greater participation in, and understanding of, events pertaining to the entire Korean peninsula.

Donald P. Gregg
Chairman