The Korea Society was a cosponsor of a two-day conference held at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston, Texas on the issues surrounding Korea's eventual unification. The participants-who included a diverse mix of academics, diplomats, business leaders and officials from both the U.S. and South Korea-explored the long-term demographic and economic trends against which unification may occur. Presentations were delivered on Korea's post-war history, current North-South relations and potential paths to pre-unification economic development in North Korea. A follow-up panel discussion was held on the role that the international community can play in rehabilitating the North's economy and infrastructure. Keynote addresses were given by Suchan Chae, a former member of Rice University's economics faculty and current member of the ROKs National Assembly as well as Donald P. Gregg, president and chairman of The Korea Society and a former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.

Saturday and Sunday, November  5 and 6, 2005

About the Speakers

Donald P. Gregg is Chairman of the Board of The Korea Society in New York City. Following graduation from Williams College in 1951, he joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and over the next quarter century was assigned to Japan, Burma, Vietnam and Korea. Gregg was seconded to the National Security Council staff in 1979, where he was in charge of intelligence activities and Asian policy affairs. In 1982, he was asked by the then Vice President George H. W. Bush to become his national security advisor. He then retired from the CIA, and was awarded its highest decoration, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. During his six years with Vice President Bush, Gregg traveled to 65 countries, and also was a professorial lecturer at Georgetown University, where he taught a graduate level workshop entitled “Force and Diplomacy.” From September 1989, Gregg served as ambassador to Korea. Prior to his departure from Korea in 1993, Mr. Gregg received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, an honorary degree from Sogang University, and a decoration from the Prime Minister of Korea. Recent awards include an honorary degree from Green Mountain College (1996), the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service (2001), Williams College’s Kellogg Award for career achievement (2001), and the 2004 Bartels World Affairs Fellowship from Cornell University.