This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of The Korea Society in 1957, under the leadership of General James A. Van Fleet. As the commander of the U.S. Eighth Army during the final phase of the Korean War, Van Fleet had developed a strong admiration for the history and culture of Korea as well as a deep respect for the Korean people. Realizing how little known and poorly understood Korea was among Americans, Van Fleet welcomed the opportunity to help bridge the chasm of ignorance between Korea and the United States by serving as the first president of The Korea Society.

A survey of the gradual development of U.S.-Korea relations over the last half century would suggest that The Korea Society might be likened to a palimpsest upon which the history of these relations has been recorded. For the most recent decade, from 1997 to the present, the story of these relations emerges in bold strokes that reflect its vital and unique features and serve as a harbinger of a bright future. The Pyongyang Summit in 2000 was the pivotal event of this decade, and the transformational process it set in motion is creating a new foundation for U.S.-Korea relations, just as it already has provided a new focus for the efforts of The Korea Society.

The story of the previous decade, 1987 to 1997, also emerges clearly from just under the surface. This decade began with the triumph of the pro-democracy movement in Korea, signaled by the dramatic acceptance of the demand for democratic reforms by President Noh Tae Woo. The stunning successes of this decade also left strong traces in the activities of The Korea Society as it began a process of renewal and expansion in response to the changed perception of Korea in the United States due to the spectacular execution of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. For The Korea Society, the highpoint was the reorganization carried out in 1993 following the appointment of Ambassador Donald P. Gregg as president and chairman.

The story of the third decade, from 1977 to 1987, is more obscure as very few Americans were paying attention to developments in Korea and The Korea Society also went through a period of ups and downs. Still, this decade marked the beginning of Korean immigration to the U.S. on a large-scale, and the Korean American community gradually became an important stakeholder in the development of The Korea Society.

The second decade, from 1967 to 1977, also left only faint traces due to the dispiriting struggle underway in Korea between an oppressive military regime and an emergent civil society. The hallmark of this period was the chilling affect Yushin had on U.S.-Korea relations. On the other hand, the economic ties between the two countries were enhanced significantly during this decade, and The Korea Society came to play an increasingly significant role as a liaison between Korean and American business leaders.

Not surprisingly, only the barest of traces remain from the first decade of The Korea Society's existence. From 1957 to 1967, Korea was still struggling to recover from the devastation of war and the tragedy of national division. While one of the reasons for the establishment of The Korea Society was to contribute to the reconstruction efforts in Korea, there is no evidence to suggest major contributions were made to these efforts. All the same, it is very striking that a group of very prominent Americans conceived the idea of establishing the first nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to the promotion of friendly relations between the people of the United States and Korea "through mutual understanding and appreciation of their respective cultures, aims, ideals, arts, sciences and industries." Improbable as it must have seemed to most Americans at the time, the future of U.S.-Korea relations fully warranted the establishment of this ambitious goal that remains a perfect expression of the mission of The Korea Society today.