Hundreds of friends of The Korea Society-including many of the most prominent members of the business and diplomatic establishments in the U.S. and the ROK-gathered in the main ballroom of The Pierre hotel in New York City to celebrate the organization and those who have done outstanding work in carrying out its mission of forging ever closer, deeper U.S.-Korea ties. At this year's annual dinner, Lee Kun-Hee, chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, was honored with The Korea Society's 2006 James A. Van Fleet Award. Madeleine Albright, former U.S. secretary of state, delivered the keynote address.

Introduced by Donald P. Gregg, president and chairman of The Korea Society, Albright spoke in rousing defense of the U.S.-Korea alliance. Recounting her experiences in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue in the 1990s, Albright decried the current administration's hard-line posture towards Pyongyang, urging that the U.S. conduct direct and unconditional talks with the North and cement a comprehensive plan for denuclearization and development on the Korean peninsula. "It is important that all concerned focus less on process and debating points than on progress and results," she said.

Albright was followed by a last-minute addition to the program, South Korea's foreign minister and the leading candidate for U.N. secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon. Minister Ban praised all the work of The Korea Society over the last year, as well as the many contributions made by Chairman Lee to U.S.-Korea relations. Donald P. Gregg then took the podium to present the award.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by the sounds of the International Sejong Soloists, one of the most prestigious string ensembles in New York, and the stylings of renowned Korean jazz vocalist Youn Sun Nah.

The 2006 annual dinner was one of the most successful in The Korea Society's history. The caliber of the program attracted a full house of guests and sponsors, as well as numerous members of the Korean, American and Japanese press.