
This year’s Annual Dinner, The Korea Society’s premier event of the year, was held on October 19 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. Korea Society Board Chair Ambassador Kathleen Stephens and Korea Society President and CEO Thomas J. Byrne welcomed all our guests to the gala, an especially meaningful event marking the return to in-person events. Former News Anchor and Reporter Vivian Lee seamlessly navigated gala proceedings as Master of Ceremonies. Here are some highlights from the gala festivities.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman delivered virtual remarks as keynote speaker. Secretary Sherman thanked The Korea Society for its work on promoting the U.S.-Korea friendship and spoke to the depth of the U.S. and Korea’s shared security, economic and cultural values.
VAN FLEET AWARD CEREMONY
This year’s Van Fleet Award Honorees, LG and General Motors, were accepted virtually by Chairman of LG Kwang Mo Koo and Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors Mary T. Barra. In their remarks, both emphasized the value of the LG-GM partnership to both further deepen ties between the U.S. and Korea and tackle future challenges to create a more sustainable future. On behalf of Mr. Koo and Ms. Barra, President & CEO of LG Energy Solution Jonghyun Kim and Senior Vice President and President of GM International Steven Kiefer accepted the Van Fleet Award in-person and delivered brief remarks.
TRIBUTE TO GENERAL COLIN L. POWELL
Poongsan Chairman Roy Ryu gave a stirring tribute to the late Former Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell and spoke of the General's deep commitment to Korea, exemplified by his receiving the Van Fleet Award in 2010.
SPECIAL REMARKS
Former Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz and Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright delivered special remarks on the successes of the U.S.-Korea relationship over the past seventy years and the need for Seoul and Washington to continue working together to confront future challenges.
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Tony-award winning musical guest Ruthie Ann Miles performed a variety of songs, including a new twist on the Korean traditional folk song Arirang.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Virtual Keynote Address by
Wendy R. Sherman
Deputy Secretary of State
United States of America
VAN FLEET AWARD HONOREES
General Motors |
LG |
GUEST SPEAKERS
Chair of Albright Stonebridge a member of Dentons Global Advisors Chair of Albright Capital Management |
Founder & CEO, Energy Futures Initiative |
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Ruthie Ann Miles
Tony Award Winner
Star of the Television Series All Rise
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Vivian Lee
Former News Anchor and Reporter
Fifth Avenue at Central Park South
New York City
Reception 6:30 PM | Dinner 7:30 PM
Black Tie, Traditional Attire
Contact Yun Park for any inquires.
For press inquiries, please contact Claire Callahan
* We will continue to monitor the safety precautions from New York City and State, as well as CDC guidelines on COVID-19. If we need to make any changes accordingly, we will notify all registered guests as soon as possible.
* Abiding by NYC's new guidelines, we will require guests 12 and older to show proof that they have received COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the FDA or WHO for our event. To register for the event, all guests should be fully vaccinated and submit vaccination proof.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
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Keynote Speaker |
Wendy R. Sherman |
Deputy Secretary of State |
United States of America |
Wendy R. Sherman was confirmed by the Senate on April 13, 2021 and sworn in as the 21st and first female Deputy Secretary of State on April 14, 2021. |
Awardees
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Van Fleet Awardee |
General Motors |
Virtual Acceptance Speech by |
Mary T. Barra |
Chair and Chief Executive Officer |
General Motors |
Mary Barra is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors. She was elected Chair of the GM Board of Directors on Jan. 4, 2016, and has served as CEO of GM since Jan. 15, 2014. |
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Van Fleet Awardee |
LG |
Virtual Acceptance Speech by |
Kwang Mo Koo |
Chairman and CEO |
LG |
Kwang Mo Koo is chairman and CEO of LG Corporation(LG Corp.), the holding company for industry-leading LG businesses, in the fields of consumer electronics, display technologies, household appliances, electronic components, industrial chemicals, electric vehicle batteries, health and beauty products, and telecommunications. |
GUEST SPEAKERS
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Guest Speaker |
Madeleine Albright |
Former U.S. Secretary of State |
Chair of Albright Stonebridge a member of Dentons Global Advisors |
Chair of Albright Capital Management |
Madeleine K. Albright is a professor, author, diplomat and businesswoman who served as the 64th Secretary of State of the United States. Dr. Albright received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from President Obama on May 29, 2012. |
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Guest Speaker |
Ernest J. Moniz |
Former Secretary of Energy |
Founder & CEO, Energy Futures Initiative |
Ernest J. Moniz is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) and president of EJM Associates. The Energy Futures Initiative advances science-based solutions to climate change through evidence-based analysis, thought leadership, and coalition-building. EFI conducts rigorous research to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy through innovation in technology, policy, and business models. |
Master of Ceremonies
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Master of Ceremonies |
Vivian Lee |
Former News Anchor and Reporter |
Vivian Lee is an Emmy-winning TV journalist. |
ENTERTAINMENT
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Entertainment |
Ruthie Ann Miles |
Tony Award Winner |
Star of the Television Series All Rise |
RuthieAnn hails from Kaimuki in Honolulu, Hawai'i, and moved to NYC for grad school in 2005. She has played around cross-country with the LA Philharmonic (Hollywood Bowl) and Boston Pops in Sondheim On Sondheim. She has also been singing with the NY Pops, San Francisco Symphony, and the Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra (S. Korea.) Most recently RuthieAnn plays Sherri Kanski, judicial assistant to Judge Lola Carmichael in CBS’ courthouse drama All Rise, making her an honorary Angelino. She also voiced the role of Mother in Netflix’s Academy Award-nominated animated feature Over The Moon. |
SUPPORT LEVELS
*Please be aware that the information below is contingent on the event being completely in-person. If NYC or CDC guidelines on COVID-19 change, the event may instead be held in a different format and each benefit might changed. You will be notified of any such changes should they occur.
DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM
DINNER COMMITTEE
LEADER - $100,000
• Recognition from the podium as Dinner Committee
• 14 guests for VIP reception; 6 guests for general reception
• 10 guests for dinner in premium seating; 10 guests for dinner in priority seating
• Full-page ad; corporate profile with photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book
BENEFACTOR - $50,000
• Recognition from the podium as Dinner Committee
• 10 guests for VIP reception; 10 guests for general reception
• 10 guests in priority seating; 10 guests in preferred seating
• Full-page ad; corporate profile with photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book
PATRON - $30,000
• Recognition from the podium as Dinner Committee
• 4 guests for VIP reception; 6 guests for general reception
• 10 guests in preferred seating
• Full-page ad; corporate profile with photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book
In addition to above benefits, Dinner Committees will receive recognition by level on the event webpage, promotional emails, social media, and in the Korea Society’s Annual Report
TABLE SPONSORSHIP
SPONSOR - $20,000
• 2 guests for VIP reception; 8 guests for general reception
• 10 guests for dinner
• Half-page ad; corporate profile with photo of corporate representative in the dinner program book
DONOR - $15,000
• 10 guests for general reception and dinner
• Half-page ad; corporate profile in the dinner program book
Contributor - $8,000
• 5 guests (half table) for general reception and dinner
• Corporate profile in the dinner program book
ALL SPONSORS BENEFITS INCLUDE:
• Recognition by level on event webpage, promotional emails, and social media
• Year-round recognition in the Korea Society’s Annual Report
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT AND TICKETS
PATRON COUPLE - $6,000
• 2 tickets for VIP reception and preferred seating
• Acknowledgement on our website and in the dinner program book
PATRON - $3,500
• 1 ticket for VIP reception and preferred seating
• Acknowledgement on our website and in the dinner program book
CONTRIBUTOR - $800
• 1 ticket for general reception and dinner
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ADVERTISEMENT
Full-page in the dinner program book - $10,000
Half-page in the dinner program book - $6,000
Table Sponsorship and Individual Patron ticket registrations must be confirmed by September 24, 2021 to be acknowledged in the dinner program. Cancellations after September 30, 2021 will not be accepted.
The Korea Society is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
For further information on sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please contact Yun Park or by phone at (212) 759-7611.
A Special Note on the CARES Act and Philanthropic Giving
A Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, has made donations more attractive this year to donors in the US. Please find more detailed information here.
SUPPORTERS
2021 Annual Dinner Sponsors
(in formation as of September 14, 2021)
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