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Global Financial Leaders Forum 2026

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New York Global Financial Leaders Forum 2026

The Profit Equation: Navigating the Age of Uncertainty

Date
Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Time
5:00 PM (EDT)

Venue
The Plaza Hotel New York
768 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10019

Access
By Invitation Only

The Korea Society, Maekyung Media Group, Korea Finance Society, and Korea Investment Corporation are co-hosting the Global Financial Leaders Forum 2026 on October 13 in New York.

Rapid AI growth and prolonged geopolitical conflict continue to drive uncertainty across global markets, pushing investors to seek strategies that turn volatility into opportunity and sustainable returns. Under the theme “The Profit Equation: Navigating the Age of Uncertainty,” the forum will examine the global economic outlook and explore effective investment strategies for today’s complex environment.

Ken Fisher, Chairman of Fisher Investments and one of Wall Street’s most renowned investment experts, will share his market analysis and investment philosophy. A panel of leading executives — Jean Boivin, Head of the BlackRock Investment Institute; Alex Chi, Deputy CIO of Global Credit at Carlyle; and Jeremy Schwartz, Global CIO of WisdomTree — will offer diverse perspectives on navigating today’s investment landscape.

The Global Financial Leadership Forum is a premier networking platform, bringing together senior executives and financial experts from Korea and around the world to exchange insights and real-world investment experience.

Program
Time Program
5:00 PM Registration and Reception
6:00 PM Opening Session
  • Seungjoon Chang — Vice Chairman, Maekyung Media Group
  • Sang Ho Kim — Consul General of the Republic of Korea in New York
  • Abraham Kim — President & CEO, The Korea Society
  Session I — Capitalizing on Chaos: The Investment Playbook of Ken Fisher
  • Speaker: Ken Fisher — Chairman, Fisher Investments
  • Moderator: David Mussafer — Managing Partner, Advent International
  Session II — Beyond Bulls and Bears: Optimal Strategies for a Complex Market
  • Speakers: Jean Boivin — Head of the BlackRock Investment Institute, BlackRock
  • Alex Chi — Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Global Credit, Carlyle
  • Jeremy Schwartz — Global Chief Investment Officer, WisdomTree
  • Moderator: Andrew Kim — Partner, Paulson & Co
  Dinner
  Closing Remarks
Featured Speakers
KF
Ken Fisher

Chairman, Fisher Investments

Ken Fisher founded Fisher Investments in 1979 and currently serves as Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer. His Portfolio Strategy column in Forbes ran from 1984 to 2016, making him the longest continuously running columnist in the magazine’s history.

Today, he writes regular investment columns for leading business publications across more than 30 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and Australia, reaching a global audience in multiple languages. He is also a frequent commentator on major international media outlets, including Fox News, Fox Business, CNN International, BBC, and BNN Bloomberg.

Ken is the author of 11 books, including four New York Times bestsellers, and is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading investment experts.

JB
Jean Boivin

Head of the BlackRock Investment Institute, BlackRock

The institute leverages BlackRock’s expertise and produces proprietary research to provide insights on the global economy, markets, geopolitics and long-term asset allocation — all to help clients and portfolio managers navigate financial markets. Dr. Boivin oversees all of BII’s activities and is responsible for ensuring that BII integrates research insights on portfolio construction, economics and markets with the long-term, whole-portfolio perspective that BlackRock’s clients need today. Dr. Boivin, who is a member of BlackRock’s Global OpCo and the GEC Investment Committee, also is BII’s Global Head of Research. He is responsible for economic and markets research, and for developing the core principles and intellectual property that underpin BlackRock’s approach to portfolio design, such as capital market assumptions and optimization tools.

Prior to joining BlackRock in 2014, Dr. Boivin served as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada and Associate Deputy Finance Minister, serving as Canada’s representative at the G7, G20 and Financial Stability Board. Dr. Boivin has also taught at Columbia Business School and HEC Montreal, and has written widely on macroeconomics, monetary policy and finance. Dr. Boivin earned a B.Sc. degree in economics from the Université de Montréal in 1995, an MA in economics from Princeton University in 1997 and a PhD in economics from Princeton University in 2000.

AC
Alex Chi

Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Global Credit, Carlyle

Alex Chi is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Global Credit and Head of Direct Lending at Carlyle, and Chief Executive Officer of Carlyle’s affiliated Business Development Companies. He sits on the Global Credit Investment Committee and is a member of the firm’s Leadership Committee. He is based in New York.

Mr. Chi joined Carlyle in 2026. Prior to joining Carlyle, he was a Partner at Goldman Sachs, where he spent 31 years and most recently served as Co-Head of Americas Direct Lending within Goldman Sachs Asset Management. He also served as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of Goldman Sachs’ affiliated Business Development Companies and was a member of the Asset & Wealth Management Private Credit Investment Committee.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Chi spent 25 years in the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs in a variety of leadership roles across the Financial and Strategic Investors Group, Leveraged Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance, Fixed Income Capital Markets, and Information Technology in New York, Hong Kong, and Seoul. He also served on the firm’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Council and was global head of the Asian Network, which he co-founded.

Mr. Chi currently serves on the National Advisory Council of the Association of Asian American Investment Managers (AAAIM), the Board of Directors of the JED Foundation, and the National Advisory Board of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. He also previously served three terms on the Board of Directors of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF). Mr. Chi earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

JS
Jeremy Schwartz

Global Chief Investment Officer, WisdomTree

Jeremy Schwartz has served as Global Chief Investment Officer since November 2021 and leads WisdomTree’s investment strategy team in the construction of WisdomTree’s equity Indexes, quantitative active strategies and multi-asset Model Portfolios. Jeremy joined WisdomTree in May 2005 as a Senior Analyst, adding Deputy Director of Research to his responsibilities in February 2007. He served as Director of Research from October 2008 to October 2018 and as Global Head of Research from November 2018 to November 2021.

Before joining WisdomTree, he was a head research assistant for Professor Jeremy Siegel and, in 2022, became his co-author on the sixth edition of the book Stocks for the Long Run. Jeremy is also co-author of the Financial Analysts Journal paper “What Happened to the Original Stocks in the S&P 500?” He received his B.S. in economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and hosts the Behind the Markets podcast. Jeremy is a member of the CFA Society of Philadelphia.

Moderators
DM
David M. Mussafer

Managing Partner, Advent International

David Mussafer is Chairman Emeritus and Managing Partner of Advent International, one of the world’s leading global private equity firms, and has over 35 years of investment experience. David joined Advent in 1990 and served as a member of Advent’s global executive committee for 25 years and succeeded Peter Brooke as Chairman of Advent in 2015.

With more than $100 billion in assets under management, Advent invests in companies across a variety of industries in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia via 17 offices around the world. David continues to serve as a member on Advent’s global investment committee and has led more than 35 investments across a range of industries. David has served on numerous public and private boards and currently serves as director of Fisher Investments and Shield AI.

David received his BS in Management from Tulane University and earned his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. David and his family are active with numerous civic and charitable organizations, and he currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Tulane University and previously served as a Member of The Business Roundtable in Washington DC. David lives in Boston and he and his wife, Marion, have four grown children and two grandchildren.

AK
Andrew Kim

Partner, Paulson & Co

Andrew Kim is a partner at Paulson & Co, a leading event-driven hedge fund in NYC. Andrew is responsible for global risk arbitrage and event-driven investments across all sectors. Previously, he was an Investment Analyst at Perry Capital and an Investment Banking Analyst at Goldman Sachs. He graduated with an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA from the University of Michigan.

This program is by invitation only. For more information, please contact The Korea Society’s Business & Economics program.

Arts & Culture

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Arts & Culture — The Korea Society
The Korea Society · Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture

The Arts & Culture department is dedicated to promoting the excellence and diversity of Korean and Korean-American professionals across the cultural landscape — from artists and performers to authors and scholars.

Through a wide array of exhibitions and programs, we spotlight the richness of Korean culture and its heritage in the contemporary world: fine arts, literature, popular entertainment, culinary traditions, and more.

About Program Areas Watch on YouTube
About the Department

As global interest in Korean culture grows exponentially, the Arts & Culture department remains committed to supporting artists and creators across media.

Our gallery and event space in New York City serves as a vital hub in the world's cultural capital — attracting diverse visitors and providing a venue for artists and creators to engage directly with American audiences.

Our YouTube channel provides live webcasts and pre-recorded programs that promote recent activities and developments, while remaining an enduring resource for anyone interested in Korean arts and culture.

Explore

Program areas.

Six areas spanning the visual arts, literature, cuisine, media, and the performing arts.

01

Program Area

Art & Artist

02

Program Area

Contemporary Korea

03

Program Area

Cuisine

04

Program Area

Literature

05

Program Area

Media & Performing Arts

06

Program Area

Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation Series

Our Commitment

Spotlighting the richness of Korean culture and its heritage in the contemporary world — in fine arts, literature, popular entertainment, culinary traditions, and more.

Digital

Watch on YouTube.

Live webcasts and pre-recorded programs — an enduring resource for anyone interested in Korean arts and culture.

Visit our channel →

Donor-Advice Fund (DAF) giving

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The Korea Society
Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) giving

Support The Korea Society through your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) using DAFpay. Your contribution helps advance our mission of strengthening U.S.–Korea relations through dialogue, exchange, and collaboration.

 
For your DAF sponsor

Legal name: The Korea Society, Inc.  ·  EIN: 52-1714111

What is a DAF?

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account that allows individuals, families, and businesses to make tax-deductible contributions and recommend grants to nonprofit organizations over time.

Make a grant recommendation

You may recommend a grant to The Korea Society through your DAF sponsor using either of the DAFpay buttons on this page. Simply select your DAF sponsor to complete the grant recommendation process without leaving our website.

Important information

According to IRS guidelines, grants from Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) may not be used, in whole or in part, to pay for fundraising event tickets, tables, or any contribution that provides goods or benefits to the donor. DAF grants may only be used for contributions that are fully tax-deductible.

Unpacking the 2026 Midterm Elections:
Implications for the US & Korea

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Join us for a timely discussion with a bipartisan pair of former Members of Congress analyzing America’s 2026 midterm election results and their implications for U.S. domestic politics, foreign policy, economics, and America’s dynamic relationship with South Korea. Q&A and audience participation are encouraged!

The conversation features Former Representative John Katko (R-NY, 2015-2023) and Former Representative Kathy Manning (D-NC, 2021-2025), and is moderated by Korea Society President and CEO Dr. Abraham Kim. Drawing from their distinguished legislative careers and firsthand experiences traveling to South Korea with FMC as current or former Members, Katko and Manning will explore how the election results will shape America’s politics, foreign policy, and economic outlook in the leadup to the 2028 presidential and congressional elections, including impacts on the U.S.-ROK Alliance, the U.S.-Korea trade and investment relationship, and regional geopolitics.

There will be a reception with light refreshments starting at 5:30 PM.

This program is presented in collaboration between The Korea Society, FMC’s Congressional Study Group on Korea (CSGK), and The APEC Study Center at Columbia University. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.

FMC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-advocacy organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. FMC’s CSGK and The Korea Society have partnered since 2018, including on CSGK’s annual current Member of Congress delegations to Korea.


 

 

About the Speakers

Speaker

The Hon. John Katko (R-NY, 2015-2023)

The Hon. John Katko (R-NY, 2015-2023) served Central New York in Congress from 2015 until his retirement in 2022. John currently serves as a Senior Advisor with HillEast Group, a government affairs and strategic communications firm with offices in Washington, D.C. and New York. Early in his career in Congress, John became a strong voice on the House Homeland Security Committee. In 2020, he was selected to lead House Homeland Security Committee Republicans. As Ranking Member, John led efforts to secure the border and prioritized a robust focus on cybersecurity, as well as transportation and airport security. Additionally, John served eight years as a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. While serving New York’s 24th Congressional District, John achieved significant legislative success, with 98 bills passed the House and 45 signed into law. He is well-respected for his work across the aisle and was consistently ranked among the most bipartisan members of Congress by the nonpartisan Lugar Center. As Chair of the Republican Governance Group, John was responsible for expanding political engagement with results-oriented Members of Congress. Prior to serving in Congress, John spent nearly twenty years as a federal organized crime prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice. Additionally, he served as a litigator with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and as an anti-trust and commercial litigation attorney in private practice.



Speaker

The Hon. Kathy Manning (D-NC, 2021-2025)

The Hon. Kathy Manning (D-NC, 2021-2025) represented North Carolina’s Sixth Congressional District, which includes Guilford and Rockingham Counties and parts of Forsyth and Caswell Counties — an area known as the Triad.

Before her election to Congress, Kathy worked to expand access to early childhood education, college scholarships, workforce development, and assistance to those in need through nonprofit organizations including the United Way, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, the National Conference for Community and Justice, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has also worked tirelessly on major projects to revitalize downtown Greensboro and spur economic development, including the building of a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. Kathy was the first woman to chair the Board of the Jewish Federations of North America, one of the largest charitable, faith-based organizations in the world, which provides assistance to communities in need around the world.

As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, Kathy was a strong advocate for early childhood education and investments in school infrastructure and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Kathy worked to increase access to vocational and technical education and apprenticeship opportunities while making higher education more affordable. As Vice Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and former Vice Chair of the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee, Kathy was a vocal advocate for democracy and maintaining strong relationships with United States’ allies, including Israel and Ukraine. She is also a strong advocate for the rights of women and girls around the world, including access to reproductive health care. In addition to her leadership on the Education and Labor and Foreign Affairs Committees, Kathy served as the Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Antisemitism and a member of the New Democrat Coalition, where she chaired the Workforce Development Task Force. Kathy is also recognized for her leadership on making health care, including mental health services, more accessible and affordable.

Kathy graduated from Harvard University and the University of Michigan Law School. She practiced law in Washington, DC, before moving to Greensboro, North Carolina in 1987, with her husband Randall Kaplan, a lawyer and business entrepreneur who has experience running a large international business as well as small startups. After serving as a partner at a large law firm, Kathy started her own small law firm specializing in immigration law. Kathy and Randall have three married children and three grandchildren who all live in New York City.



Speaker

Abraham Kim, Ph.D.

Abraham Kim, Ph.D. is the President & CEO of The Korea Society, where he leads the organization’s efforts to strengthen ties between the United States and Korea through policy dialogue, business engagement, and cultural exchange. Dr. Kim brings more than 25 years of experience in public policy, national security, and nonprofit leadership, with a career focused on U.S.–Korea relations and Northeast Asia. He has worked closely with senior government officials, business leaders, and international organizations, providing analysis and guidance on geopolitical and economic issues related to the Korean Peninsula. Prior to joining The Korea Society, Dr. Kim served as Executive Director & President of the Council of Korean Americans (CKA), where he expanded the organization’s national footprint and strengthened its role in policy engagement and leadership development. He previously served as Executive Director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana and as Interim President and Vice President of the Korea Economic Institute of America, where he supported public diplomacy initiatives and educational programs focused on the U.S.–Korea alliance. Earlier in his career, Dr. Kim worked as a policy and risk analyst at Eurasia Group, CSIS, and SAIC, focusing on political risk, crisis simulations, and regional security issues in Northeast Asia. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Political Science from Columbia University, an M.A. from Harvard University, and a B.A. from Boston University.

Hand Taste: Cook Like a Korean Grandmother with Esther Choi

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We all know cooks whose fingertips seem to infuse every meal with deliciousness. In Korean, that magic touch is called sohn-mat, or “hand taste”―but you don’t have to be born with it. Esther Choi picked hers up from her halmoni, or grandmother, who used her hands for everything from smearing cabbage with pepper paste to make kimchi to crumbling tofu for mandu (dumpling) filling and tossing vibrantly flavored noodles for japchae.

Hand taste starts with seasoning but ultimately describes a way of cooking rooted in heritage, intuition, and heart. In her hotly anticipated debut cookbook Hand Taste: Cook Like a Korean Grandmother Choi offers delicious entry points to Korean and Korean-American cuisine, with foundational techniques alongside quick weeknight recipes and show-stopping traditional spreads.

In her conversation with Eric Kim, Esther Choi will discuss her career and her debut cookbook.

Pre-order your copy of Hand Taste: Cook Like a Korean Grandmother here.

About the Speaker

Speaker

Esther Choi

Esther Choi is a chef, entrepreneur, and TV personality. She is the owner of Mokbar, with locations ranging from New York City to Las Vegas, and Ms. Yoo, a Korean-style gastropub in Manhattan. Choi is the co-host of Food Network’s 24 on 24 and the host of “Heat Eaters” by First We Feast (12.9 M subscribers), a spinoff from the hit series “Hot Ones.” Choi has been a finalist on Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. She lives in New York City with her husband and son.


About the Moderator

Moderator

Eric Kim

Eric Kim is a New York Times contributor and essayist born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. His debut cookbook, Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home, was an instant New York Times Best Seller. A former digital manager for the Food Network and contributing editor for Saveur magazine, he now hosts regular videos on NYT Cooking’s YouTube channel and writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine.

Taeku Lee

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With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values.

This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society.

The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Professor Taeku Lee.

 

This program is made possible by the support from Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation

 

About the Speaker

Speaker

Taeku Lee

Taeku Lee is Bae Family Professor of Government and Faculty Dean of Dunster House at Harvard University. Lee has researched and written extensively on racial and ethnic politics, public opinion and political behavior, identity and inequality, and deliberative and participatory democracy. He recently published Race and Inequality in America and Billionaire Backlash (with Pepper Culpepper).

Lee is also President of the American Political Science Association and Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught for two decades. Lee is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the 2024 class of Andrew Carnegie Fellows. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Political and Social Science and the Board of Overseers of the American National Election Studies. He previously served on the National Advisory Committee for the U.S. Census Bureau and the Board of Overseers of the General Social Survey and has held honorary or visiting appointments at Yale, Oxford, the European University Institute, and the Brookings Institution.

Born in Masan, Korea, Lee spent his childhood years in rural Malaysia, lower Manhattan, and suburban Michigan. He is a proud graduate of K-12 public schools, the University of Michigan, Harvard, and the University of Chicago.

Rapid Reaction:
An Olive Branch for North Korea?

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Join The Korea Society for a rapid reaction discussion exploring recent shifts in Korean Peninsula security and diplomacy. Featuring Ambassador (ret.) Joseph Yun, this program will examine President Donald Trump’s decision to modify joint military exercises with South Korea and his revelation of ongoing communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The program is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado.

The session will draw lessons from past negotiation cycles, assess how the geopolitical climate has evolved since Trump and Kim last met, dissect the implications of North Korea’s new “hostile states” policy, examine South Korea’s shifting role as a diplomatic pacemaker, and explore how the surrounding geopolitical situation—such as the expanding Russia-North Korea alliance and The Iran War—is reshaping dynamics in Northeast Asia. Ambassador Yun will also share insights from his multi-decade career managing Korean Peninsula relations.

This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.

About the Speaker

Speaker

Joseph “Joe” Yun

Ambassador (ret.) Joseph “Joe” Yun most recently served as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the United States Mission in the Republic of Korea. His previous diplomatic assignments include serving as U.S. Special Presidential Envoy to negotiate amendments to the Compact of Free Association (COFA), which governs the relationship between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. The negotiations concluded in October 2023 and were approved by Congress and enacted in March 2024.

Amb. Yun’s other senior diplomatic assignments include serving as U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy (2016-18), U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia (2013-16), and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2011-2013). His earlier Foreign Service overseas assignments were in Hong Kong, Medan, Paris, Bangkok, and Seoul.

Outside the U.S. government, Amb. Yun has been Senior Advisor with The Asia Group, a DC-based strategic consulting firm, and served at the U.S. Institute of Peace, an independent and non-partisan federal institute working on peace and reconciliation issues throughout the globe. He holds a M. Phil. degree from the London School of Economics and a B.S. from the University of Wales.



Kim Koo: Dreaming of Peace Through the Power of Culture

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May 28-August 31, 2026 | The Korea Society is honored to host a special exhibition honoring the life, enduring vision, and profound legacy of Kim Koo—one of the most revered leaders of the Korean independence movement. As a central figure in the Korean independence movement and the President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, Kim Koo presented a visionary outlook that emphasized national strength based on culture rather than military or economic power. |

The Korea Society is honored to host a special exhibition honoring the life, enduring vision, and profound legacy of Kim Koo—one of the most revered leaders of the Korean independence movement. As a central figure in the Korean independence movement and the President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, Kim Koo presented a visionary outlook that emphasized national strength based on culture rather than military or economic power. To commemorate UNESCO’s designation of 2026 as the 150th anniversary of Kim Koo’s birth, The Korea Society offers a unique opportunity to reflect on his legacy through a visual exhibition.

This exhibition is produced in partnership between The Korea Society and The Association of Commemorative Service for Patriot Kim Koo and made possible by the support of the Kim Koo Foundation.

 

 

 

Kim Koo: Dreaming of Peace Through the Power of Culture

May 28-August 31, 2026

The Korea Society Gallery is open only by appointment. The appointment must be made at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled visit. To make an appointment, please contact info@koreasociety.org.

Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday 10 AM-4:30 PM
By Appointment Only

 

 

 

 

Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Kim Koo’s Birth:
Exhibition Opening & Presentation

Invitation-only

 Live Webcast: Thursday, May 28, 2026 | 6 PM (EDT)

Kim Koo and UNESCO’s Shared Vision of Culture — The Story Behind the 150th Birth Anniversary Designation :

UNESCO has designated 2026 as a year to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Kim Koo’s birth. This decision goes beyond a simple historical tribute; it is the international community’s official recognition that Kim Koo’s vision—achieving world peace through the “power of culture” rather than economic or military might—aligns deeply with the universal values pursued by UNESCO.

As the President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, Kim Koo led the independence movement and understood the importance of international solidarity better than anyone. In 1932, following the patriotic deeds of Yi Bong-chang and Yun Bong-gil, he managed to evade the pursuit of the Japanese Imperialists and continue his activities through the vital assistance of American missionary Dr. George Fitch. Furthermore, he solidified the foundation for independence through practical cooperation with democratic nations, such as collaborating with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to prepare for “The Eagle Project,” a domestic infiltration operation. He also successfully persuaded Chiang Kai-shek to ensure the guarantee of Korean independence at the Cairo Conference. These actions demonstrate that Kim Koo’s independence movement was more than mere resistance; it was part of an international solidarity effort sharing the universal values of freedom and human rights.

Kim Koo’s true pioneering spirit became even more evident after liberation. In his essay “My Wish,” included in his 1947 autobiography Paikbum Ilji (백범일지), he emphasized moving past hatred to build a nation where everyone enjoys happiness through cultural development, thereby contributing to world peace. His vision—that humanity can only prosper together when each nation develops its unique culture and engages in mutual exchange—is strikingly consistent with UNESCO’s cultural philosophy today.

The designation of this UNESCO anniversary year is the culmination of extensive preparations that began in June 2024. The process required meticulous attention due to various international and political circumstances. The final hurdle, consent from North Korea, was cleared through the method of “tacit consent”; leading to the final confirmation. This serves as a significant opportunity for Korea to expand its global contribution to cultural policy and discourse. At the same time, it is a meaningful declaration to the world that the spirit of Kim Koo—who fought against imperialist violence while ultimately aiming for human happiness and world peace—remains a vital universal value in our modern era.

 

South Korea’s
New Industrial Defense Strategy

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Watch the three-episode premiere of Korea Expert Desk, a new video interview series from The Korea Society delivering sharp insights to help decision-makers and analysts understand the critical issues driving the U.S.–Republic of Korea (ROK) partnership. Concise, dynamic, and visually engaging, Korea Expert Desk unpacks the strategic statecraft and geopolitical shifts shaping the bilateral relationship and the region beyond.

 

This program is made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our individual and corporate members.

 

Korea Expert Desk: A New Video Interview Series
South Korea’s New Industrial Defense Strategy

Three New Videos Released on Aug 27, 28, and 31

 

Episode 1: South Korea’s Evolving Industrial Defense Strategy

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Our first episode explores South Korea’s evolving industrial defense strategy with Dr. Lami Kim, the Korea Chair in Advanced Technologies, National Security, and Defence at The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Over the past twenty years, South Korean defense exports have seen an approximate 100-fold increase, hitting over $15 billion last year and cementing the country’s position as a top-10 global arms exporter. With a target of becoming the world’s fourth-largest by 2030, “K-Defense” firms have stepped in to fill critical supply chain bottlenecks and low magazine depth revealed by recent conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. Dr. Kim will examine how the U.S. and South Korea can cooperate to shore up the defense industrial base including shipbuilding, how Korean firms will adapt to meet future challenges, and how Korea can leverage international sales to support domestic defense needs.

Watch Episode 1

Episode 2: Closing the Shipbuilding Gap

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In the second episode of South Korea’s New Industrial Defense Strategy, Dr. Lami Kim addresses how the U.S. holds less than 0.5% of global shipbuilding output. She explores how South Korea could help close the gap, from investments to the new MASGA initiative, and explains why a missing reciprocal defense agreement remains a major roadblock.

Watch Episode 2

Episode 3: North Korean Troops and Combat Experience

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As reports emerge that North Korea is sending 50,000 additional troops to fight alongside Russia in the Russo-Ukraine War, those who have returned home are reportedly training North Korean soldiers on modern combat tactics. In the final episode of South Korea’s New Industrial Defense Strategy, part of our new Korea Expert Desk series, Dr. Lami Kim explains why this real-world combat experience alarms South Korea, and how Seoul is ramping up deterrence, drones, and precision strike capabilities in response.

Watch Episode 3

 

About the Speaker:

Dr. Lami Kim is the Korea Chair in Advanced Technologies, National Security, and Defence at The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Her research expertise lies in exploring military and defence issues on the Korean Peninsula, with a focus on the intersection between technology and national and international security. She is the inaugural IISS Korea Chair and leads the activities of this new research programme. Before joining the IISS, Lami served for six years at the US Department of Defense as an associate professor and director of the Asian Studies Program at the US Army War College and a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. For her dedication to service, she received the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal from the Secretary of the US Army. She is the author of Everything but the Bomb: South Korea’s Nuclear Hedging Strategy, forthcoming from Stanford University Press. She has held research appointments and fellowships at Harvard’s Belfer Center, the Wilson Center, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Stimson Center, George Washington University, Seoul National University, Pacific Forum, the East-West Center and Eurasia Group, among others. Her work has appeared in the Washington Quarterly, Foreign Policy, War on the Rocks, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and other policy outlets. She has also taught at Harvard University, Boston College and the University of Hong Kong. Before becoming a US citizen, she served as a diplomat for South Korea. She holds a PhD from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a master’s degree from Harvard University.
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Finding Your Path: Perspectives on Korean American Giving

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The Korea Society and the Korean American Community Foundation’s (KACF) Associate Board are excited to present Finding Your Path: Perspectives on Korean American Giving, an intimate conversation exploring philanthropy, purpose-driven leadership, and the power of giving back.

We are joined by Christine Kang, Program Management Director at Blue Meridian Partners, and Mickey Hyun, Associate Manager for Friends of Asian Art at The MET. Together, they will share their experiences and insights on what it means to lead with purpose, build strong communities, and drive meaningful change through service, advocacy, and giving. Join us at The Korea Society on August 27th at 6:30 PM. Whether you’re just beginning your philanthropic journey or looking to deepen your involvement, this conversation is for you.

This panel will be moderated by Angela Bonato, Program Officer of the Maverick Capital Foundation and a KACF Associate Board member. KACF funds community-based non-profit organizations working to improve lives and transform communities in the Korean and Asian American communities in the greater New York area. The KACF Associate Board (AB) is a group of community-minded young professionals based in the New York Metro area who serve as ambassadors of KACF’s mission, helping to build awareness of issues of economic security and shape the next generation of Korean American philanthropy.

About the Speakers

Speaker

Mickey Yoon-Jung Hyun

Mickey Yoon-Jung Hyun is the Associate Manager for Friends of Asian Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she oversees the Asian Art Department’s patron group and Visiting Committee. She works with curators, collectors, and patrons to support acquisitions, exhibitions, research, and public programs. Previously, Mickey served as Program Director of Partnerships at the Korean Cultural Center New York, a branch of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea. There, she led cultural initiatives and developed partnerships with museums, universities, artists, and community organizations to broaden awareness of Korean arts and culture in the United States.She holds an M.A. in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University and a B.A. in International Studies with an East Asia concentration from Washington University in St. Louis.



Speaker

Christine Kang

Christine works closely with the Chief Financial and Business Officer and other senior leaders to lead the advancement of Blue Meridian’s Program Management Office (PMO) and manage key, cross-functional projects that support the organization’s strategic and business priorities. Previously, Christine was a Senior Portfolio Manager, supporting The Studio @ Blue Meridian. Prior to joining Blue Meridian, she was the New York Program Director at LIFT, a national anti-poverty organization, where she led the Regional Program Team to achieve ambitious recruitment, retention, and progress goals to help families achieve economic self-sufficiency. Before that, she was the Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at Project Sunshine, a pediatric healthcare nonprofit, where she oversaw corporate partnerships and led efforts to enhance the organization’s operational efficiency and build internal capacity. Christine currently serves the Northeastern Regional Chapter of the Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF), a nonprofit organization that provides needs and merit-based scholarships for students pursuing higher education. She holds a BA in Psychology from New York University and an MPA from the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College.



About the Moderator

Moderator

Angela Bonato

Angela serves as Program Officer at Maverick Capital Foundation, where she leads the Foundation’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. Her work spans volunteer programs, community engagement, and the Foundation’s summer internship program. She brings eight years of nonprofit program management experience across private and public funding, with a focus on postsecondary education and workforce development. Angela is committed to advancing impactful philanthropic work that expands opportunity for under-resourced communities, with a particular interest in career exploration for grantee participants. She also serves on the Associate Board of the Korean American Community Foundation, which promotes economic security for low-income Korean Americans through education, mentorship, leadership development, and financial literacy programming.