The U.S.–Korea alliance is growing well beyond security, and Korea’s leaders are ready to build its next chapter with The Korea Society.

From October 19 to 22, 2026, Korea Society leadership traveled to Seoul for nearly 25 meetings in four days, building on the momentum of our record-setting September 28 Annual Gala honoring NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang. The delegation included:

• Amb. (ret.) Kathleen Stephens, Board Chair
• Amb. (ret.) Philip Goldberg, Incoming Board Chair
• Dr. Abraham Kim, President & CEO
• Hae Kyung Ahn, Senior Advisor for Outreach

The delegation met with valued sponsors, senior officials, business associations, media leaders, and institutional partners, including:

• Foreign Minister Cho Hyun
• Minister of the Interior and Safety Yun Hojung
• Hanwha Life Vice Chairman Kim Dong Won
• Doosan Business Research Institute CEO Dr. Kim Seong-Tae
• Hyundai Motor Group President Amb. (ret.) Sung Kim
• Samsung Electronics President Kim Won-Kyong
• LG Global Strategy Center President Amb (ret.). Ko Yunju
• Chong Kun Dang Holdings Chairman Dr. Rhee Jang Han
• Dunamu Chairman Song Chi-hyung
• Yougone Corporation Vice Chairman Sung Rae Eun
• Misto Holdings President Kevin Yoon
• CKD Kochon Foundation Chair Chung Jae Jung
• Kim Koo Foundation Chairperson Dr. Kim Mee
• Korea Foundation President Amb (ret.) Song Guido
• AmCham Korea Chairman James Kim
• Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Vice Chairman Kim Jeong Il
• Association of American State Offices in Korea (ASOK), Kwanhun Club and Korea Peninsula Pioneers Group, a network of young professionals

At a press conference in New York City on May 14th, President & CEO of The Korea Society, Dr. Abraham Kim, announced NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang as the recipient of the 2026 General James A. Van Fleet Award, and shared plans for the organization to expand activities nationwide.

Presented annually since 1995, the Van Fleet Award honors Korean and American individuals or entities who have made outstanding contributions to the partnership between the United States and Korea. The award recognizes Mr. Huang for his pioneering leadership in the artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries, which lie at the heart of economic cooperation between the two countries, and for his longtime partnerships with leading Korean innovators, including Samsung Electronics and SK Group.

“NVIDIA and Korean companies are creating the future of the global technology environment together,” said Dr. Kim. “The cooperation of these companies will lead to next-generation technological innovation and further strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. for generations to come.”

Dr. Kim also shared The Korea Society’s plans to extend its activities beyond New York and Washington, D.C. to regions across the United States. As the U.S.-Korea relationship evolves well beyond security and defense, The Korea Society will expand its focus from simply raising awareness of Korea to facilitating practical cooperation and connection between key decision makers and among communities. 

Read more from the press conference in Maeil Business Newspaper.

The Korea Society President & CEO Abraham Kim recently sat down with the Korean news outlet EDAILY in New York for an interview on the future of U.S.-Korea economic relations. He emphasized the role of private, nongovernmental diplomacy in strengthening ties between the two countries at a time of growing economic interdependence.

In the interview, Abraham Kim, Ph.D., highlighted the role of private diplomacy in complementing government-to-government ties, noting that neutral platforms such as The Korea Society can foster candid dialogue, build trust, and address areas that formal diplomacy cannot. .Korea’s commitment to approximately $350 billion (468 trillion won) in U.S. investment, he noted, reflects increasingly interconnected interests, from U.S. jobs and industrial capacity to Korean companies’ growth and innovation. He cautioned, however, that domestic politics can complicate international issues, including investment negotiations.

President Kim emphasized predictability, reciprocity, and mutual respect as guiding principles for resolving differences and sustaining a strong alliance. He stressed that agreements should endure regardless of changes in administration or political landscape, and that they should deliver tangible benefits to both sides. He also noted that Korea’s investments in semiconductors, energy, and shipbuilding now reach deep into America’s future economic competitiveness, which calls for mutual respect for each country’s institutions and decision-making constraints.

While acknowledging that the alliance is undergoing a period of change, he affirmed that it remains robust. Such moments, he noted, are when the true strength of a partnership is tested and when continued dialogue can build new bridges and deepen collaboration between the two nations.

Read the full article in Korean here.

On October 19, 2026, The Korea Society’s Vice President Jiyoung Suh and Associate Director of Development Jamie Joo attended Korea–U.S. Friendship Night at the Korean Cultural Center New York, hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York.

On March 26, Dr. Kim also met Ambassador Jihoon Cha, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations to introduce himself as the new President, learn more about the activities of the Permanent Mission of the ROK to the UN, and share The Korea Society’s vision.