“A powerful indictment of systemic racism and the criminal justice system” – The Chicago Reader
“Extraordinarily moving… what documentary filmmaking should strive for” – RogerEbert.com
Join us for the riveting documentary FREE CHOL SOO LEE, opening at IFC Center on August 12. A MUBI Release, this revelatory Sundance selection from journalists Julie Ha and Eugene Yi chronicles the story of Chol Soo Lee, a Korean-American whose wrongful murder conviction ignited an unprecedented social movement. Drawing on rich archival footage and personal accounts, the film forms an urgent testament to the power of collective action and the human cost of incarceration.
In 1970s San Francisco, 20-year-old Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee is racially profiled and convicted of a Chinatown gang murder. Sentenced to life, he spends years fighting to survive until investigative journalist K.W. Lee takes a special interest in his case, igniting an unprecedented push for social action that would unite Asian Americans and inspire a new generation of activists.
Nearly five decades later, award-winning journalists Julie Ha and Eugene Yi excavate this largely unknown yet essential history in their riveting Sundance selection Free Chol Soo Lee. Combining rich archival footage, firsthand accounts, and narration drawn from personal writings, this poignant documentary paints an intimate portrait of the complex man at the center of a movement and serves as an urgent reminder that his legacy is more relevant than ever.
All film showings will take place at IFC Center, 323 6th Avenue.
The Korea Society will host a special Q&A with Julie Ha and Eugene Yi on Sunday, August 14th, after the 5:50 PM showing.
Use a special discount code KOREASOC, which can be applied to any showings; online purchase only.
Join us for a video tribute to honor the service and sacrifice of Veterans of The Korean War in a program produced in partnership with The Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) and The Korea-US Alliance Foundation (KUSAF). Released to mark the anniversary of the 1953 Armistice, this program features: current Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense General Lee Jong-sup, Korean War Veterans area commander Salvatore Scarlato, Society president and CEO Tom Byrne, Korean Consul General Ambassador Byung Hwa Chung, Korea Society board member and former Commander Gen (Ret.) Walter “Skip” Sharp, KDVA Chairman and former Commander Gen (Ret.) Vincent K. Brooks, and Gen. (Ret) Seung Jo Jung, 37th Chairman of the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff.
2022 Armistice Day Salute
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Although her intricate installations are often so large that they spread over walls onto ceilings and floors, Heeseop Yoon thinks of her work as freehand drawings. All of Yoon’s works are based on real spaces with vast messes, such as basements, workshops, storage spaces, or “places where everything is jumbled and time becomes ambiguous without the presence of people.” Based on photographs, Yoon draws freehand without erasing; based on her own drawings, she creates her enlarged wall drawings using black tapes. In the final installation, her miscalculations and corrections are visible, as Yoon is interested in how memory and perception constantly adjust both for herself and for her viewer, and the paradox that the more she corrects her work, the less legible the drawing becomes.
“The more I see, the less I believe in the accuracy or reality of the images I draw.”
Yoon, whose solo exhibition Agglomeration is on view at The Korea Society Gallery June 9 – August 25, 2022, talks about her career and work.
Artist Talk: Heeseop Yoon
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 5 PM (EDT) Video release
@ The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, NYC
Gallery hours: (M-F) 10 AM – 4:30 PM by appointment
**Pre-registration is now required for all Korea Society events, and an ID is required for security.**
For more information, please contact info@koreasociety.org or call (212) 759-7525.
Heeseop Yoon has had solo and two-person shows at Cityway Gallery, Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art; Triple Candie, March Gallery, and Bose Pacia, all New York; Arario Gallery, Seoul; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ; OZ Arts, Nashville, TN; and at Sapar Contemporary, New York. She has also shown with Dedee Shattuck Gallery, Westport, MA; William Holman Gallery, New York, NY; Crossing Borders, Periphery Space Gallery, RI; and Drawing in Space, Des Moines Art Center, IA.
Yoon has exhibited in museums and art centers internationally, including MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA; John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI; The Bronx Museum, New York; Seoul Arts Center, Korea; China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and Media Art Center, Beijing; and has participated in several residencies such as the Lower East Side Printshop, Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation; Skowhegan School of Painting, and Artist Alliance Inc., all New York, and Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany. Her first public mural installation is located at the Italian Market in Philadelphia.
The Korea Society’s ‘Leadership Interview Series’ highlights the roles made by distinguished leaders from the U.S. and Korea in strengthening the multifaceted relationship between the people of Korea and the U.S. The speakers share their personal and professional experiences in the realms of business, economics, education and public policy. Leading the discussions are Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, Chair of the Board of Directors, or Tom Byrne, President and CEO.
Please join us as we seek to gain a better awareness and understanding of issues of common interest between the people of Korea and the U.S.
Interview with Bank of Korea Governor Rhee, Chang Yong
Tuesday, November 4, 2025|
Please join us for a timely conversation with Dr. Rhee, Chang Yong, Governor of the Bank of Korea, as he discusses key issues shaping global and domestic economic policy. Governor Rhee sat down with Thomas Byrne, President & CEO of The Korea Society… Read More
Interview with President and Global Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor Company, José Muñoz
Tuesday, August 29, 2023 | 6:00 PM (EDT)|
Welcome to the latest installment of the Korea Society’s Leadership Interview Series featuring José Muñoz, President and Global Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor Company, who also serves as the President and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America… Read More
Interview with POSCO Group Chairman Jeong-Woo Choi
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 | 6:30 PM (EDT)|
The Korea Society welcomes you to the latest episode of its Leadership Interview Series with Jeong-Woo Choi, CEO of POSCO Holdings and Chairman of POSCO Group, an iconic Korean company. Chairman Choi will be in conversation with Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, Korea Society Board Chair and President of Korea Economic Institute of America… Read More
Join us for the latest episode of our Leadership Interview Series with FILA Holdings Corporation & Acushnet Holdings Corporation Chairman Gene Yoon, moderated by The Korea Society’s President & CEO Tom Byrne… Read More
Interview with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon
Tuesday, December 13, 2022 | 6 PM (EST)|
Join us for our latest edition of the Leadership Interview Series with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon moderated by The Korea Society President & CEO Tom Byrne. In this conversation, Mayor Oh assesses topical issues facing Seoul, including his approach to the city’s comprehensive institutional frameworks as well as the development of public policies… Read More
Catching the K-Investment Wave in the USA
Thursday, June 16, 2022 | 6 PM (EDT)|
The United States and South Korea have a well-established “gold standard” Free Trade Agreement. Now, as international economic relationships are shifting to strategic frameworks and concerns over supply-chain robustness and resiliency, Korean investment in the U.S is gaining attention and transforming the bilateral relationship into a new dynamic… Read More
Interview with CJ Group Chairman Kyung Shik Sohn
Premiere on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 | 6 PM (EDT)|
The Korea Society is pleased to invite Mr. Kyung Shik Sohn, Chairman of CJ Group, for a conversation with the Society’s President/CEO Tom Byrne. In this upcoming episode of our President’s Interview Series, Chairman Sohn… Read More
Women in Higher Education: A Discussion with Dr. Eun Mee Kim & Dr. Sian Leah Beilock
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 | 8 AM (EDT)|
Womens’ Universities have emerged as premier institutions in higher education, amplifying womens’ voices from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. In the fourth installation of our Womens’ Leadership Series, please join us at The Korea Society to hear from Dr. Eun Mee Kim, President of Ewha Womans University in Seoul, and Dr. Sian Leah Beilock, President of Barnard College in New York City…. Read More
Interview with ROK Trade Minister Yeo Han-Koo
Friday, March 18, 2022|
March 15, 2022 marks the 10-year anniversary of the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). In celebration of this remarkable milestone, The Korea Society invites ROK Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo for a conversation with Korea Society President Tom Byrne… Read More
Interview with LG Chem CEO Hak Cheol Shin
Premieres: Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | 6 PM ET|
Join us for a conversation between Mr. Hak Cheol Shin, Chief Executive Officer of LG Chem, and Tom Byrne, the President and CEO of The Korea Society. In this third episode of the ‘President’s Interview Series,’ Mr. Shin will discuss his remarkable career starting out from 3M Korea and serving as the Vice Chair at 3M headquarter… Read More
Talking COVID-19 Vaccine Cooperation with President John Rim
Wednesday, July 21, 2021 | 7 PM (EDT)|
Join us for a conversation between Mr. John Rim, President and CEO of Samsung Biologics, and Tom Byrne, the President and CEO of The Korea Society. In this second episode of the ‘President’s Interview Series,’ President Rim will discuss his extensive career and senior leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as his current role as the head of Samsung Biologics… Read More
A Conversation with Chairman Yongmaan Park
Wednesday, June 2, 2021 | 7 PM (EDT)|
In our inaugural episode of the ‘President’s Interview’ Series, we are pleased to invite Park Yongmaan, Chairman of Doosan Infracore for a conversation with The Korea Society’s President Tom Byrne. As one of the most successful and powerful business leaders in Korea and the world, Chairman Park will discuss his extensive career and leadership role as the Chairman of Doosan Infracore and former Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)… Read More
Women in Congress: A Conversation with U.S. Representative Young Kim
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | 6 PM (EDT)
U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) joins The Korea Society to share her journey in becoming one of the first Korean American women elected to Congress in its 230-year history. As an immigrant, small business owner, and previous California State 65th district Assemblywoman, we will explore how Congresswoman Kim pursued the American dream to become a successful Korean American leader and politician… Read More
Women in Trade: A Talk with Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee||
Friday, February 26, 2021 | 7 PM (EST)
In the second episode of our Women’s Leadership series, we are pleased to welcome South Korean Minister for Trade Yoo Myung-hee for a conversation on her 25-year career in shaping the international trade infrastructure. As Deputy Minister for FTA Negotiations, and later Director-General for Bureau of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Yoo Myung-hee has been at the forefront of numerous high-profile trade agreements… Read More
A Conversation with Ambassador Kathleen Stephens||
Thursday, January 28, 2021 | 6 PM (EST)
In our inaugural episode of the Korea Society’s Women in Leadership series, we are pleased to welcome Ambassador Kathleen Stephens for a conversation on her distinguished career as a world-renowned female leader. Having an extensive career in international relations, Amb. Stephens, a decorated former U.S. diplomat, will share her special and deep connections to Korea. She will also highlight her experiences in promoting the U.S-Korea relationship as a former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Peace Corp volunteer, and current President of Korea Economic Institute and Chair of The Korea Society… Read More
A New York Times Editors’ Choice Pick • A Most Anticipated Read in LitHub, CrimeReads, Thrillist, and Popsugar
The kinetic story of a sixty-five-year-old female assassin who faces an unexpected threat in the twilight of her career—The Old Woman with the Knife is an international bestseller and the English language debut from an award-winning South Korean author Gu Byeong-mo.
At sixty-five, Hornclaw is beginning to slow down. She lives modestly in a small apartment, with only her aging dog, a rescue named Deadweight, to keep her company. There are expectations for people her age—that she’ll retire and live out the rest of her days quietly. But Hornclaw is not like other people. She is an assassin.
Double-crossers, corporate enemies, cheating spouses—for the past four decades, Hornclaw has killed them all with ruthless efficiency, and the less she knows about her targets, the better. But now, nearing the end of her career, she has just slipped up. An injury leads her to an unexpected connection with a doctor and his family. But emotions, for an assassin, are a dangerous proposition. As Hornclaw’s world closes in, this final chapter in her career may also mark her own bloody end.
A sensation in South Korea, and now translated into English for the first time by Chi-Young Kim, The Old Woman with the Knife is an electrifying, singular, mordantly funny novel about the expectations imposed on aging bodies and the dramatic ways in which one woman chooses to reclaim her agency.
In this episode of Author Talks,Gu Byeong-mo discusses her career in Korea and her English debut.
“A resonant K-noir treat.”—Luke Jennings, author of the Killing Eve series
“Darkly funny, this South Korean novel examines the universal challenge of aging while maintaining societal relevance.”—The Washington Post
“Skillfully rendered…a thriller with heart.”—Kirkus Reviews
Author Talks: Gu Byeong-mo
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | 5 PM
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Gu Byeong-mo is the bestselling author of nine novels and three short story collections. She has won many literary prizes in Korea, including the prestigious Today’s Writer Award in 2015, and her novels have been translated into several languages, including Spanish and French. Born in Seoul, she now resides with her family in Jinju.
June 9 – August 25, 2022| Opening Reception: Thursday, June 9, 2022 5-7 PM ET| Artist Talk : Tuesday, July 12, 2022 5 PM ET|
Although her intricate installations are often so large that they spread over walls onto ceilings and floors, Heeseop Yoon thinks of her work as freehand drawings. All of Yoon’s works are based on real spaces with vast messes, such as basements, workshops, storage spaces, or “places where everything is jumbled and time becomes ambiguous without the presence of people.” Based on photographs, Yoon draws freehand without erasing; based on her own drawings, she creates her enlarged wall drawings using black tapes. In the final installation, her miscalculations and corrections are visible, as Yoon is interested in how memory and perception constantly adjust both for herself and for her viewer, and the paradox that the more she corrects her work, the less legible the drawing becomes.
“The more I see, the less I believe in the accuracy or reality of the images I draw.“
In her solo exhibition at The Korea Society, Yoon will show both her large-scaled line drawing installation and intricate black and white drawings.
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 Summer Hours during the month of August: Monday-Thursday 10 AM-4:30 PM By Appointment Only
Heeseop Yoon has had solo and two-person shows at Cityway Gallery, Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art; Triple Candie, March Gallery, and Bose Pacia, all New York; Arario Gallery, Seoul; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ; OZ Arts, Nashville, TN; and at Sapar Contemporary, New York. She has also shown with Dedee Shattuck Gallery, Westport, MA; William Holman Gallery, New York, NY; Crossing Borders, Periphery Space Gallery, RI; and Drawing in Space, Des Moines Art Center, IA.
Yoon has exhibited in museums and art centers internationally, including MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA; John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI; The Bronx Museum, New York; Seoul Arts Center, Korea; China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and Media Art Center, Beijing; and has participated in several residencies such as the Lower East Side Printshop, Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation; Skowhegan School of Painting, and Artist Alliance Inc., all New York, and Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany. Her first public mural installation is located at the Italian Market in Philadelphia.
Yoon was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. She holds her BFA from Chung-ang University, Seoul, Korea and MFA from City College of New York. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
King’s College London Professor of International Relations, KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance, Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident) at CSIS, and Non-resident Fellow at Sejong Institute Dr. Ramon PachecoPardo discusses his new book Shrimp to Whale, which provides an account of South Korea’s extraordinary transformation from “the ashes of colonialism, partition and a devastating war” into “a boisterous democracy, a vibrant market economy, a tech powerhouse, and home to the coolest of cultures.” Please enjoy a 25% discount on pre-orders on the book with code DISTRO25 on this link here.
This program was made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our corporate sponsors. For more information about our supporters, please refer to ourwebpage here.
Shrimp to Whale: South Korea’s Extraordinary Transformation Hybrid Program
Tuesday, June 7, 2022 | 6 PM (EDT)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Ramon Pacheco Pardo is Professor of International Relations at King’s College London and the KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance of Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He is also Adjunct Fellow (Non-Resident) with the Korea Chair at CSIS and Committee Member at CSCAP EU. He has held visiting positions at Korea University, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and Melbourne University. Prof Pacheco Pardo has been editor of Millennium: Journal of International Studies and currently sits in the editorial boards of East Asia: An International Quarterly, EU-China Observer, Global Studies Journal and Korea Europe Review. His publications include the books Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten War to K-Pop (Hurst, 2022) North Korea-US Relations from Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un (Routledge, 2019). He has participated in track 1.5 and 2 dialogues with South Korea, North Korea, China, and Japan. Prof Pacheco Pardo has testified before the European Parliament and advised the OECD, the European External Action Service, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the United Kingdom’s Cabinet and Foreign & Commonwealth offices. He is a frequent media commentator on Northeast Asian affairs and EU-East Asia relations.
Recently named The New York Times 2021 Breakout Star in Classical Music, Korean conductor Eun Sun Kim is the Caroline H. Hume Music Director of San Francisco Opera. The first woman to serve as music director of one of America’s largest opera companies, she is “making history while ensuring the future of classical music in a digital age,” as The New York Times declared.
Please join us for a conversation with one of the brightest stars in classical music today.
Eun Sun Kim is the Caroline H. Hume Music Director of San Francisco Opera. Her presence in North America was first established with performances of Verdi’s Requiem with the Cincinnati Symphony and La traviata at Houston Grand Opera, with the latter earning her an appointment as the company’s first Principal Guest Conductor in twenty-five years. Ms. Kim has enjoyed additional North American successes at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Los Angeles Opera, Washington National Opera, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. She is a regular guest conductor at opera houses across Europe, including Wiener Staatsoper, Staatsoper Berlin, Bayerische Staatsoper, Semperoper Dresden, Staatsoper Stuttgart, Royal Swedish Opera, Royal Danish Opera, Den Norske Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, and Oper Frankfurt. Concert performances comprise appearances with Orchestre de Paris, Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, and Stuttgart Philharmonic, as well as orchestras in Madrid, Marseille, Munich, Lille, Nancy, Palermo, Turin, Milwaukee, Calgary, and Santiago de Compostela.
A “wildly inventive” (Food & Wine) James Beard Award–winning chef interprets one of Asia’s greatest cuisines for the everyday eater.
Born in Seoul and raised in Maryland, Peter Serpico’s route to Korean food came long after making a name for himself in New York City restaurants. His first bites of marinated short ribs and black bean noodles tasted like home, and a love affair with the flavors and techniques of his birthplace began. Written with Drew Lazor, Serpico’s debut cookbook Learning Korean: Recipes for Home Cooking draws from his decades of professional cooking experience to elevate the greatest hits of at-home Korean dishes. In this insightful and endearing cookbook, new flavors, techniques, and ways to enjoy one of the world’s greatest cuisines are revealed by Serpico, chef and father.
In a conversation with Eric Kim, the New York Times bestselling author of Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home, Serpico discusses his career and his debut cookbook.
Learning Korean: Recipes for Home Cooking will be available for sale during the event.
“Peter is simply one of the best chefs not because of his mastery of cooking or his uncanny sense of flavor. Peter is one of the best teachers I’ve ever known, always improving techniques and developing clever hacks. I’ve seen it with my own eyes turning many novice cooks into skilled professionals. It was simply a matter of time before he turned his attention to the foods of Korea. This book not only will teach you how to make delicious Korean food but to think like a world class chef.” – David Chang, Chef and Founder of Momofuku Restaurant Group
Peter Serpico: Learning Korean with Eric Kim Hybrid Program
Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Born in Seoul, South Korea, PETER SERPICO was adopted when he was two years old, and was raised in Laurel, Maryland. Serpico graduated from the Baltimore International College Culinary School and his first cook job was at the Belmont Conference Center, where he worked under chef Rob Dunn. In 2006, Peter began as sous chef at the original Momofuku Noodle Bar in the East Village. For the next six years, Serpico worked with David Chang to open Momofuku Ssäm Bar and Momofuku Ko. As director of culinary operations, Serpico earned three stars from the New York Times, a James Beard Award, and two Michelin Stars, among other accolades. Serpico’s highly praised eponymous restaurant on South Street in Philadelphia opened in 2013. In 2022, Serpico and restaurant-partner Stephen Starr launched a revamp of Pod, a long-standing Philadelphia pan-Asian restaurant, as KPod, with a menu inspired by Serpico’s native South Korea. Serpico lives with his family in Philadelphia.
About the Moderator:
Photo by Jenny Huang
ERIC KIM is a New York Times staff writer born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and the author of Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home (Clarkson Potter, 2022). He worked his way through the literary and culinary world to eventually become a digital manager at Food Network and a senior editor at Food52, where he amassed a devoted readership for his “Table for One” column. He now hosts regular videos on NYT Cooking’s YouTube channel and writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine. A former contributing editor at Saveur, Eric taught writing and literature at Columbia University, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine. He lives with his rescue pup, Quentin Compson, in New York City.
Join us for this discussion on North Korea’s evolving economy, state, and society with Dr. Andrew Yeo, the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at The Brookings Institution and Professor of Politics, Catholic University of America. Yeo’s new book, State, Society, and Markets in North Korea, examines the extent and limitations of reform and development under leader Kim Jong Un, arguing that, “situational factors will continue to complicate the country’s future domestic prospects.” This live webcast discussion is in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program was made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and our corporate sponsors. For more information about our supporters, please refer to our webpage here.
Dr. Andrew Yeo is a senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at Brookings Institution’s Center for East Asia Policy Studies. He is also a professor of politics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.His latest book, “State, Society and Markets in North Korea” examines marketization in North Korea and its impact on state-society relations. Yeo’s scholarly publications can be found in International Studies Quarterly, European Journal of International Relations, Perspectives on Politics, Comparative Politics, Comparative Strategy, Journal of East Asian Studies, and International Relations of the Asia-Pacific among others. He is a two-time recipient of a U.S. Fulbright grant conducting research as a senior scholar in the Philippines in 2020, and as a graduate student in South Korea in 2005-06. Yeo received his doctorate in government from Cornell University, and bachelor’s in psychology and international studies magna cum laude from Northwestern University.
