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Category: Geopolitical Affairs

Future Pathways for
the U.S.-Korea Alliance.

Posted on by admin
The 2026 Van Fleet Policy Forum | The Korea Society

Building on the success of last year’s forum—which examined the evolution of alliance cooperation across domains and through history—The Korea Society, in collaboration with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, is pleased to announce The 2026 Van Fleet Policy Forum.

Made possible through the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation, this year’s forum will once again feature an exciting, high-level lineup of thought leaders, senior practitioners, and policymakers in Washington.

This event will be held in person and livestreamed. Please scroll down to request in-person attendance or to register for the livestream. In-person attendance is limited and subject to confirmation by The Korea Society’s Geopolitical Affairs team.

Conference Concept

Traditional policy conferences isolate diplomacy, security, and geo-economics into separate silos. In today’s interconnected geopolitical climate, however, these spheres are inextricably fused.

The 2026 Van Fleet Policy Forum will deliver vital, forward-looking insights by examining the alliance through two cross-disciplinary, binational panel discussions anchored in contrasting scenarios set ten years in the future.

  1. Scenario A

    Forging a Future-Ready Strategic Partnership

    It is the year 2036, and the U.S.-ROK Alliance has achieved unprecedented synergies, integrating diplomacy, trade, and technological innovation to deliver profound benefits across both societies and beyond. What does this resilient, gold-standard partnership look like on the global stage, and how was the strategic groundwork laid in the preceding years to achieve it? A binational panel of thought leaders with expertise in diplomacy, security, commerce, and technology will map out the blueprint for a best-case future.

  2. Scenario B

    Compounding Pressures Strain Alliance Cohesion

    By 2036, industrial competition, trade disputes, diverging security strategies, regional security crises, and deteriorating trust has fractured the alliance, causing the two nations to drift from strategic allies into transactional, ad-hoc partners. Washington downgrades its commitment to the Peninsula and Seoul prioritizes defense self-reliance. In the resulting strategic vacuum, an emboldened Russia–North Korea axis and an assertive China dominate a hyper-militarized Northeast Asia, leaving a decoupled alliance dangerously vulnerable to deterrence failure and rapid conflict escalation. What were the warning signs and enabling factors that led to this breakdown? How can it be avoided?

The program will also feature keynote addresses and a special tribute commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of independence leader Baekbeom Kim Koo, honoring the enduring legacy of Kim Koo and General Kim Shin in forging the bedrock of U.S.–ROK cooperation.

Confirmed

Confirmed Speakers

  • Stephen Biegun

    Former Deputy Secretary of StateUnited States

    Steve Biegun

    Former Deputy Secretary of StateUnited States

    Stephen E. Biegun served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State from 2019 to 2021, the Department’s second-ranking diplomat, after serving as U.S. Special Representative for North Korea from 2018 to 2019. At State he led the Department’s COVID-19 response, including the return of more than 100,000 Americans stranded abroad, and focused on the Korean Peninsula, U.S.-China relations, and the wider Indo-Pacific. He previously served as Executive Secretary of the White House National Security Council, chief of staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and national security advisor to the Senate Majority Leader, and early in his career directed a democracy-assistance program in Moscow. He spent two decades in the private sector as a corporate vice president at Ford Motor Company and The Boeing Company. He is the 2026 Rothschild & Co Distinguished International Fellow at the Lowy Institute, serves on the boards of the National Endowment for Democracy and the German Marshall Fund, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

  • Dr. Kuyoun Chung

    Associate Professor of Political ScienceKangwon National University

    Dr. Kuyoun Chung

    Associate Professor of Political ScienceKangwon National University

    Dr. Kuyoun Chung is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kangwon National University in South Korea. She also serves as a non-resident research fellow at both the Asan Institute for Policy Studies and the Hwajeong Peace Foundation, and as an executive director of the International Policy Studies Institute. Her research focuses on U.S. foreign policy, Korean Peninsula affairs, alliance politics, regional security architecture, maritime security, and emerging technologies. She earned her B.A. and M.A. from Korea University and her Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles. She subsequently served as a visiting professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and as a research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification. She has served as a policy advisor to the National Security Council under the Office of the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Unification. She currently serves on the policy advisory committees of the Ministry of National Defense and the Republic of Korea Navy.

  • Wendy Cutler

    Senior Vice PresidentAsia Society Policy Institute

    Wendy Cutler

    Senior Vice PresidentAsia Society Policy Institute

    Wendy Cutler is Senior Vice President at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), where she leads the Institute’s Washington, D.C. office and its work on trade, investment, innovation, and women’s empowerment in Asia. She joined ASPI in 2015 after nearly three decades as a diplomat and negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, culminating in her service as Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, where she was responsible for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, including the bilateral negotiations with Japan. She was the Chief U.S. Negotiator for the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) and also worked on U.S.-China trade relations, APEC, the WTO Financial Services Agreement, and numerous bilateral agreements with Japan. She began her career working on trade issues at the U.S. Department of Commerce. She holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University.

  • Markus Garlauskas

    Director, Indo-Pacific Security InitiativeScowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council

    Markus Garlauskas

    Director, Indo-Pacific Security InitiativeScowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council

    Markus Garlauskas is Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, where he leads work on geopolitical risk, conflict and nuclear deterrence, U.S. strategy, and cooperation with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. A former U.S. government senior executive, he served from 2014 to 2020 as National Intelligence Officer for North Korea on the National Intelligence Council, leading the intelligence community’s strategic analysis and wargaming on North Korea and supporting policy deliberations including the Singapore and Hanoi summits. He previously spent nearly twelve years in Seoul at the headquarters of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, including as director of the Strategy Division, and received the Joint Civilian Distinguished Service Award. He holds a B.A. in history from Kent State University and a master’s degree from Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program, where he is now an adjunct professor.

  • Dr. Syrus Solo Jin

    Elihu Rose Scholar in Modern Military History, Department of HistoryNew York University

    Dr. Syrus Solo Jin

    Elihu Rose Scholar in Modern Military History, Department of HistoryNew York University

    Syrus Solo Jin is the Elihu Rose Scholar in Modern Military History in the Department of History at New York University. A historian of U.S.-East Asian relations, the U.S. military, and the Cold War, he is completing a book on U.S. military-building in early Cold War Asia that traces the origins of America’s global security infrastructure through the experiences of American military advisors and their Asian counterparts. His peer-reviewed research has appeared in Diplomatic History and the Journal of American-East Asian Relations, and he has written on U.S. foreign policy, security, and East Asia for Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, TIME, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. He earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago in 2025, where he was a Jefferson Scholars Foundation National Fellow, and his bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

  • Dr. Abraham Kim

    President & CEOThe Korea Society

    Dr. Abraham Kim

    PresidentThe Korea Society

    Abraham Kim, Ph.D., is President & CEO of The Korea Society, where he leads the organization’s work to strengthen ties between the United States and Korea through policy dialogue, business engagement, and cultural exchange. He brings more than 25 years of experience in public policy, national security, and nonprofit leadership focused on U.S.-Korea relations and Northeast Asia. He previously served as Executive Director & President of the Council of Korean Americans, Executive Director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana, and Interim President and Vice President of the Korea Economic Institute of America. Earlier, he worked as a policy and risk analyst at Eurasia Group, CSIS, and SAIC. 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.

  • Ambassador (ret.) Yunju Ko

    PresidentLG Global Strategy Center

    Ambassador Yunju Ko

    PresidentLG Global Strategy Center

    Ambassador Ko Yunju is President of the LG Global Strategy Center, LG Group’s global policy think tank, which analyzes political and policy shifts in major countries and advises the group on how to respond. He has about 30 years of experience as a diplomat and is known for his expertise in U.S. foreign policy and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. He joined South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995, where he served as Director of the FTA Goods Division, Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau, and Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister for Political Affairs at the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. He also served as Deputy Secretary at the Office of National Security. His overseas postings include Washington, D.C., New York, Baghdad and Xi’an. In 2024, he joined LG Chem as Chief Sustainability Strategy Officer. Ambassador Ko holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Economics from Yonsei University, an M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University, and a Master of Laws from George Washington University. He received the Order of Service Merit (Green Stripes) in 2013.

  • Tami Overby

    PartnerDGA Group Government Relations

    Tami Overby

    PartnerDGA Group Government Relations

    Tami Overby is a Partner at DGA Group Government Relations in Washington, D.C., where she draws on more than three decades of experience in Asia to advise clients on investment and trade issues in Korea and across the region. She was previously Senior Director at McLarty Associates and, before that, Senior Vice President for Asia and President of the U.S.-Korea Business Council at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where she represented U.S. business during the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and led the Chamber’s APEC work. Earlier, she served for 14 years as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, helping expand bilateral trade and supporting the conclusion and ratification of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. She serves on the boards of The Korea Society and the U.S.-Asia Institute and on the Advisory Council of the Korea Economic Institute. She holds a B.S. in business administration and management from the University of Arkansas.

  • The Honorable Jin Park

    Former Foreign MinisterRepublic of Korea

    The Honorable Jin Park

    Former Foreign MinisterRepublic of Korea

    PARK Jin formerly served as Korea’s Foreign Minister and four-term Member of National Assembly. He is currently Distinguished Invited Professor at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Senior Advisor at the Kim & Chang Law Office as a Member of the New York Bar. Previously, he led the Asia Future Institute (AFI), chaired the Korea-America Association (KAA). Elected to the National Assembly in 2002, he chaired the Foreign Affairs, Trade, and National Unification Committee, passing key laws such as the KORUS FTA and the North Korea Human Rights Act. He also served as Presidential Secretary for Press and Political Affairs under the Kim Young-sam administration. He served as a Navy Lieutenant in Korea.

  • General (ret.) Walter Sharp

    Board Vice Chair & SecretaryThe Korea Society

    General (ret.) Walter Sharp

    Board Vice Chair & SecretaryThe Korea Society

    General (ret) Walter “Skip” Sharp currently serves as the Vice Chair and Secretary of The Korea Society’s Board of Directors. During his military career, Gen. Sharp commanded the United Nations Command, Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea from 2008 to 2011. He also commanded troops in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, and the Multinational Division (North) of the NATO-led Stabilization Force in Bosnia. Gen. Sharp had four assignments at the Pentagon on the Joint Staff. He was Director of the Joint Staff; Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J5; Vice Director, J8 for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment; and the Deputy Director, J5 for Western Hemisphere/Global Transnational Issues. He earned an M.S. in Operations Research and System Analysis from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a graduate of the Army War College.

Join Us

Attend in person or watch the livestream.

The 2026 Van Fleet Policy Forum takes place on Friday, November 20, 2026. To register to attend in-person or to view virtually, please register below.

Request to Attend (opens in a new tab)

On the Ground in North Korea:
Aid and Engagement in the DPRK

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Delve into the frontlines of humanitarian aid in North Korea. Join us for a special discussion with seasoned experts Kathi Zellweger, Mike Chinoy, and Jerome Sauvage as they share first-hand insights from years of experience on the ground inside North Korea.

In Miss Kathi: Saving Lives in North Korea, Swiss aid worker Kathi Zellweger collaborates with veteran journalist and author Mike Chinoy to chronicle her nearly three decades in North Korea. Dubbed the “Mother Teresa of North Korea” by local officials, Zellweger navigated state suspicion and international skepticism to deliver life-saving relief to thousands of vulnerable North Koreans, focusing especially on children. The book is available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

In Witness to North Korea: Three Years on the Ground in the DPRK, former UN Resident Coordinator Jerome Sauvage offers a rare insider account of daily life and operational realities inside Pyongyang. Drawing on his tenure leading international aid operations, Sauvage reflects on the successes and challenges of delivering humanitarian assistance and offers strategic guidance for future engagement. The book is available for purchase here, with a 20% discount using the code: WITNESS20.

The discussion is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.

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

About the Speakers

Speaker

Mike Chinoy

Mike Chinoy is a Nonresident Scholar at the 21st Century China Center at the University of California and the author of six books. Previously, he spent 15 years as a Senior Fellow at the U.S.-China Institute of the University of Southern California. From 2006-2009, he was a senior fellow at the Los Angeles-based Pacific Council on International Policy, focusing on security issues in Northeast Asia.

He spent 24 years as a foreign correspondent for CNN, including serving as the network’s first bureau chief in Beijing. He also worked for CBS and NBC in Hong Kong. He has received numerous awards for his journalism, including the Emmy, Peabody, and Dupont awards for his coverage of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crisis, and a Dupont Award for his coverage of the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami.

He has also covered North Korea extensively, traveling there 17 times since 1989. In 1994, he became the only journalist invited to accompany President Jimmy Carter on his historic trip to Pyongyang and was the first journalist ever to file live TV reports from North Korea.

He holds a BA from Yale University and an MS from Columbia University. He lives in Taipei, Taiwan.

 

Speaker

Jerome Sauvage

After a career with the United Nations taking him and his family to Africa, Asia and at Headquarters in New York, Jerome Sauvage became the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in North Korea. He negotiated new control arrangements with the North Korean Government to re-open the UNDP office in Pyongyang; coordinated the delivery of humanitarian aid and the international response to natural disasters and facilitated visits from the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s political envoys and from Jimmy Carter. Jerome Sauvage is an international affairs consultant specializing in humanitarian affairs and human resource management. He is a graduate of Paris’ Sorbonne University and Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

 

Speaker

Kathi Zellweger

Kathi Zellweger is a senior aid manager with over thirty years of experience in Hong Kong, China, and North Korea. She was based in Pyongyang during 2006–2011 as the North Korea country director for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Before that, Zellweger worked in a senior post for the Catholic Agency Caritas in Hong Kong, where she played a key role in pioneering Caritas’s involvement in China and North Korea. She later established her own NGO, the Hong Kong–based KorAid Limited, to serve children in institutions and people with disabilities in North Korea. Zellweger is affiliated with the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University and a Non-resident Fellow at the European Center for North Korean Studies at the University of Vienna. She holds a master’s degree in international administration from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.

How Can AI Serve All People
in Korea and the U.S.?

Posted on by Bradley Sheen


The Korea Society is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2026 Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Competition is Dr. Jae Yeon Kim, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Fellow at the Civic Power Lab at Harvard Kennedy School, and Better Government Lab Fellow at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Policy.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming public administration and public policy, but all too often, the discussion is dominated by the latest technological breakthroughs, rather than their potential utility in serving the public. To this point, Dr. Kim argues that the primary challenges facing AI in government are human and organizational rather than technological. Longstanding barriers to public services—such as administrative burdens, complex paperwork, and unequal access—predate artificial intelligence. Without intentional institutional changes, adopting automated systems risks digitizing and accelerating existing inefficiencies rather than resolving them.

Drawing on research in civic technology, policy implementation, and digital service delivery across South Korea and the United States, Dr. Kim outlines a framework for human-centered government. He examines how South Korea—a recognized global leader in e-government—can advance beyond basic automation. By prioritizing citizen needs through human-centered design, civic data, and participatory governance, public institutions can ensure AI reduces administrative friction and expands democratic access for everyone, particularly marginalized communities and future generations who will live longest with these technologies.

Key Points

  • Human and Organizational Dynamics – The main hurdles facing public sector AI are organizational and institutional. AI risks automating pre-existing administrative burdens if core public institutions do not adapt.
  • Human-Centered Civic Data Infrastructure – Human-centered design, civic data, and participatory governance can modernize public services, strengthen democratic access, and empower citizens to help govern public AI.
  • Real-World AI Governance – Public procurement, service delivery, and back-end infrastructure shape citizen experiences just as significantly as frontier AI models.

About the Sherman Family Korea Emerging Lecture Award
The primary goal of the award is to encourage U.S. thought leadership on Korea among a new generation. The award is presented to emerging thought leaders from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds working in the U.S. Prior awardees have explored topics in the arts, architecture, history, industrial policy, political science, and technology and have included Ph.D. candidates, junior professors (tenure and non-tenure track), researchers and professionals. Click here to view presentations of former award winners.

Speakers

Jae Yeon Kim

Jae Yeon Kim is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Fellow at the Civic Power Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Better Government Lab Fellow at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy. He co-founded the Data for Good Roundtables, a safe and brave space where academics and practitioners come together to discuss using data for good.

Previously, Kim worked as a Senior Data Scientist at Code for America, where he collaborated with U.S. government agencies to improve access to safety net programs. Kim also served as an Assistant Research Scientist at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, where he co-developed the Mapping the Modern Agora project. Kim earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Combining his professional experience as a data scientist in the U.S. public sector with his academic training as a social scientist, Kim has developed a research agenda focused on policy implementation, government capacity, and technological change. A common thread across his research projects is addressing two major challenges in policy implementation as modern government becomes increasingly complex: (1) helping people navigate bureaucracy and strengthening trust between government and civil society, and (2) helping government agencies buy and use technology more effectively and responsibly.

Kim is currently finishing a book manuscript titled Unseen and Uncounted, which examines how the administrative challenges of identifying and categorizing non-Black minority communities gave rise to new racial group formations during the War on Poverty. He has also begun work on his second book project, tentatively titled Burdens, Profits, and People Power, which investigates how AI exacerbates existing inequalities through administrative burdens, what kinds of businesses profit from these hidden practices, and how people can build power to resist and transform this unjust system.

Kim’s research has appeared in leading journals across public policy and the social sciences and has been recognized with three awards from different sections of the American Political Science Association. His research has been featured in The Washington Post, the Associated Press, and other national and international media outlets. His work has also informed how U.S. state and local governments deliver public services, procure AI systems, and train government officials; how foundations strategically distribute grants for public benefit innovation and civic engagement; and how nonprofits develop their research and evaluation capacity.

Korea’s Energy
Evolution

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Join The Korea Society for an insightful discussion on Korea’s Energy Evolution with Henry Haggard, former senior U.S. diplomat and Founding Principal of Seekonk LLC. Facing acute resource scarcity and intensifying geopolitical pressure, can South Korea improve its energy resilience through innovation? And how is the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) alliance positioned to pioneer next-generation energy solutions?

This is the second installment 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. Watch the first installment, about South Korea’s New Industrial Defense Strategy with Dr. Lami Kim, here.

 

As the global community faces an unprecedented surge in energy demand, the intersection of energy security, technology, and geopolitics has never been more vital. South Korea is grappling with a dependence on imported fossil fuels, which historically comprise over 60 percent of its energy mix. Recent supply shocks have underscored the vulnerabilities inherent to this import-dependent strategy. To power its high-tech manufacturing base while meeting its 2050 carbon neutrality commitments, Seoul is executing a dramatic energy pivot to a nuclear-centric future, with plans to expand domestic nuclear-generated power to 35 percent by 2038. Yet, this evolution forces South Korea to navigate treacherous geopolitical waters. Seoul must balance trade dynamics with the United States, manage a delicate diversification away from China’s overwhelming dominance in critical mineral supply chains, and compete directly with state-backed nuclear offerings from Russia and China.

This conversation will examine how the U.S.-ROK alliance is uniquely positioned to innovate and solve these challenges. Grounded by the historic January 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on the Expansion of Peaceful Nuclear Energy, the alliance combines U.S. research innovation and capital with South Korea’s world-class engineering, which has permitted the ROK to construct nuclear plants three times faster than the global average. The conversation will also unpack recent efforts to offset critical minerals dependence through multilateral coordination through the US-led Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE). Beyond traditional nuclear energy facilities and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Haggard will also highlight how the alliance is driving cutting-edge green technologies with breakthroughs in clean hydrogen and ammonia-cracking infrastructure.

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

Read more by Henry Haggard on this topic:

How the U.S. and South Korea Can Power the Globe with Nuclear Energy – KEI
Profit and Power: Opportunities in the US-South Korea Energy Sector – Rice University’s Baker Institute

 

Episode 1: Why South Korea Builds Nuclear Reactors 3x Faster Than Anyone Else

Episode 1 thumbnail

In the first episode of this Korea Expert Desk miniseries on Korea’s Energy Evolution, former senior U.S. diplomat Henry Haggard explores how South Korea is driving its energy strategy through technological innovation and strategic alliance partnerships. To power its high-tech manufacturing sector while aiming for carbon neutrality, Seoul is executing a nuclear-centric shift to raise domestic nuclear generation to 35 percent by 2038. Haggard examines South Korea’s nuclear construction efficiency—building reactors three times faster than the global average—and explains how combining Korean engineering with U.S. intellectual property creates a global partnership. The conversation highlights joint U.S.-ROK ventures in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) designed to meet soaring electricity demands driven by AI data centers. Finally, Haggard details how the bilateral alliance is advancing cutting-edge clean energy infrastructure, from commercial clean hydrogen investments to innovative ammonia-cracking trials.

Watch Episode 1

Episode 2: Solving South Korea’s Energy Trap

Episode 1 thumbnail

In the second episode of this Korea Expert Desk miniseries on Korea’s Energy Evolution, former senior U.S. diplomat Henry Haggard examines South Korea’s acute energy vulnerabilities. With imported fossil fuels comprising over 60 percent of its energy mix, recent geopolitical disruptions in vital shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz directly threaten Seoul’s export-driven economy. Haggard details the global nuclear energy marketplace, warning against expanding state-backed dominance from Russia and China while emphasizing the need for deeper U.S.-Korea collaboration. He further addresses China’s leverage over critical mineral supply chains and how multilateral allied initiatives like FORGE aim to protect the building blocks of clean technology. Tune in to explore how the U.S.-ROK alliance can leverage statecraft and innovation to ensure long-term energy security.

Watch Episode 2

About the Speaker:

Henry Haggard is the Founding Principal of Seekonk LLC, Global Strategy Group. He is a former U.S. diplomat who completed a twenty-five-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service, retiring at the rank of Counselor in the Senior Foreign Service. Henry is a Principal at WestExec Advisors, Non-Resident Fellow at the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies (CES) at Rice University, Senior Associate of the KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS), Senior Fellow at Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), and Partner at Albion East Ltd, Global Development Advisors. From 2021-2023, he served as Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the United States Embassy in South Korea. Prior to that, he served as Director at the National Security Council under both the Trump and Biden administrations, coordinating United States policy and engagement with Turkey, Greece, and the United Kingdom. Previous assignments at the State Department include Director of Energy Diplomacy for Asia and the Middle East, Acting Political Minister Counselor at the United States Mission to the European Union, Chief of Staff to the Secretary’s Special Representative for Syria Engagement, Deputy Principal Officer in Erbil, Iraq, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, three tours in the State Department’s Executive Secretariat for Secretaries Powell, Rice and Kerry, a tour in Baghdad, and one stint as political-military team lead at the United States Embassy in Paris. Participated in four diplomatic missions to North Korea between 2000-2008.Henry speaks fluent Korean and French and received a BA in International Relations from Brown University and a MA in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He founded The Twenty-Five Year Apprenticeship, a resource for diplomatic tradecraft and frequently contributes to news and media on global affairs and the Korean peninsula.

Unpacking the 2026 Midterm Elections:
Implications for the U.S. & Korea

Posted on by admin

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 Professor Emeritus at American University Mr. Leonard Steinhorn. 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.



Moderator

Leonard Steinhorn

Leonard Steinhorn is a professor emeritus at American University where he taught political communication and recent American history. He is a leading authority on American politics, the 1960s, and race relations in America. His forthcoming book, The Decade That Divides Us: America in the 1960s, will be published in 2027, and he is the author of The Greater Generation: In Defense of the Baby Boom Legacy, and co-author of By the Color of Our Skin: The Illusion of Integration and the Reality of Race. He has published in books, journals, the Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Politico, The Hill, Political Wire, International Herald Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Baltimore Sun, Huffington Post, Salon, History News Network, BillMoyers.com, World Financial Review, among others. He is the former political analyst for CBS News Radio and FOX-5 News in Washington, DC. Steinhorn has appeared as an on-air expert in a number of documentaries, including CNN’s The Sixties and 1968: The Year That Changed America, Superheroes Decoded on the History Channel, and The Kennedy Files on REELZ, and he also appeared in a DVD special feature on the baby boom generation for the final season of AMC’s Mad Men. He has given hundreds of talks at home and abroad, and was a featured professor for One Day University where he gave lectures nationwide on politics and history.

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.



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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Critical Comparison: Sanctions on North Korea vs. Iran

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Program Brief

Critical Comparisons: Sanctions on North Korea vs. Iran

In a discussion on the implementation and efficacy of international sanctions, Dr. Jonathan Brewer, Visiting Professor at King’s College London and former Acting Coordinator of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea, offered a nuanced comparative analysis of two of the world’s most complex sanctions regimes. Drawing on his unique experience as both a financial expert on the UN Panel on Iran and coordinator overseeing North Korea sanctions enforcement, Dr. Brewer examined why sanctions have succeeded in some contexts while failing to achieve their ultimate objectives in others.

This program was made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation and The Korea Society’s individual and corporate members.

Event Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Host Organizations: The Korea Society

Speakers:

• Jonathan Brewer, Visiting Professor, King’s College, London; former Acting Coordinator, UN Panel of Experts on North Korea; financial expert, UN Panel on Iran

• In conversation with Jonathan Corrado, Policy Director, The Korea Society

Key Takeaways

1. Why Sanctions Failed on North Korea but Showed Promise with Iran

Dr. Brewer argued that sanctions did not uniformly fail; rather, they produced different outcomes based on implementation, context, and strategic timing. For Iran, Security Council sanctions, particularly financial restrictions, contributed to bringing the state to the negotiating table and eventually to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). What made Iran sanctions effective was sustained US financial pressure that isolated Iranian banks from the dollar system, creating genuine economic costs. In contrast, North Korea sanctions have proven ineffective, but not because sanctions as a concept are flawed, Dr. Brewer argued. Multiple factors explain the divergence: sanctions were imposed after North Korea had already detonated a nuclear device and established core infrastructure, suggesting the intervention came too late. Sanctions were also applied incrementally over years, giving North Korea time to develop sophisticated evasion networks and procurement methods. Lastly, North Korea’s borders with China and Russia have created loopholes that undermine the effectiveness of sanctions, which is further compounded by inconsistent enforcement by both countries.

2. The Paradox of Panel Expertise: Information as an Essential Tool

In contemporary sanctions enforcement, Dr. Brewer highlighted that the absence of credible, independent monitoring bodies has presented a critical vulnerability. In particular, the mandate of the UN’s Panel of Experts on North Korea sanctions has ended and the Panel of Experts on Iranian sanctions cannot function normally. The consequence is that UN member states, which are obligated to implement Security Council sanctions, lack validated and impartial intelligence on sanction circumvention activities conducted by North Korea and Iran. This information gap directly undermines implementation effectiveness. Dr. Brewer also emphasized that the panels’ greatest asset was credibility. As reports were negotiated by consensus among the P5 and rotating members, they held unassailable validity that enabled states to justify compliance to domestic stakeholders. Without this institutional mechanism, sanctions are at risk of becoming performative rather than policy.

3. The Mechanics of Proliferation Finance and Emerging Sanctions Evasion Technologies

Dr. Brewer broke down weapons proliferation financing into three discrete stages: fundraising, disguising the funds, and procurement. North Korea has moved decisively into cryptocurrency theft and alternative financial pathways, stealing billions in digital assets that bypass traditional banking infrastructure. As sanctioned states become more sophisticated at exploiting cryptocurrency and as alternative payment systems mature, the foundation of modern financial sanctions, the dollar standard, faces gradual erosion. Dr. Brewer emphasized that this reality demands a multi-faceted response: stronger private sector compliance frameworks, enhanced blockchain analytics capabilities for tracing digital assets, and deeper coordination among export control regimes (Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime) to address the procurement leg of the financing chain. Iran has not extensively pursued this cyber-based evasion approach, though the recent tentative US-Iran agreement may shift Iran’s strategy.

4. The Geopolitical Collapse of the Multilateral Sanctions Architecture

Dr. Brewer addressed a fundamental shift in the international landscape: the emergence of what observers call an “axis of sanctioned states.” Russia’s veto of the North Korea panel renewal, China’s increasing reluctance to enforce sanctions on Pyongyang, and growing military-technological cooperation among North Korea, Iran, and Russia represent a qualitative change in the viability of Security Council-based enforcement. This geopolitical realignment does not invalidate sanctions as a tool, but it does require creative adaptation. Dr. Brewer proposed building “communities of interest” among coalition partners willing to coordinate unilateral and multilateral sanctions. Deeper coordination among the US, South Korea, EU, Canada, UK, and Japan, combined with engagement of the private sector, financial institutions, and academic expertise, could partially substitute for a dysfunctional Security Council.

About the Speaker

Speaker

Dr. Jonathan Brewer

Dr. Jonathan Brewer is a Visiting Professor at King’s College, London, carrying out research with the Alpha Project on questions of proliferation and the financing of proliferation. Based in New York, Dr. Brewer currently conducts research about UN Security Council and unilateral sanctions requirements, their implementation and circumvention, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferation programmes, and Financing of WMD proliferation, including Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements. Dr. Brewer is former Acting Coordinator of the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea (DPRK), Coordinator of the UN 1540 Group of Experts, and financial expert of the UN Panel on Iran. Brewer was a member of the UK Diplomatic Service between 1983 and 2010. Duties included substantive postings overseas to Luanda (1986–88), Mexico City (1991–95) and Moscow (1998–2001) and a secondment to the Joint Intelligence Committee, Cabinet Office, London (2003–2004). He was Head of Counter-Proliferation 2005–2010. He graduated from Oxford University with a First Class Honours degree, and holds a PhD in geophysics from Cornell University.

New Thinking on Korea’s
Aging, Shrinking Society

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Program Brief

New Thinking on Korea’s Aging, Shrinking Society

In a discussion on South Korea’s low birth rate and aging society, Professor Youngtae Cho, Director of the Population Policy Research Center (PPRC) at Seoul National University, challenged conventional narratives surrounding South Korea’s demographic decline. Rather than viewing a shrinking population as a critical crisis, Professor Cho reframed it as a unique window of opportunity to strategically build a more sustainable and resilient future.

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

Event Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Host Organizations: The Korea Society

Speakers:

• Youngtae Cho, Director, Population Policy Research Center; Professor of Demography, School of Public Health, Seoul National University

• Moderated by Jonathan Corrado, Policy Director, The Korea Society

Key Takeaways

1. Hypercentralization in Seoul as a Fundamental Driver of Low Fertility

From an evolutionary perspective, Dr. Cho explained that when competition for resources becomes unsustainably intense, an organism’s instinct for individual survival overrides its instinct for reproduction. In South Korea, this survival trigger is directly tied to hypercentralization. More than 50 percent of the national population is concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, where economic opportunities are clustered. Coupled with the fact that 77 percent of 30-year-olds hold a college degree—the highest in the world—metropolitan areas have become dense, high-pressure environments where young people face a brutal daily battle for survival, leaving them with no financial or psychological capacity to marry or have children.

2. Quality Over Quantity

Dr. Cho refuted Elon Musk’s claim that South Korea’s low fertility rate would allow North Korea to easily invade by simply “walking across” the DMZ within three generations. He revealed through recent demographic simulations that North Korea’s population is facing its own severe, unmanaged decline; its annual births sit around 220,000 to 230,000, roughly equal to South Korea’s 250,000 births last year. Furthermore, Dr. Cho argued that assessing a nation’s future strictly by headcount is reductionist. South Korea’s historic post-war transformation into a global economic powerhouse was driven by massive leaps in individual human capability and resilience, qualities that numbers alone cannot capture. Dr. Cho encouraged a perspective that looks beyond the population number to additionally consider “APC,” which means age, period, and cohort.

3. The Extreme Reality of Social Aging and Shifting Median Age

Dr. Cho emphasized that a shifting age structure fundamentally transforms a nation into an entirely different world, an evolution best captured by the relentless rise of South Korea’s median age. Historically, this metric dictated the baseline for cultural maturity; in 1994, the median age was a youthful 29, meaning that turning 30 marked a sudden, high-pressure threshold into full adult responsibility. Today, that midpoint has skyrocketed to 46 and by 2054, the median age in Korea will be around 60 years old. This unprecedented shift means institutions, legal frameworks, and economic systems must be completely reinvented to function in a society where the statistical average age shifts substantially.

4. Demographic Solutions for Corporate Talent Pipelines

Dr. Cho asserted that treating population decline as an automatic economic death sentence is a mistake. By looking at demographics through the multi-dimensional “APC” lens (Age, Period, Cohort), businesses can uncover massive expanding global markets and pivot their strategies. In a notable case study, one company faced high resignation rates among its newly recruited elite workforce despite offering top-tier salaries and welfare benefits. Dr. Cho’s research identified a distinct demographic mismatch: 49% of Koreans born in 1990 and 51% born after 2003 are Seoul natives, thus structurally addicted to the capital’s infrastructure. Forcing them to work consecutive years at regional plants hours away created an exhausting, unsustainable weekend travel loop. Acting on Dr. Cho’s advice, the company introduced a bi-weekly 4-day work week in 2024, reversing attrition rates among their young talent.

About the Speaker

Speaker

Dr. Youngtae Cho

Dr. Youngtae Cho is a professor of demography at the Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, and director of the SNU Population Policy Research Center. He received his Ph.D. in sociology (specialized in demography) from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002. His research focuses on fertility transitions, demographic change, and their impacts on social and economic structures in East and Southeast Asia. He is the author of several books for general public and has played a leading role in enhancing population literacy in Korea. Through media, public speaking, and policy consultation, Cho reframes demographic shifts not as crises, but tools for building a more sustainable and proactive future.

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

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Program Brief

Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Kim Koo’s Birth

UNESCO officially commemorated 2026 as the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kim Koo, honoring his foundational conviction that culture is the ultimate engine of national development, human happiness, and international peace. To mark this significant milestone, The Korea Society, in partnership with the Association of Commemorative Service for Patriot Kim Koo and the Kim Koo Foundation, hosted a landmark presentation and exhibition opening titled “Kim Koo: Dreaming of Peace through the Power of Culture.” This momentous occasion brought together senior policy and civic leaders to celebrate Kim Koo’s enduring legacy and reflect on the growing maturity of the U.S.–Republic of Korea (ROK) alliance.

The event also celebrated the 11th anniversary of the Kim Koo Professional Series at The Korea Society. Over the past decade, this impactful initiative has empowered a network of over 200 fellows spanning policy, corporate industry, media, nonprofits, and academia to strengthen U.S.-Korea relations and promote peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia.

This program was 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.

Event Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026

Host Organizations: The Korea Society; Association of Commemorative Service for Patriot Kim Koo

Speakers:

• Han Kyung-Koo, former Secretary-General, Korean National Commission for UNESCO

• Congratulatory remarks by Kang, Kyung-wha, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States

• Congratulatory remarks by Ellen Park, New Jersey Assemblywoman

• Congratulatory message from Kim Mee, Chairperson, Kim Koo Foundation, delivered by Jung Hwa Kim, Director of International Affairs, Kim Koo Foundation

Key Takeaways

1. The Boundless Power of Culture as a Global Engine

Kim Koo wrote in his seminal essay My Wish: “The one thing I desire without limit is the power of a great culture. For the power of culture makes us happy and goes on to bring happiness to others.” Speakers highlighted how this profound vision has dynamically materialized in the modern era. From the global dominance of K-Pop and multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway adaptations like Maybe Happy Ending to Netflix chart-toppers, Korea’s soft power has emerged as a universal bridge for cultural exchange and lasting international peace.

2. Historical Precursors to the Modern ROK-U.S. Alliance

Beyond his revolutionary leadership within the Provisional Government of Korea, Kim Koo’s legacy resonates deeply as a visionary diplomat. His historical foresight led to early, critical collaborations with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) on the “Eagle Project.” This initiative served as a vital foundational precursor to the formal institutionalization of the modern ROK-U.S. alliance, which has now matured into a comprehensive strategic partnership encompassing defense, trade, cutting-edge technology, and shared values of freedom and the rule of law.

3. Diplomatic Equality, Dignity, and National Unity

Kim Koo long advocated for bilateral relations rooted strictly in mutual dignity, a sentiment captured in a handwritten calligraphy scroll gifted to the late diplomat and scholar Gregory Henderson that reads: “Let Korea and the United States help one another in friendship and as equals.” His sacrifice and courage established a roadmap proving that a nation’s true strength is not merely measured by military or raw economic might, but by the character, resilience, and unified purpose of its people. This vision underpins the modern democratic advancements that allow contemporary leaders to address global challenges from a position of equal partnership and mutual respect.

    

Congratulatory Remarks:

Her Excellency Kang, Kyung-wha, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the United States of America

Kang, Kyung-wha was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the United States of America by President Lee, Jae Myung in October, 2025. Prior to her appointment, Ambassador Kang served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2017-2021 under President Moon, Jae-in. Between April, 2024 and September, 2025 she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Asia Society in New York. During her varied and distinguished career in public service, Ambassador Kang served as Secretary for International Relations in the Office of the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly and as Senior Advisor and Principal Speechwriter to the Foreign Minister and Principal Interpreter to the President of Korea. She was also Director-General for International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea. At the United Nations, she was Deputy High Commissioner at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Chief of the Transition Team for the 9th United Nations Secretary-General-elect and later his Senior Advisor on Policy. Earlier in her career, Ambassador Kang worked for the English Section of Radio Korea International of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), served as Assistant Professor at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio and was active in several women’s organizations in Korea. She was affiliated with Ewha Women’s University as Distinguished Professor Emeritus (Sept. 2022 – Feb. 2023) and is Honorary Professor at the Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment at Yonsei University since September, 2023. Ambassador Kang has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Studies from Yonsei University, and both a Master’s Degree and Doctorate in International/Intercultural Communication from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is married with three children.

Dr. Kim Mee is a distinguished Korean philanthropist and civic leader. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Kim Koo Foundation, established to honor the legacy of her grandfather, Kim Koo—one of Korea’s most revered independence leaders. The Foundation advances educational and cultural initiatives both in Korea and internationally, continuing Kim Koo’s lifelong commitment to public service and national identity. Dr. Kim has dedicated her career to advocating for social equity and civic engagement. Her work spans a range of critical issues, including women’s rights, child welfare, healthcare access, education, the arts, and civil diplomacy. Dr. Kim is a board director for The Korea Society. She previously served as Chairperson of Women’s News, a leading Korean newspaper focused on women’s issues and social justice. She also holds board positions at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, Midwest Young Artists, and Lake Forest Academy, where she is a Life Trustee. Dr. Kim is the granddaughter of Kim Koo, Premier of the Korean Provisional Government (KPG) and a central figure in Korea’s independence movement. She is also the daughter of General Kim Shin, a pioneering military leader and a senior government official. Dr. Kim is married to Kim Ho Youn, Chairman of Binggrae Co., Ltd., a leading Korean food and beverage company.

Presenter:

Dr. Han Kyung-Koo was the Secretary-General of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO from December 2020 to December 2024. As a cultural anthropologist trained at Seoul National University (M.A.) and Harvard University (Ph.D.), Dr. Han taught anthropology at Kangwon National University and helped develop the Division of International Studies at Kookmin University as its dean. In 2009, he joined the newly founded College of Liberal Studies of Seoul National University and served as its dean. Dr. Han also served as a member of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, the Policy Planning Committee of the Korean Federation for the Environmental Movement, and the Presidential Commission on Sustainable Development. He has also served on the editorial boards of the Korea Journal, Sahoewa Yeoksa (Society and History), and Cross-Currents: East Asian History and Culture Review. He was also the Editor of Hanguk Munhwa Inryuhak (Korean Cultural Anthropology) and the Korean Social Science Journal. Dr. Han was President of the Korean International Migration Studies Association, the Korean Society of Education for International Understanding, and the Association for the Studies of Korean abroad, as well as Vice President of the Korean Society for Cultural Anthropology, and the Korean Association for Environmental Sociology.