Category: About Us

• 
  Ambassador (ret) Kathleen Stephens

  Chair @ The Korea Society
  U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (2008-2011)

  Ambassador (ret) Kathleen Stephens served as a career diplomat in the United States Foreign Service, 1978-2015. She was the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (2008-2011), the first woman and first Korean speaker to serve in that position. Other overseas assignments include postings to China, Korea, former Yugoslavia, Portugal, Northern Ireland – where she was U.S. Consul General in Belfast (1995-1998) during the negotiations culminating in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement – and India, where she was U.S. Chargé d’ Affaires (2014-2015).

  Amb. Stephens served in Washington at the Department of State and the White House. These positions include acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (2012), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2005-2007), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (2003-2005), and National Security Council Director for European Affairs at the Clinton White House.

  Amb. Stephens was President and CEO of the Korea Economic Institute of America from 2018 to 2023, and William J. Perry Fellow for Korea at Stanford University from 2015 to 2018. Earlier, she was Endowed Chair Professor for Language and Diplomacy at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, and Senior State Department Fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. She currently chairs the Board of The Korea Society and Pacific Century Institute, and is Vice-chair of the Board of Trustees of The Asia Foundation. She is a senior advisor at McLarty Associates, and a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Council on Foreign Relations.

  Amb. Stephens studied at Prescott College, the University of Hong Kong, and Oxford University. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Korea from 1975-1977. She holds a BA Honors from Prescott and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School.

   
   
• 
  Dr. Abraham Kim

  President & CEO @ The Korea Society
  

  Dr. Abraham Kim, Ph.D. is the President & CEO of The Korea Society, where he leads the organization’s efforts to strengthen ties between the United States and Korea through policy dialogue, business engagement, and cultural exchange.

  Dr. Kim brings more than 25 years of experience in public policy, national security, and nonprofit leadership, with a career focused on U.S.–Korea relations and Northeast Asia. He has worked closely with senior government officials, business leaders, and international organizations, providing analysis and guidance on geopolitical and economic issues related to the Korean Peninsula.

  Prior to joining The Korea Society, Dr. Kim served as Executive Director & President of the Council of Korean Americans (CKA), where he expanded the organization’s national footprint and strengthened its role in policy engagement and leadership development. He previously served as Executive Director of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana and as Interim President and Vice President of the Korea Economic Institute of America, where he supported public diplomacy initiatives and educational programs focused on the U.S.–Korea alliance.

  Earlier in his career, Dr. Kim worked as a policy and risk analyst at Eurasia Group, CSIS, and SAIC, focusing on political risk, crisis simulations, and regional security issues in Northeast Asia. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Political Science from Columbia University, an M.A. from Harvard University, and a B.A. from Boston University.

   
   
• 
  General (ret) Walter “Skip” Sharp

  Vice Chair and Secretary @ The Korea Society
  President @ Sharp Advice, LLC
  UNC/CFC/USFK Commander (2008-2011)
  

  General (ret) Walter “Skip” Sharp currently serves as the Vice Chair and Secretary of The Korea Society’s Board of Directors.

  Gen. Sharp was born in Morgantown, WV, while his father was fighting in the Korean War. He graduated from West Point in 1974 and was commissioned as an armor officer. He earned an M.S. in Operations Research and System Analysis from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a graduate of the Army War College.

  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.

  Gen. and Mrs. Sharp live in Alexandria, VA. He was the former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Military Officers Association of America. He is on the Board of Directors for ARTIS, LLC and consults for several U.S. companies focused on supporting our military and veterans. Gen. Sharp is also involved in Northeast Asia and Korea strategy and policy discussions at several Washington, D.C. area think tanks.

   
   
• 
  Theodore Kwon

  Treasurer @ The Korea Society
  Partner @ Apollo Global Management
  

  Theo Kwon is a Partner at Apollo. Kwon has been a member of Apollo’s Private Equity Group since 2015 and joined Apollo Aligned Alternatives (AAA), a leading semi-liquid private markets fund with over $21 billion in diversified assets, as the Chief Operating Officer in 2023. Prior to joining Apollo, he was a Vice President at Angelo, Gordon & Co. from 2012 to 2015. Prior to there, Kwon worked at Weston Presidio and was a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions group at Citigroup.

  Kwon currently serves on the Boards of Directors of (i) Apollo Education, a global education platform, (ii) University of Phoenix, a leading online university for working adult students, and (iii) Vanta Education, a collection of premier higher education schools located in various international markets. He also serves on the investment and oversight committees of Apollo Aligned Alternatives. Kwon previously served on the Board of Directors of (i) The Fresh Market, a specialty grocery business with 160 stores located predominantly in the Southeastern U.S, and (ii) Tegra Global, a sportswear apparel manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere.

  Kwon graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Master of Business Administration.

   
   
• 
  Michael Burke

  Head, International Franchise Management @ Citigroup
  

  Michael Burke is a Managing Director in New York for Citigroup, and he leads the International Franchise Management (IFM) team. IFM helps manage Citi’s international franchise by coordinating governance, talent, and business connectivity for Citi’s activities in over 160 countries and jurisdictions around the world.

  Burke joined Citi in August 1998 in the finance and strategy department of the Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB). Since then, he has worked in a variety of Finance, Strategy, and Business Risk / Compliance roles.

  A former U.S. Navy officer, Burke holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Villanova University and Master’s degrees from New York University and Harvard University.

   
   
• 
  Dr. Victor Cha

  President of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair @ Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
  Distinguished University Professor @ Georgetown University
  

  Dr. Victor Cha is president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He is also the distinguished university professor and professor of government at Georgetown University. From 2021 to 2025, he was appointed by the Joseph R. Biden administration to serve on the Defense Policy Board in an advisory role to the Secretary of Defense. From 2004 to 2007, he served on the National Security Council (NSC) and was responsible for Japan, Korea, Australia/New Zealand, and Pacific Island nations. Dr. Cha was U.S. deputy head of delegation at the Six Party Talks and received two outstanding service commendations during his tenure at the NSC.

  He is the author of eight books, including the award-winning Alignment Despite Antagonism: The United States-Korea-Japan Security Triangle (Stanford, 1999) (winner of the 2000 Ohira Book Prize), The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future (Ecco, 2012) selected by Foreign Affairs as a “Best Book on the Asia-Pacific for 2012”, Powerplay: Origins of the American Alliance System in Asia (Princeton, 2018), Korea: A New History of South and North (Yale, 2023), and The Black Box: Demystifying the Study of Korean Unification and North Korea (Columbia University Press, 2024).

  Dr. Cha is a two-time Fulbright scholar, former Olin fellow at Harvard, and former Hoover, CISAC, and Koret fellow at Stanford. He currently serves on 10 editorial boards of academic journals and is coeditor of the Contemporary Asia book series at Columbia University Press. He serves on the board of the National Endowment for Democracy and is a senior fellow at the George W. Bush Institute. He is also a foreign affairs contributor for MSNBC and NBC News. Dr. Cha received his PhD, MIA and BA degree from Columbia University and a BA Honors from Oxford University.

   
   
• 
  Jun Choi

  U.S. Korean Business Network Leader @ Ernst & Young LLP
  

  Jun Choi joined The Korea Society as a Board member in 2021, and he is currently the Chair of the Audit Committee.

  Choi is a leader for the U.S. Korean Business Network of Ernst & Young LLP. His main responsibility is to provide quality professional services for Korean inbound companies doing business in the U.S. with more than 30 years of experience.

  Prior to that, he worked at Deloitte as an audit partner and a core member of KPMG’s Korean Practice. He also worked in a healthcare entity as CFO.

  He graduated from Korea University with a concentration in accounting and finance in 1995.

  He attended Master’s programs at the Franklyn Pierce Law Center for intellectual property management and at the University Southern California for healthcare management.

  He is a CPA licensed in California and Washington, as well as in Korea.

   
   
• 
  Young Choi

  Partner @ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC
  

  Young Choi joined The Korea Society (TKS) in 2020.

  Choi began his career in public accounting in South Korea, working with various multinational companies. In 2015, he was transferred to the New York office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Currently, Choi is a partner in the Assurance practice at PwC’s Atlanta office, with over 25 years of experience in public accounting. He leads the Korean Business Network, directing PwC’s efforts and coordinating its multidisciplinary resources to support opportunities for Korean inbound clients.

  Choi earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Seoul National University in 2000. He holds CPA licenses in both New York and Georgia and is a member of the Korea Institute of Certified Public Accountants (KICPA).

   
   
• 
  Ambassador (ret) Philip Goldberg

  U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (2022-2025)
  

  Ambassador (ret) Philip S. Goldberg retired in January 2025 after 36 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. Between 2022-2025, he served as United States Ambassador to South Korea. He served previously as Ambassador to the Philippines, Bolivia, and Colombia, and chief of the U.S. mission in UN-administered Kosovo. He served in Washington as Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research.

  From June 2009 until June 2010, he was the coordinator for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1874 (Sanctions) on North Korea. He has also been charge d’affaires, a.i. at the U.S. embassies in Chile and Cuba. Amb. Goldberg spent a year as Diplomat-in-Residence at Georgetown University. His other overseas tours include Bogota, Colombia, where he served as Coordinator of Plan Colombia, and as political-economic officer in Pretoria, South Africa in the years leading up to that country’s first democratic elections.

  Amb. Goldberg was a senior member of the State Department team handling the transition from the Clinton to Bush administrations, and served as acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs (2000-2001) and Special Assistant and Executive Assistant to Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott (1996-2000). As the Bosnia Desk Officer and Special Assistant to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke (1994-1996), Amb. Goldberg was a member of the American negotiating team in the lead-up to the Dayton Peace Conference and Chief of Staff for the American delegation at Dayton.

  Amb. Goldberg holds the personal rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in the U.S. Foreign Service. He has received numerous awards, including Presidential Distinguished and Meritorious Service Awards; the Department’s Distinguished Honor Award and the Silver Seal Medallion for Meritorious Service in the U.S. Intelligence Community.

  On April 1, 2025, Amb. Goldberg was appointed Distinguished Ambassador-in-Residence at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and advisor to the president of NYU on global issues.

  Amb. Goldberg was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of Boston University. Before joining the Foreign Service, he worked as a liaison officer between the city government of New York and the United Nations and consular community.

   
   
• 
  Admiral (ret) Harry Harris

  24th Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (2015-2018)
  U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (2018-2021)
  

  Admiral (ret) Harry Harris was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Sworn in on June 29, 2018, he presented his credentials to the President of South Korea on July 25, 2018. He served until 2021. Previously, he served 40 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring on June 1, 2018. The first Asian-American to hold four-star rank in the Navy, he commanded the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Sixth Fleet, Striking and Reconnaissance Forces NATO, Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1, and Patrol Squadron 46. From 2011 to 2013, Adm. Harris served as the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he was the Chairman’s direct representative to the Secretary of State, and was concurrently designated as the U.S. Roadmap Monitor for the Mid-East Peace Process (Oslo Accords). Adm. Harris participated in Operations Attain Document, Earnest Will, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Willing Spirit, and Odyssey Dawn. He amassed over 4400 flight hours, including over 400 combat hours.

  Adm. Harris’s personal decorations include the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award, the CIA’s Agency Seal Medal, the CIA’s Ambassador’s Award, and numerous DoD and Navy awards. He was awarded South Korea’s Tong-il and Gwanghwa Medals for military and diplomatic merit. He has also been decorated by the governments of Australia, France, Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

  A 1978 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Adm. Harris holds Master’s degrees from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Council of American Ambassadors, and The Korea Society.

   
   
• 
  Sandor Hau

  Managing Director and President @ Charlesbank Credit Partners
  

  Sandor Hau is a Managing Director and President of Charlesbank Credit. He oversees the firm’s opportunistic Credit team and investing strategy. Hau joined Charlesbank in 2016 from Nomura Securities, where he was a Managing Director and Head of Corporate Credit and Special Situations. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and Head of Credit Investing and Private Equity within the principal strategies group.

  Hau is currently a Board Member for Learfield, a media and technology services company focused on college sports, and Interon Labs, a biotechnology company focused on neuro-immunotherapy. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Investment Working Group at Ohio State University.

  He is actively involved with the Korean American community as co–chairman of The Korea Finance Society, a member of the Council of Korean Americans, and a former Board member of the Korean American Family Service Center. He recently received a commendation from the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs for the Republic of Korea for his contribution to Korea-U.S. financial cooperation.

  Hau received a BS in Economics, summa cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He was also a Rotary Scholar at Yonsei University.

  Hau was born and grew up in Lancaster, PA, and is a big Philadelphia sports fan. He currently lives in Rye, NY, and is actively involved with community and sports activities with his four kids. He likes running, basketball, and racquet sports.

   

   
• 
  Hy Hetherington

  CEO @ HLP Integration LLC
  CEO and Chief Investment Officer @ 1624 LLC
  

  Hy Hetherington is the founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Partner of HLP Integration, an information management firm established in 2007. Hetherington has an established reputation in the industry and is well known for his technical knowledge, creative insight, and ability to maneuver through challenging situations that involve multiple complexities or large volumes of data. He has continuously strived to incorporate cutting edge technologies (AI, machine learning, natural language processing, analytics, predictive analytics, and automation) into the information management space.

  Hetherington is regularly called upon to participate in complex legal matters across the U.S. as well as in the UK and Asia. He has advised clients in numerous high-profile, multi-million dollar litigations and investigations. Hetherington has past and present experience with LG Corporation, Samsung, Fannie Mae, Petrolera, Deutsche Bank, Worldcom, and Orbital, among others.

  Hetherington is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of 1624 LLC. 1624 is a patent monetization firm working with patent holders through due diligence, litigation, and ultimately the licensing or sale of the patent(s). The firm is experienced in law, business, and finance and provides intellectual property services, including financing, brokerage and consultation to individuals and organizations in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

  Prior to his career in information management and IP patent monetization/commercialization, Hetherington spent time working in education and hotel management. He is an Endowed Presidential Scholar from the University of Texas.

  In March 2014, he and his wife proudly established the Hy and Amy Hetherington Endowed Presidential Scholarship at the University of Texas. Hetherington is extremely passionate about the arts and teaches an ongoing course to students at the University of Texas at Austin. The course is focused on helping students pursuing an arts degree to understand the relevance and importance of creativity, innovation, and imagination in today’s business environment. He teaches the students essential entrepreneurial skills and opens their minds to how their artistic training will benefit them in numerous areas including business.

  In his spare time, Hetherington enjoys traveling to any destination he has yet to discover and spending quality time with his wife, young sons, and daughter.

  Hetherington has a very deep and personal connection to the Republic of Korea. As a young child, he was raised in the United States by Lee Byung In and his family. Being raised in a traditional Korean household, Hetherington became not only respectful of Korean etiquette and customs, but established a complete respect for the culture and country. He visited Korea for the first time when he was a very young man and spent three years in Busan as a young adult. Hetherington believes that ROK-U.S. relationships are essential to the success of both countries, and this has impacted him throughout his entire business career.

   
   
• 
  Michael Joo

  COO, Global Corporate & Investment Banking, and Head of North America @ Bank of America Securities
  

  Mike Joo is head of Corporate & Investment Banking for North America and Chief Operating Officer for Global Corporate & Investment Banking at Bank of America Securities. He is responsible for key business initiatives globally and is a member of the GCIB Executive Committee.

  Joo joined the firm in 2006 as head of Asia Debt Capital Markets, based in Hong Kong. He was subsequently named COO for Global Markets and served as head of Global Rates and Currencies Origination, where he was responsible for the origination of interest rate and currency risk management solutions for corporate and commercial clients.

  Joo started his career in Capital Markets at Goldman Sachs and later moved to Credit Suisse, where he was head of Asia Debt Capital Markets.

  Joo has been involved in numerous advisory and financing projects for the Korean government and received various distinctions for his contributions during the Asian financial crisis.

  Joo is a Board member for Korea Finance Society and a limited partner of the Buffalo Bills. Joo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from MIT.

   
   
• 
  Pious Jung

  CEO @ CJ America
  

  Pious Jung is the Chief Executive Officer of CJ America and the President of Content & Global Business at CJ ENM, holding a pivotal role in the CJ Group’s strategic growth.

  At CJ America, he oversees planning and executing all strategies across the Americas for the Group’s diverse businesses, which include Food & Food Service, Biotechnology, Retail & Logistics, and Entertainment & Media. Concurrently, as the President of Content & Global Business at CJ ENM, Jung is responsible for all of the company’s content production and worldwide distribution, spanning film, TV series, and non-scripted formats. He oversees all CJ ENM business conducted outside of Korea.

  Jung’s journey with CJ began in 2010. He has spent nearly fifteen years in key leadership roles, including Head of Global Integration at CJ Holdings, where he supported the company’s international strategy and expansion. Earlier in his career, he gained extensive experience in financial services with Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Capgemini.

  Jung serves on the Board of Directors for Fifth Season, The Korea Society, and CJ Logistics America. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Management Systems and a Master of Science in Operations Research from Columbia University and an MBA from Tsinghua University.

   
   
• 
  Anthony Kim

  Co-President @ Centerview Partners LLC
  

  Tony Kim is Co-President at Centerview Partners LLC, a leading independent investment bank, and was part of the founding team at the firm’s creation in 2006.

  Kim has spent his 25+ year career focused on strategic advice and M&A across a broad range of sectors, including consumer products, technology, media, energy, oil and gas, industrials, healthcare, and financial institutions. He has executed over $750 billion in transactions over the course of his career, including advising on many of the largest and most notable M&A transactions over time. In addition, he is a leading advisor to Boards of Directors on shareholder activism, takeover defense, and special committee assignments.

  Kim has been profiled in business publications including the New York Times, the Financial Times, and Business Insider. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at Lazard and Wasserstein Perella & Co. He is a member of the Board of Directors at DREAM, Greater NY, The Korea Society, Lincoln Center, and Prep for Prep. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Kim holds a B.S. and B.A. from The Wharton School and the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.

   
   
• 
  Dr. Mee Kim

  Chairperson, Kim Koo Foundation
  

  Dr. Mee Kim 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. 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. Kim Koo’s enduring influence is formally recognized in the preamble of the Republic of Korea’s Constitution, which affirms that the modern state inherits the legitimacy of the KPG. In recognition of his contributions, the Korean government inaugurated the Kim Koo Museum and Library in 2002.

  She is also the daughter of General Shin Kim, a pioneering military leader and public servant. General Kim was the first Korean to pilot the F-51 Mustang fighter aircraft after completing training at Randolph Air Force Base in the United States. Over the course of his distinguished career, he served as Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force, Minister of Transportation, Ambassador to Taiwan, and Member of the National Assembly.

  Dr. Kim is married to Ho Youn Kim, Chairman of Binggrae Co., Ltd., a leading Korean food and beverage company best known for Banana Flavored Milk and Melona. Together, they have three children and five grandchildren.

   
   
• 
  Ambassador (ret) Mark W. Lippert

  Executive Vice President @ Samsung Electronics
  U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (2014-2017)
  

  The Honorable Mark William Lippert is executive vice president for Samsung Electronics. Prior to assuming his role at Samsung, Ambassador (ret) Lippert served as Head of Asia Pacific Public Policy for YouTube out of Singapore (2020-2022) and as Vice President for International Government Affairs at The Boeing Company (2017-2020) in Washington, D.C.

  Before moving to the private sector, Amb. Lippert had a distinguished career in the United States government that spanned approximately two decades and included a series of senior-level positions across multiple agencies. From 2014-2017, he served as the United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Korea, based in Seoul. He previously held positions in the Department of Defense, including as Chief of Staff to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (2013-2014) and as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs (2012-2013), the top official in the Pentagon for all Asia issues. Amb. Lippert also worked in the White House as Chief of Staff to the National Security Council in 2009.

  Amb. Lippert served in the uniformed military. An intelligence officer in the United States Navy, he mobilized to active duty from 2009 to 2011 for service with Naval Special Warfare (SEALs) Development Group that included deployments to Afghanistan and other regions. From 2007 to 2008, he deployed as an intelligence officer with Seal Team One to Anbar Province, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Earlier in his career, Amb. Lippert served as a staff member in the United States Senate, where he worked on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for then-Senator Obama; the Senate Appropriations Committee State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee for Senator Leahy, and for other members of the Senate.

  Amb. Lippert’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Basic Parachutist Badge. He is also the recipient of the Department of Defense’s Distinguished Public Service Award and the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award. He is a member of the Trilateral Commission and Vice Chair of the Halifax International Security Forum. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a B.A. in Political Science and holds an M.A. in International Policy Studies from the same institution. He speaks Korean and also studied Mandarin Chinese at Beijing University. Amb. Lippert is married to Robyn E. Lippert, who serves as a Senior Vice President at UnitedHealth Group, and has two children, Sejun and Sahee. They live in Excelsior, Minnesota with their basset hound, Grigsby.

   
   
• 
  Tami Overby

   Partner @ DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group
  

  Tami Overby is a Partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, a founding member of DGA Group, and is based in Washington, D.C. She draws on more than three decades of experience working in Asia to advise clients on investment and trade issues in South Korea and across the region.

  Overby most recently served as Senior Director at McLarty Associates. Previously, she was Senior Vice President for Asia and President of the U.S.-Korea Business Council at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In the latter role, she represented U.S. businesses during negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), directed the Chamber’s work with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and helped companies navigate market access and investment issues throughout the region.

  Earlier in her career, Overby spent 14 years as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, where she helped grow the bilateral trade relationship and supported the completion and ratification of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. She currently sits on the Boards of The Korea Society and the U.S.-Asia Institute and is on the Advisory Council of the Korea Economic Institute.

  Overby received her B.S. in Business Administration and Management from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

   
   
• 
  Michael Woods

   Founder and President @ Woods Capital, LLC
  

  Michael J. Woods is the Founder and President of Woods Capital, LLC. Woods Capital, a global financial advisory firm, is exclusively focused upon institutionally-based financial structures and modeling, capital solutions, and real estate development. Innovation, Infrastructure and Impact are Woods Capital’s three business verticals of expertise.

  Woods is a partner of Carbon Quest Solutions, an environmental credit advisory firm based in Chicago and Dubai. He is a Board Member of Roman DBDR, a SPAC specialist focused on structuring projects for innovative technology companies, and also a Board Member of the CROVER Group, based in Sri Lanka, a global real estate firm focused upon building resort communities. Woods is also a Senior Advisor of KingsRock Advisors in New York City, a network of former Deutsche Bankers focused on capital and financial solutions, structural complexity, and originating unique investment opportunities.

  Woods previously served as the CEO & COO of Rothschild & Co. Asset Management U.S., Inc., and Global Partner of Rothschild & Co. Prior to Rothschild & Co., he served as CEO of DWS Investments and Head of the Americas, Global Client Group, for Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management.

  Woods is the Chair of the Long Island Chapter for Tiger 21, a global peer-to-peer learning community of entrepreneurs, wealth creators, and investors. He is also a member of the Board of Directors and the Chair of the Finance Committee for the Business Council for International Understanding, based in New York City and Washington, D.C., and a Board Member and Chair of the Development & Communications Committee of The Korea Society, based in New York City. Woods is a member of both The Leadership Council and the Small Business Technology Council for the National Small Business Association (NSBA) in the U.S., and a member of the Global Executive Consultation Group of the Blue Dot Network, a division of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) based in Paris. He is a 2018 honoree of the “New York Responsible 100 Award” and a member within the “Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs Magazine” for 2023. Woods previously served on the Board of Directors of The New York Metropolitan Opera, The Children’s Village in New York City, and The Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization of Massachusetts Bay. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Taylor University, located in Upland, Indiana, where he is a member of their Board of Visitors. Woods resides in Long Island, NY, with his wife, Jennifer, and twin daughters.

   
   
   
   
• 
  JJ Yu

  Vice-Chairman @ SK Group
  CEO @ SK Americas
  

  Jeong Joon (JJ) Yu is Vice Chairman of SK Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of SK Americas, Inc. In his role as CEO of SK Americas, he oversees SK Group’s operations across the Americas and serves as the principal liaison for government relations, public policy engagement, and strategic partnerships in the United States.

  Yu brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across the energy and industrial sectors, spanning oil and gas, LNG, clean energy solutions, and advanced battery technologies. He has played a central role in shaping SK Group’s global growth strategy and advancing its transition toward sustainable and future-oriented businesses.

  Yu holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Seoul National University of Science and Technology. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of SK E&S, PassKey, and SK On, where he led major transformations and global expansions. In addition, he chairs the International Committee of the Hamm Institute for American Energy and serves on the board of The Korea Society.

   
   

With thanks to BCLP, counsel to The Korea Society, and Song K. Jung, Advisor to the TKS Board of Directors.