Keynote Speaker/ Van Fleet Award Honoree

Colin L. Powell

65th Secretary of State

United States of America

General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret) became the 65th Secretary of State on January 20, 2001. As he stated at his confirmation hearing, the guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy during his tenure was that “America stands ready to help any country that wishes to join the democratic world.”

General Powell brought extensive experience with him to his office. Before becoming Secretary of State, Colin Powell served as a key aide to the Secretary of Defense and as National Security Advisor to President Reagan. He also served 35 years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Four-Star General and serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989 – 1993). During this time he oversaw 28 crises to include the Panama intervention of 1989 and Operation Desert Storm in the victorious 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Born in New York City on April 5, 1937, General Powell was raised in the South Bronx. His parents, Luther and Maud Powell, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. General Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from Morris High School and the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in geology. He also participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958. His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University.

General Powell is the recipient of numerous U.S. military awards and decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. 

General Powell’s civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President’s Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. He has received awards from over two dozen countries to include a French Legion of Honor and an honorary knighthood bestowed by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

General Powell is the Founder of the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies at his alma mater, the City College of New York. The Center is student-focused with a mission to develop a new generation of publicly engaged leaders. He is also the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the America’s Promise Alliance, dedicated to forging a strong and effective partnership alliance committed to seeing that children have the fundamental resources they need to succeed.

He has also been a member of the Board of Trustees of Howard University and the Board of Directors of the United Negro College Fund. The General also served on the Board of Governors of The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and was a member of the Advisory Board of the Children’s Health Fund.

Since returning to private life, General Powell has become a strategic limited partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the renowned Silicon Valley venture capital firm., and he is helping to raise funds for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC and for the construction of an education center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He is the author of his best-selling autobiography, My American Journey.

General Powell is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama. The Powell family includes son Michael; daughters, Linda and Annemarie; daughter-in-law Jane, and grandchildren Jeffrey, Bryan, Abigail and Patrick. 

Van Fleet Award Honoree

General (Ret.) Paik Sun Yup 

Paik Sun Yup, the Republic of Korea’s foremost army general during the Korean War, was born in 1920 near Pyongyang. After service in the Manchurian Army during World War II, he escaped the onrushing Soviet Army for Pyongyang, where he became actively involved in Korea’s fledging national liberation movement. Realizing in 1946 that a communist takeover in the north was inevitable, Paik made his way to the south and joined the South Korean Constabulary (later to become the ROK Army). When North Korea launched its general offensive against the ROK on June 25, 1950, then Colonel Paik was commander of the ROK 1st Infantry Division. During the course of the war, he became the first South Korean to achieve the rank of four-star general. Paik participated in all ten of the major campaigns of the Korean War, commanded an independent corps that conducted the largest anti-guerilla operation of the war, and was the ROK’s initial representative to the armistice negotiations.

Following the signing of the armistice, Paik served twice as ROK Army chief of staff and was also chairman of the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired from active duty in 1960 as the most highly decorated soldier in the ROK Army. His military decorations include two Taeguk Medals (Korea’s highest award), as well as seven U.S. medals, including one Silver Star, four Legions of Merit and a Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. After his retirement from the ROK Army, General Paik served as ambassador to Taiwan in 1960, France (and concurrently 16 other European and African nations) in 1961, and Canada in 1965. From 1969 to 1971, he served as the ROK Minister of Transportation and played a significant role in establishing the country’s current public transportation system. From 1971 to 1980, he was president of South Korea’s largest chemical company. From 1999 to 2003, he was chairman of the ROK 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee. 

Residing in Seoul, Paik and his wife of 65 years, In Sook, have four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Paik is the author of several books, including From Pusan to Panmunjom (1992) as well as chairman of the Military History Compilation Institute Advisory Committee to the Ministry of National Defense, the first president of the Association of the ROK Army, and elder adviser to the National Diplomacy and Security Council.

Co-Chair
The Boeing Company
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Vice Chair
Poongsan Corporation

Benefactor
CBOL/Celltron
Chevron
Citi
Hyundai Heavy Industries
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group
LG Electronics USA, Inc.
Tiger Asia Management LLC

Patron
Chartis International
GS Caltex Corporation
Korea Exchange Bank
MetLife
Robert A. Cohen & Robert E. Fallon
SK

Donor
Corning Incorporated
Korea International Trade Association
Korean American Friendship Association
Korean Consulate General
KPMG LLP
Mizuho Securities USA Inc.
Morgan Stanley & One Equity Partners
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Contributor
Ernst & Young
Lazard Asset Management
McLarty Associates
POSCO

Special Acknowledgment

Additional support was provided by Mark Gaston,Gaston Capital Management Inc.; Richard T. McCormack, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Julia Quincy; Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Samsung Electronics America, Inc.; Sulwhasoo.

Videotaped Remarks of President Obama for the Korea Society 2010 Annual Dinner

Good evening everyone.  I appreciate the opportunity to send my wishes as you celebrate the unbreakable bonds between the United States and the Republic of Korea.  This year, of course, holds special meaning for us all.

We recall that it was exactly sixty years ago, on another June day, when the Communist armies poured across the 38th parallel and threatened the very survival of the Republic of Korea.

We honor all those who rallied to her defense — the fallen whose names are etched in sacred memorials, and veterans like General Paik who join you tonight.

We salute the resolve of the people of the Republic of Korea – who, from the ruins of war, built an economic miracle, a vibrant democracy, a society where a child could grow up to be Secretary General of the United Nations, and a nation that is now a regional and global leader.

We thank all those who have stood with the Republic of Korea to keep her safe and strong — especially our Korean American friends, the Korea Society, and generations of Americans in uniform, including my friend, General Colin Powell.

Most of all, we reaffirm the enduring alliance between our countries — an alliance rooted in shared sacrifice, common values, mutual interest and mutual respect; an alliance that is stronger than ever.  And, as we have seen in recent weeks, our alliance is needed more than ever.

The attack on the navy vessel Cheonan was an unprovoked act of aggression by North Korea.  As I have told President Lee, I and the American people offer our deepest condolences, especially to the families of the 46 sailors who were lost.

To our friends from the Republic of Korea who join you tonight, I say this: you and President Lee have shown extraordinary patience and self-restraint.  You have shown the world what true strength and confidence looks like.  And you have the full support of your friend and ally, the United States of America.

In the days ahead, our governments will continue to consult closely, and I look forward to meeting with President Lee this month in Toronto.  Together, we will ensure our readiness and deter aggression.  We will work with allies and partners to hold North Korea accountable, including at the United Nations Security Council, making it clear that security and respect for North Korea will never come through aggression, but only by upholding its obligations.  And as I said during my visit to Seoul and Osan last fall, the commitment of the United States to the security and defense of the Republic of Korea will never waver.

Going forward, we will pursue our shared vision of our alliance for the 21st century.  As the host of the G-20 Summit in November and the Nuclear Security Summit in two years, the Republic of Korea will continue to assume its rightful place as a leader on the world stage.

And every step of the way, our two nations will be guided by the same sense of solidarity and shared sacrifice that has defined us for 60 years — Katchi Kapshida.  We go together.  We go together in these difficult days.  And we will continue to go together in the months and years to come.

Thank you, and have a wonderful evening.

Remarks of President Lee Myung-bak for the Korea Society 2010 Annual Dinner

Chairman Hubbard, President Minton, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Veterans of the Korean War, Distinguished Guests,

Let me extend my congratulations as the Korea Society holds its Annual Dinner.  This year’s event is especially meaningful since we are commemorating the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War together with veterans of the War.  I would also like to express my sincere congratulations to the recipients of the 2010 Van Fleet Award, General Paik Sun Yup (백선엽) and Secretary Colin Powell.

The history of the Korea Society is emblematic of how the deep-rooted and splendid friendship between Korea and the United States has evolved over the decades.  Our two countries have shed blood together as brothers-in-arms in the defense of freedom and democracy, and are now longstanding partners in the common pursuit of global peace.

Korea emerged from the ruins of the Korean War to become the world’s 13th largest economic powerhouse. It went from the receiving end of foreign aid to become a donor country helping others in need around the world.  More recently, Korea was able to more successfully weather the global financial crisis.  It will be hosting the G20 Summit this coming November and the Second Nuclear Security Summit in 2012.

The Korean War veterans gracing us with their presence today have every reason to take immense pride as they see Korea playing a responsible role in the service of global peace and prosperity of all humanity.  Know that the Republic of Korea will always remember you.

Distinguished guests,

The recipients of the 2010 Van Fleet Award, General Paik Sun Yup (백선엽) and Secretary Powell, are remarkable historic testaments to the Korea-US alliance.

General Paik is Korea’s greatest war hero, having fought on the frontlines with dauntless valor alongside US troops during the Korean War.  Secretary Powell, himself having once served in uniform in Korea to help safeguard peace, would later become a Secretary of State firmly committed to strengthening the Korea-US alliance.

On behalf of the Korean people, I wish to once again congratulate them both for receiving the distinction on this 60th year since the beginning of our “blood-forged” alliance.

Today, the Korea-US alliance is expanding and deepening across a whole range of areas including economy and culture, not to mention security.  Our alliance will advance into a partnership of far-reaching global scope committed to contributing to peace and stability in the world.

In the realm of security, Korea and the US will stand side by side in responding firmly to forces threatening the peace, based on a robust combined defense posture and “extended deterrence.”

I still vividly remember attending the Annual Dinner a little more than two years ago.  I believe, just as you welcomed me warmly as a friend from afar, you will provide your continued assistance and support for the development of the Korea-US alliance.

I convey my best wishes for the everlasting prosperity of the Korea Society, and the good health and happiness of everyone here.

Thank you.

Insooni

Insooni began her career in 1978 as a member of the Hee Sisters pop trio. In the 1980s, she embarked on a solo career and soon became South Korea’s top R&B, pop, and jazz diva, a position she has held for 32 years by embracing new music without losing sight of her artistic roots. Insooni’s hits include “Night After Night,” “Prelude to Goodbye,” “Dear Friend,” “Passion,” and “Higher.” She is the first and only Korean pop singer to perform twice at Carnegie Hall, first in 1999 and again in 2010. Her awards include the 1997 Mokryun-Sang, 2004 Top Korea Artist of the Year, and the 2010 President’s Award.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

The Waldorf=Astoria
301 Park Avenue
New York City

Reception • 6:30 PM • Jade Room
Dinner • 7:30 PM • Grand Ballroom

black tie/traditional attire

For further information, please contact Jiyoung Suh at (212) 759-7525, ext. 311.

Keynote Speaker

Stephen W. Bosworth 
Special Representative for North Korea Policy

Stephen W. Bosworth became the special representative for North Korea policy in February 2009, reporting to the secretary of state and the president. Ambassador Bosworth continues to serve as dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Prior to his appointment at The Fletcher School in February 2001, he served as the United States ambassador to the Republic of Korea from November 1997 to February 2001. From 1995 through 1997, Ambassador Bosworth was the executive director of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). Before joining KEDO, he served seven years as president of the United States–Japan Foundation, a private American grant-making institution. He also taught international relations as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs from 1990 to 1994. In 1993, he was the Sol Linowitz Visiting Professor at Hamilton College. He has co-authored several studies on public policy issues for the Carnegie Endowment and the Century Fund, and in 2006 he co-authored Chasing the Sun, Rethinking East Asian Policy.

Ambassador Bosworth has had an extensive career in the United States Foreign Service, including service as ambassador to Tunisia from 1979 to 1981 and ambassador to the Philippines from 1984 to 1987. He also served in a number of senior positions in the Department of State, including director of policy planning, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs, and deputy assistant secretary for economic affairs. Ambassador Bosworth is the recipient of several awards, including the American Academy of Diplomacy’s Diplomat of the Year Award in 1987, the Department of State’s Distinguished Service Award in 1976 and 1986, and the Department of Energy’s Distinguished Service Award in 1979. In 2005, the government of Japan presented him with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star.

Ambassador Bosworth is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Van Fleet Award Honoree

Chung Mong-Koo
Chairman
Hyundai–Kia Automotive Group

As the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, the world’s fifth-largest automaker, Chung Mong-Koo has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and vision which have put the Group firmly on track for growth in the 21st century. Since taking the helm of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group in 1999, Mr. Chung has propelled the automaker to the top ranks of the industry by instituting on-site management, quality management, and global management, the three core principles of his management philosophy. From the margins of the industry, Hyundai has emerged among the Top 100 Global Brands for the past four years, according to InterBrand, the UK brand consultancy and Business Week.

His major strategic decisions include the 1998 rescue from bankruptcy of Kia Motors, instituting the Six Sigma quality revolution, and the aggressive push to globalize R&D and manufacturing operations starting with the 2002 decision to invest in a Beijing China manufacturing subsidiary. To get a closer feel of the pulse of the American car buyer, nearly US$2.5 billion has been invested to construct new assembly plants in Montgomery, Alabama, in West Point, Georgia, as well research and development centers in Irvine, California, and Superior Township, Michigan, leading to the direct creation of some 8,000 new jobs for Americans and thereby strengthening the Korean-American partnership.

Mr. Chung is continuously striving to achieve his vision for the 21st century. By building two new manufacturing plants in Europe, expanding production capacities in both China and India and integrating a newly established steel company into the company’s production system, he is leading the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group in becoming a more competitive player in the auto industry.

Outside the company, Mr. Chung has maintained a high profile in the business community, most recently securing Korea’s right to host the 2012 Expo in his role as Honorary Chairman of the Bidding Committee for the Expo 2012 Yeosu. Mr. Chung is also contributing to the economic cooperation and peace policies in North-East Asia as Chairman of the Board for the East Asia Forum, which established and implemented the Jeju Peace Forum.

His philanthropic activities are led by the Haevichi Foundation which supports the performing arts and environmental protection causes. In the U.S., Hyundai Motor’s subsidiaries contribute to the local communities through various corporate social responsibility activities. A key initiative in the North American region is the `Hope on Wheels’ program, which supports the fight against pediatric cancer. More than $10 million have been donated to the cause since the program’s inception in 1998. Other activities include building and preserving homes for the less fortunate by working with `Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together,’ as well as supporting the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross. In addition to blood donations and fund-raising activities worth of 1$ million during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina relief effort, every year the employees at Hyundai’s Alabama plant volunteer over 1,000 hours to help make the community a better place.

Mr. Chung holds a bachelor’s degree in Industry Business Administration from Hanyang University. On February 4, 2001, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Citation from the Automotive Hall of Fame, making him the first Korean and second Asian to receive this award. In 2004, he was named by Business Week magazine as one of the year’s “Best Managers.” In 1986, Central Connecticut State University bestowed upon him an Honorary Professorship, and in 1989, an Honorary Ph.D. in Human Science. China’s Tsinghua University awarded Chairman Chung an Honorary Professorship of Business Administration in 1996.

Van Fleet Award Honoree

Henry A. Kissinger
56th Secretary of State
United States of America

Henry Alfred Kissinger was sworn in on September 22, 1973, as the 56th Secretary of State, a position he held until January 20, 1977. He also served as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs from January 20, 1969, until November 3, 1975. In July 1983 he was appointed by President Reagan to chair the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America until it ceased operation in January 1985, and from 1984-1990 he served as a member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. From 1986-1988 he was a member of the Commission on Integrated Long-Term Strategy of the National Security Council and Defense Department. He served as a member of the Defense Policy Board from 2001 to 2008.

At present, Dr. Kissinger is Chairman of Kissinger Associates, Inc., an international consulting firm. He is also a member of the International Council of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.; chairman of the International Advisory Board of American International Group, Inc.; a counselor to and trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; an honorary governor of the Foreign Policy Association; and an honor member of the International Olympic Committee. Among his other activities, Dr. Kissinger is a member of the board of directors of ContiGroup Companies, Inc. and an advisor to the Board of Directors of American Express Company. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of Forstmann Little and Co.; a trustee emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; a director emeritus of Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc.; and a director of the International Rescue Committee.

Among the awards Dr. Kissinger has received have been the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973; the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the nation’s highest civilian award) in 1977; and the Medal of Liberty (given one time to ten foreign-born American leaders) in 1986.

Dr. Kissinger was born in Fuerth, Germany, came to the United States in 1938, and was naturalized a United States citizen in 1943. He served in the Army from 1943 to 1946. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1950 and received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University in 1952 and 1954.

From 1954 until 1969 he was a member of the faculty of Harvard University, in both the Department of Government and the Center for International Affairs. He was Director of the Harvard International Seminar from 1952 to 1969.

Dr. Kissinger is the author of:

A World Restored: Castlereagh, Metternich and the Restoration of Peace, 1812-1822 (1957)
Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy (1957)
The Necessity for Choice: Prospects of American Foreign Policy (1961)
The Troubled Partnership: A Reappraisal of the Atlantic Alliance (1965)
Problems of National Strategy: A Book of Readings (ed.) (1965)
American Foreign Policy, Three Essays (1969)
White House Years (1979)
For the Record: Selected Statements, 1977-1980 (1981)
Years of Upheaval (1982)
Observations: Selected Speeches and Essays, 1982-1984 (1985)
Diplomacy (1994)
Years of Renewal (1999)
Does America Need a Foreign Policy?: Toward a Diplomacy for the 21st Century (2001)
Ending the Vietnam War: A History of America’s Involvement in and Extrication from the Vietnam War (2003)
Crisis: The Anatomy of Two Major Foreign Policy Crises (2003)

He has also published numerous articles on United States foreign policy, international affairs and diplomatic history. His column, syndicated by Tribune Media Services International, appears in leading U.S. newspapers and in over 40 foreign countries.

DINNER CHAIR
AHN Byung Mo
Group President and CEO
KIA Motors America and KIA Motors Manufacturing Georgia

BENEFACTOR
Spencer H. KIM
Chairman
CBOL/Celltron

Michael AHN
President and CEO
LG Electronics North America

CHOI Changsoo
President and CEO
Samsung Electronics America, INC.
North America Region

Bill HWANG
Founder and CEO
Tiger Asia Management LLC

PATRON
HUR Dong-Soo
Chairman and CEO
GS Caltex Corporation

MIN Keh-Sik
Vice Chairman and
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Hyundai Heavy Industries

SPONSOR
Nicholas C. WALSH
Vice Chairman
AIU Holding, INC.

Larry A. KLANE
President and CEO
Korea Exchange Bank

Benefactor
CBOL/Celltron
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group
LG Electronics USA, Inc.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Tiger Asia Management L.L.C.

Patron
GS Caltex Corporation
Hyundai Heavy Industries
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group

Sponsor
AIU Holdings
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group
Korea Exchange Bank

Donor
KPMG LLP
Lazard Asset Management LLC
MetLife
Morgan Stanley & One Equity Partners
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Robert E. Fallon

Contributor
Asiana Airlines, Inc.
Belstar Group
Korean Consulate General
McLarty Associates
PGP Capital Advisors, LLC
POSCO
SK USA

Special Acknowledgement
Additional support was provided by Mark Gaston, Gaston Capital Management Inc.; Alexandra Munroe, Guggenheim Museum; Mark A. Smith, Mark Smith Law Office; Richard T. McCormack, Merrill Lynch.