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Category: U.S.-ROK New Econ Paradigm

The New U.S.- Korea
Trade Risk Landscape:

Posted on by admin

On October 26, The Korea Society’s Business & Economics team, together with co-hosts Association of State Offices of Korea (ASOK) and Korean Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), hosted a special webinar, “The New U.S.-Korea Trade Risk Landscape: Recent Trends in Tariffs, Export Controls and Sanctions for Korean Companies,” discussing how changing U.S. trade rules affect Korean companies operating in or investing in the United States.

The panelists examined how tariffs, export controls, and sanctions, once separate areas of compliance, increasingly overlap. They covered what is changing, where the risks are, and what companies can do to prepare. The program is presented in part of the Korea Society’s U.S.-ROK New Economic Paradigm series.

Webinar panelists Chris Kim, Clinton Yu, and Katelyn Hilferty

Some highlights of the webinar include:

  • Clinton Yu (Partner & Co-Chair, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP) covered tariff and customs developments. He highlighted the shift from the 15% IEEPA tariff under the late-2025 U.S.–Korea agreement to a 12.5% net Section 301 tariff, and the Section 301 “structural excess capacity” investigation that names Korea among 16 economies. He also flagged the USMCA review and the June 3 executive order on customs enforcement, which could raise the bar for who qualifies as an importer of record.
  • Katie Hilferty (Partner & Practice Lead, Morgan Lewis) walked through changes to semiconductor export controls and U.S. sanctions programs. She noted the gap between rules on the books and rules being enforced, and how foreign companies can still fall under U.S. controls. She also discussed the expanded outbound investment program, which now covers biotechnology, supercomputing, and hypersonic systems.
  • Moderated by Chris Kim (Managing Director, Stout) the panel reviewed recent enforcement actions as lessons for companies of every size. Drawing from previous day-to-day compliance cases, Korean companies were advised to structure a regular monitoring process that tracks developments from the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and other relevant agencies.
  • Speakers described how U.S. agencies are using AI for enforcement, and advised small and mid-sized companies to rely on official sources, verify AI-generated advice, and build a trusted support network.

The webinar drew a transatlantic audience of U.S.-based professionals and Korean company officials, reflecting the cross-border nature of developing trade and compliance regulations to both U.S. and Korean companies.

FAQ

01 / 03

What was the focus of this webinar?

The webinar examined how U.S. tariffs, export controls, and sanctions increasingly overlap, and what that means for Korean companies doing business in the U.S. or considering investment here. Speakers combined a policy overview with practical guidance for compliance teams.

02 / 03

What are the key export control and sanctions risks?

Enforcement by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is rising, with a continued focus on semiconductors. Many penalties trace back to weak compliance processes, such as inadequate screening, ignored red flags, and poor oversight of distributors. Foreign companies and subsidiaries may also be subject to U.S. controls through rules such as the foreign direct product rule and the de minimis rule.

03 / 03

What can small and mid-sized companies do to prepare?

Recommendations include acting on official publications such as the Federal Register and CBP’s CSMS messages rather than social media posts, and verifying any AI-generated guidance. Other suggestions are screening counterparties beyond names, extending compliance requirements to distributors, resellers, and freight forwarders, and keeping strong records. Working with experienced outside counsel or consultants was advised for teams without in-house expertise.

Co-hosted with
Co-sponsor and partner logos

About the Speakers

Katelyn Hilferty

Speaker

Katelyn Hilferty
Partner & Practice Lead, Morgan Lewis

Katelyn advises clients on international trade, national security, and regulatory compliance matters, with extensive experience in import and customs issues before the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), export controls under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and foreign investment reviews before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). She counsels clients across a range of industries, including nuclear energy, technology, life sciences, and financial services, helping them navigate evolving trade and national security requirements, assess regulatory risks, and address complex compliance and enforcement matters.


Clinton Yu

Speaker

Clinton Yu
Partner & Co-Chair, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

Clinton advises U.S. and multinational companies and investors on complex international trade and national security matters, including customs and import laws, export controls, economic sanctions, and foreign investment reviews. His practice covers a broad range of issues related to U.S. tariffs and trade remedies, supply chain risk, export controls under ITAR and EAR, sanctions administered by OFAC, and national security reviews by CFIUS. He works with clients across industries including manufacturing, technology, aerospace and defense, logistics, and investment management, helping them navigate evolving regulatory requirements and assess their implications for cross-border transactions and global operations. He also represents clients in regulatory audits, investigations, enforcement matters, and trade-related disputes before federal courts. Clinton has been recognized as a Law360 “Rising Star” in International Trade and is frequently quoted in Bloomberg Law, Forbes, Law360, and Nikkei Asia.


Chris Kim

Moderator

Chris Kim
Managing Director, Stout

Chris oversees Stout’s Asia Pacific (APAC) services, specializing in cross-border investigations, regulatory compliance, and due diligence, with particular expertise in national security, sanctions, export controls, and international trade matters. He advises clients on regulatory and compliance issues involving the FBI, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and U.S. Homeland Security, and has served as an independent auditor and compliance consultant for clients subject to U.S. and multilateral development bank settlement agreements. Prior to joining Stout, Chris served as a special agent with the FBI, investigating public corruption, transnational crime, and national security matters, including export control violations, and as a senior investigator with the World Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency, where he led investigations involving multinational corporations across Asia, including China, Korea, India, Indonesia, and Singapore. He has extensive experience across the technology, financial services, healthcare, government, and professional services sectors.

 

Cross-Cultural Leadership Initiative: U.S.-Korea Workforce Strategy Summit

Posted on by admin

Cross-Cultural Leadership Initiative

U.S.–Korea Workforce Strategy Summit

Date

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Time

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Venue

Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center
250 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30332

The Korea Society has launched the Cross-Cultural Leadership Initiative (CCLI), an innovative leadership development program designed to strengthen workforce integration and organizational effectiveness for Korean and American companies operating in the United States. Responding to the rapid expansion of Korean investment across the United States, CCLI equips executives and managers with the skills to lead multicultural teams, integrate Korean and American employees, and build strong relationships with local communities.

CCLI is a cornerstone of The Korea Society’s expanding national leadership development portfolio, which strengthens the people and relationships that underpin long-term U.S.–Korea cooperation. As part of this broader effort, The Korea Society presents U.S.–Korea Workforce Strategy Summit, co-hosted with the Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce (SEUSKCC), to foster dialogue, share best practices, and drive excellence in workforce development and cross-cultural leadership.

This Summit is presented with the support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta.

 

Schedule of Events
Time Program
7:30 – 8:00 AM
Registration & Networking
8:00 – 8:15 AM
Opening — Welcome and Congratulatory Remarks
8:15 – 9:30 AM
Session 1 — Building the Pipeline: Talent Development and Community Integration
Developing local talent through university and technical-college partners, apprenticeships and co-ops, and state-funded training such as Georgia Quick Start — and integrating into the community by supporting workforce and family adaptation.
9:30 – 9:45 AM Break
9:45 – 11:00 AM
Session 2 — Scaling Fast: Staffing Strategies for Production Ramps
Sourcing talent at scale — from flexible, on-demand staffing through managed staffing and direct placement.
11:00 – 11:45 AM
Counsel’s Briefing: Building a Compliant Global Workforce
Visa strategy, foreign-national talent, I-9 compliance, business-travel risk, and supporting dispatched staff.
11:45 AM – 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch & Executive Fireside Chat
Moving from investment to integration through leadership, workforce development, and community partnerships.
1:30 – 2:45 PM
Session 3 — Leading Across Cultures: Strengthening the Korean-American Workforce
Navigating organizational change, minimizing cultural misunderstandings, protecting organizational reputation, and strengthening stakeholder confidence through effective cross-cultural leadership.
2:45 – 3:00 PM
Closing Reflections
 

Due to limited seating, early registration is strongly encouraged. We look forward to welcoming you to Atlanta, Georgia, for this timely conversation and to engaging with leaders committed to strengthening the future of the U.S.–Korea partnership.

 

Featured Speakers
Steven Jahng

Ambassador Joon Ho Lee

Consul-General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta

Ambassador Joon Ho Lee is the Consul-General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta. A career diplomat with more than 30 years of experience at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, he has specialized in national security, North Korean nuclear affairs, and strategic planning. He has held senior positions including Director of the North Korean Nuclear Affairs Policy Division, Director-General for Strategy, and Senior Assistant Secretary at the National Security Council Secretariat. He also served as Special Representative and Director-General for the 2021 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Preparatory Secretariat and as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Qatar. His overseas assignments include senior positions at Korean embassies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan. Most recently, he served as Minister for Political Affairs and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Lee holds a B.A. in International Relations from Seoul National University and an M.A. in Pacific International Affairs from the University of California, San Diego.

Scott A. Snyder

Scott A. Snyder

President and CEO, Korea Economic Institute of America

Scott A. Snyder is President and Chief Executive Officer at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI). Previously, he was a Senior Fellow for Korea studies and director of the program on U.S.-Korea policy at the Council on Foreign Relations from 2011 to March 2024. Mr. Snyder is the author of The United States-South Korea Alliance: Why It May Fail and Why It Must Not (December 2023) and South Korea at the Crossroads: Autonomy and Alliance in an Era of Rival Powers (January 2018). Mr. Snyder received a BA from Rice University and an MA from the regional studies East Asia program at Harvard University.


Steven Jahng

Steven Jahng

Vice President, Hyundai Motor Group

Steven Jahng is a senior business leader with extensive experience working across Korea, the United States, and Asia. His career spans more than two decades in international finance, including leadership roles with J.P. Morgan in Seoul and Singapore and HSBC Investment Bank in Seoul, followed by senior roles in corporate external affairs and stakeholder engagement in the U.S. With his experience across different business and cultural environments, Steven brings a valuable perspective on how global companies navigate cross-cultural management, local relationships, and the integration of international business strategies with U.S. priorities.

Eugene Kim

Dr. Eugene Kim

Associate Professor, Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Eugene Kim is an associate professor of organizational behavior in the Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. His current areas of research include workplace mistreatment, emotion and well-being at work, and strategic human resource management. He has published in outlets such as the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Journal of Management, and Strategic Management Journal. He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Psychology. He has taught classes in the areas of organizational behavior and human resource management at the University of Minnesota and the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received several research and teaching awards from the Academy of Management, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the University of Minnesota, and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Tami Overby

Tami Overby

Partner, DGA Group

Tami Overby is a Partner at DGA Group Government Relations 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. Ms. 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, Ms. 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. Ms. Overby received her B.S. in business administration and management from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

 

The Korea Society Corporate Members and Individual Members at the Fellow level and above are eligible for a special discount rate. For more information, please contact us at CCLI@koreasociety.org.

Invitation Only · Friday, September 11

Executive Leadership Roundtable

In Partnership with KOTRA Atlanta


As an exclusive add-on to the U.S.–Korea Workforce Strategy Summit, The Korea Society, in partnership with KOTRA Atlanta, will host an invitation-only executive roundtable for a small group of executives from Korean companies on Friday, September 11.

This closed-door, interactive working session is designed to foster candid discussion on workforce, leadership, and organizational challenges, while providing participants with the opportunity to exchange best practices and identify practical solutions for strengthening cross-cultural leadership, workforce integration, and community engagement.

For more information, please contact us at CCLI@koreasociety.org.

 

U.S.-Korea Economic Relations in a New Tariff Era: Economic and Industrial Perspectives

Posted on by Yurim Oh

The Korea Society is pleased to announce a special forum on the emerging international economic landscape and industrial strategy in today’s shifting global environment: U.S.-Korea Economic Relations in a New Tariff Era: Economic and Industrial Perspectives. Co-hosted with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, this forum will examine how rising tariffs and currency fluctuations are reshaping global value chains, trade, and investment between the two nations. 

The program will feature a keynote address by Dr. Maurice Obstfeld, former Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund and one of the most influential voices in global macroeconomics. A panel discussion will follow, featuring insights from Tony Davis (The Manufacturing Institute-FAME USA), Scott Gorski (Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP), Yoonie Kim (AtkinsRéalis), and Steve (Sang Soo) Son (SK Americas) on strengthening supply-chain resilience through strategic localization and cross-border management strategies.

This program is invitation-only. TKS Individual members interested in attending are invited to RSVP; participation will be confirmed based on limited seating availability. If you are interested in becoming a member, please find more information here.

 

RSVP LINK FOR TKS MEMBERS

 

For information on membership, please refer to this webpage.

 

Program Agenda 

  3:00 – 3:10 PM   Welcoming Remarks 
  3:10 – 4:00 PM  

Keynote Lecture

The Dollar and Global Finance in the Age of Tariffs 

By Dr. Maurice Obstfeld, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics

Moderated by Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society
  4:00 – 4:15 PM  

Break
  4:15 – 5:00 PM  

Panel Discussion

Challenges Ahead & How to Respond: Industrial Perspectives and Onshoring Insights

 

Panelists 

Tony Davis, National Director, Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) USA, The Manufacturing Institute

Scott Gorski, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (US) LLP

Yoonie Kim, Director of Business Development/ Foreign Direct Investment & Economic Development, AtkinsRéalis

 Steve (Sang Soo) Son, Senior Vice President of SK Americas
  5:00 – 6:00 PM  

Networking Reception

 

 

 

U.S.-Korea Economic Relations in a New Tariff Era: Economic and Industrial Perspectives

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | 3 PM (EST)

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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About the Speakers

Maurice Obstfeld is the C. Fred Bergsten Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and the Class of 1958 Professor of Economics Emeritus at UC Berkeley. He joined Berkeley in 1989 as a professor, following appointments at Columbia (1979-1986) and the University of Pennsylvania (1986-1989). He was also a visiting professor at Harvard between 1989 and 1991. He received his Ph.D. from MIT in 1979, following degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Cambridge. In 2014-2015 he was a Member of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, and from 2015-2018 he served as chief economist at the International Monetary Fund. Before that, he was an honorary adviser to the Bank of Japan’s Institute of Monetary and Economic Studies. Obstfeld joined the Peterson Institute as a nonresident senior fellow in 2019. Among his honors are the Frank Graham Memorial Lecture at Princeton, the inaugural Mundell-Fleming Lecture of the International Monetary Fund, the Bernhard Harms Prize and Lecture of the Kiel Institute for World Economy, the L. K. Jha Memorial Lecture at the Reserve Bank of India, the Richard T. Ely Lecture of the American Economic Association, the Harry Johnson Lecture of the Money Macro and Finance Society, and the Andrew Crockett Memorial Lecture at the Bank for International Settlements. Professor Obstfeld is a Fellow of the Econometric Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2023, he was named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association. He is active as a Distinguished Fellow of the Paris-based Centre for Economic Policy Research and a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

 

 

Tony Davis is a mission-driven leader with deep experience at the intersection of workforce development, education, and economic growth. As the first-ever National Director of FAME USA at The Manufacturing Institute, Tony has led the expansion of the employer-driven training network to 45 chapters in 17 states—supporting nearly 500 manufacturers and helping thousands of students launch careers in modern manufacturing.

Under his leadership, FAME USA has secured millions of dollars in philanthropic support and implemented systems that have improved quality, scaled impact, and strengthened partnerships across the country.

Tony brings more than two decades of experience in building cross-sector collaboratives that drive lasting change. He has served two terms on Louisiana’s state board of education, launched regional economic and workforce initiatives, and worked closely with higher education, industry, and nonprofit leaders to create opportunity-rich environments for students and communities.

He is passionate about the role philanthropy plays in building equitable, scalable solutions—and about designing systems that work for people. Tony lives in Fishers, Indiana with his wife, their two children, and an enthusiastic golden retriever.

 

 

Scott A. Gorski works on the full range of employment-based business immigration matters. He advises multinational corporations, startups, nonprofits and other organizations seeking immigrant and nonimmigrant visas on behalf of their employees and guides clients seeking to hire, transfer and retain foreign talent. His work includes obtaining temporary work authorization and securing permanent residence status for a client’s foreign employees. Scott also counsels clients on their internal immigration policies as well as the immigration implications of corporate reorganizations and mergers and acquisitions. He also advises on employer sanctions, I-9 / E-Verify compliance and other immigration obstacles across the U.S. immigration system. In addition to his work with corporate clients and organizations, Scott assists high-net-worth investors seeking permanent residence based on a substantial investment under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. He also assists individuals seeking permanent residence through marriage.

Chambers USA has recognized Scott as “Up and Coming” (2024-2025), a “Rising Star” (2023) and one of the “Associates to Watch” in the immigration practice area in New York (2020 – 2022).

Scott is an elected member of the executive committee of the New York Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the national bar association of lawyers and law professors who practice and teach immigration law, and has served in a number of leadership roles, currently as chair and previously first and second vice chair, treasurer and secretary.

 

 

Yoonie Kim joined AtkinsRéalis in May 2024, a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world, as its new Director of Business Development – Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Development in the United States and Mexico. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Yoonie leads the firm’s effort to expand its industrial-sector footprint, with a focus on attracting foreign investments from South Korean, Japanese and Chinese clients.

Yoonie is recognized for her FDI acumen connecting foreign investors, primarily South Korean companies, with American based projects over the past 19 years. Prior to joining AtkinsRéalis, she was the Director of Korean Investment for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Yoonie is credited with recruiting more than 130 FDI projects to Georgia, representing over $11 US billion in capital investment and creating 22,600+ jobs, including the $5.5 US billion Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. She earned high praise for her “instrumental” work securing Hyundai’s first dedicated Electric Vehicle mass-production plant during Georgia’s 2023 State of the State address from Governor Brian Kemp.

Yoonie earned her Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Hanyang University in South Korea. She is fluent in English, Korean and Japanese. She loves classical music and plays piano and cello. Yoonie is a member of the South Economic Development Council. She has been selected 25 Most influential Asian Americans in Georgia in 2019.

 

Steve Son serves as the Senior Vice President of SK Americas, Inc., SK Group’s U.S. headquarters based in Manhattan, New York. In this role, he helps oversee the Group’s business strategy as well as its public and government engagement across key sectors—including semiconductors, batteries, and energy—as SK Group continues to expand its industrial and investment footprint throughout the United States.

As Head of the Strategic Planning and Coordination Center, Mr. Son manages the overall operations of SK Americas and serves as the principal liaison with SK Group headquarters. Drawing on his expertise in international trade and export controls, he also works closely with the Government Relations Team in Washington, D.C., supporting the Group’s policy, regulatory, and strategic initiatives.

Previously, Mr. Son served as Head of Government Relations at SK Americas and as Head of International Trade and Regulatory Affairs at SK hynix’s Washington, D.C., office. He has also held key leadership positions, including General Counsel at SK hynix’s U.S. manufacturing facility in Eugene, Oregon, and Chief Financial Officer at the company’s R&D center in San Jose, California. Mr. Son is an attorney admitted to the New York State Bar.

Mr. Son holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. Prior to his legal studies in the United States, he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from Yeungnam University in South Korea.

 

Revisiting the Jones Act: From Protectionism to Partnership

Posted on by Yurim Oh

The United States and Korea are entering a pivotal phase of maritime cooperation. Since the start of the Trump 2.0 administration, South Korean shipbuilders have been courted as key partners in reviving the U.S. shipbuilding industry, with Seoul pledging $150 billion under the “Make America Shipbuilding Great Again” initiative to modernize naval capacity, expand commercial shipyards, and strengthen allied supply chains.

Join us for a timely conversation with Colin Grabow (Cato Institute) as we explore how to steer this new bilateral framework toward mutual maritime and economic prosperity. At the heart of the discussion is the Jones Act, the 1920 law mandating domestically built and owned vessels for U.S. coastal trade. Together, we will consider whether reforms to the Act—or innovative partnership models—can unlock the full potential of U.S.–Korea maritime collaboration. This conversation will be moderated by Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society.

 

Revisiting the Jones Act: From Protectionism to Partnership

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 6 PM (EDT)

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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About the Speaker

Colin Grabow is an Associate Director at the Cato Institute’s Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies where his research focuses on domestic forms of trade protectionism such as the Jones Act and the U.S. sugar program.

His writings have been published in a number of outlets, including USA Today, The Hill, National Review, and the Wall Street Journal.

Prior to joining the Cato Institute, he performed political and economic analysis for a Japan-based trading and investment firm and published research and analysis for an international affairs consulting firm with a focus on U.S.-Asia relations.

Grabow holds a BA in international affairs from James Madison University and an MA in international trade and investment policy from George Washington University.

 

Unlocking Korea’s Tech Potential – Strengthening U.S. Investment and Innovation

Posted on by Yurim Oh

Korea’s thriving tech industry—driven by global brands and cutting-edge innovation—continues to attract substantial foreign investment, even as the regulatory landscape evolves. Korea’s recent proposed online platform regulations have drawn significant attention for its impacts on major tech companies and the broader competitive landscape in the country’s technologically advanced market.

To tackle these developments and their implications for US-Korea’s tech investment relations, this program will convene a panel with experts across both U.S. and Korean tech industries that will share their valuable firsthand insights and perspectives on critical matters such as key factors and challenges of investing within Korea’s regulatory framework, as well as policy measures and incentives that could further strengthen Korea’s strengths as a premier destination for U.S. investment.

 

Co-hosted with:

 

Unlocking Korea’s Tech Potential – Strengthening U.S. Investment and Innovation

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 | 12:00 PM (EDT)

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Scott Jacobs, Head of Public Policy, Global Government Affairs, Coupang

Scott Jacobs is currently Head of Public Policy, Global Government Affairs at Coupang, a U.S. technology and Fortune 200 company (NYSE: CPNG) that provides retail, restaurant delivery, video streaming, and fintech services to customers around the world under brands that include Coupang, Coupang Eats, Coupang Play, and Farfetch. Previously, Mr. Jacobs was a Senior Manager for Trade and Social Responsibility at Amazon, where he led the company’s public policy work and partnerships on human rights, anticorruption, supply chains, U.S.-China trade, and other economic security issues.

Prior to joining Amazon, Scott Jacobs was a Vice President at Albright Stonebridge Group, a leading international consulting firm led by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, where he advised multinational clients including Fortune 500s, global investors, foundations, and non-profits on government affairs and business strategy.

In the Obama administration, Mr. Jacobs served in the Office of the United States Trade Representative as Confidential Assistant to the Deputy USTR before being selected to join Ambassador Ron Kirk’s staff as an Advisor and acting Director of the Executive Secretariat. In these roles, he focused on policy and trade matters related to Europe and the Middle East, Western Hemisphere, intellectual property, and small business market access.

Previously, Mr. Jacobs worked in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs, where he assisted with special projects and produced weekly reports for then Vice President Joe Biden’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) task force.

Ji Hyun Lee, Economic Research Lead, AWS

Ji Hyun Lee is a seasoned economist with expertise in international economics. She currently serves as the Economic Research Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Washington, D.C., where she leads research on the economic impact of AWS’s global business operations. Ji Hyun has played a pivotal role in the company’s expansion, developing innovative research products, including studies on the downstream economic impact of cloud adoption, AIML adoption, and the economic and environmental impacts of AWS’s energy-related investments.

Before joining AWS, Ji Hyun served as a Director of Quantitative Analytics and Data Science at Gartner, where she guided C-level executives using research driven by advanced analytics and econometric models, while also leading sustainability and ESG initiatives. Her career includes significant roles at the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea, where she contributed to shaping South Korea’s “Low Carbon, Green Growth Vision.” Ji Hyun holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in International Economics & International Relations from Johns Hopkins University, as well as M.A. and B.A. degrees from Seoul National University.

Lilla Nora Kiss, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Analyst, Antitrust & Innovation Policy, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation
(ITIF)

Lilla Nóra Kiss, PhD is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Schumpeter Project on Competition Policy. Her research focuses on international antitrust law and innovation policy, with a focus on digital platforms.

Lilla also serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at the Global Antitrust Institute of Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University. Lilla instructs students in Antitrust Law and Consumer Protection Law in the LLM in Global Antitrust Law & Economics program.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR:

Tami Overby, Senior Counselor, Albright Stonebridge Group

Tami Overby is a Senior Counselor 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.

Ms. 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, Ms. 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, the U.S.-Asia Institute and the Korea Economic Institute.

Ms. Overby received her B.S. in business administration and management from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

 

Breaking Down the US-China Decoupling: Implications for Korea

Posted on by Yurim Oh

As the Trump administration accelerates efforts to decouple the US economy from China, mounting tensions are creating new challenges for Korea, forcing it to reassess its strategic position amid growing uncertainty. Staying informed and anticipating future developments is crucial for those navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.

Join us for an exclusive, members-only discussion on the evolving US-China economic relationship and its implications for Korea. Moderated by Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society, this session will feature insights from Benjamin Qiu, US-China business expert and NYC-based lawyer, and Kenneth Wilcox, author of The China Business Conundrum and former CEO of Silicon Valley Bank. Together, they will provide a candid assessment of how the US-China economic dynamic may unfold under the Trump administration.

Co-hosted with the Asian Affairs Committee of the New York City Bar Association, this event offers a unique opportunity for members of both organizations to engage in this timely and critical conversation.

*Networking Lunch Event- Light Refreshments Included.

Co-hosted by
Asian Affairs Committee of

 

Click Here to Attend in Person

 

Breaking Down the US-China Decoupling: Implications for Korea

Friday, February 7, 2025 | 12 PM

IN-PERSON: Members Only

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Benjamin Qiu is a New York-based lawyer and China business expert. He co-chairs the Asian Affairs Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and he is a partner of Elliott Kwok Levine Jaroslaw Neils LLP. He is an advisor to London-based China Strategic Risks Institute. He previously headed venture capital practice at international law firms and in-house at a VC fund in China and Hong Kong, and he taught private equity and intellectual property at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a former board member of Shanghai Foreign Correspondents Club, and his opinion pieces have been published in Wall Street Journal, Nikkei Asia, and New York Law Journal. Benjamin is admitted to practice law in the State of California and Washington D.C.

Kenneth P Wilcox worked at Silicon Valley Bank from 1990 through 2019. From 2001 through 2010 he served as CEO. In that role, he successfully pursued a strategy of global expansion, while remaining focused on the group’s core niches of technology, life sciences, venture capital and premium wineries.

In 2011 he and his wife moved to China, where he both founded and served as CEO of SSVB, an SVB-lookalike in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Suzhou. At the end of 2014 he returned to Silicon Valley. He remained on the board of the bank in China, as Vice-Chair, till the end of 2019.

For the past ten years he’s been Treasurer of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and Chair of the Credit Committee of a venture debt fund in London serving all of Europe.

Mr. Wilcox was Chairman of the Board of the Asia Society of Northern California, and a member of the Advisory Board of the 21st Century China Center Advisory Board. He is also an adjunct professor and member of the International Advisory Board at Fudan University in Shanghai, and is currently teaching entrepreneurship and leadership at UC Berkeley. Earlier in his career, Mr. Wilcox was a member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from 2006 to 2012.

Mr. Wilcox earned a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School, as well as a PhD in German studies Ohio State University. In January of 2020 he published “Leading Through Culture: How Real Leaders Create Cultures that Motivate People to Achieve Great Things.” His second book, “The China Business Conundrum: Ensure That Win-Win Doesn’t Mean Western Companies Lose Twice” will be published by Wiley in December.

The Dynamic U.S.-ROK Trade and Investment Relationship: Current Issues and Prospects

Posted on by Yurim Oh

Explore insights into the dynamics of the U.S.-ROK economic relations and the critical issues impacting trade and investment between the two nations in our inaugural program, “The Dynamic U.S.-ROK Trade and Investment Relationship: Current Issues and Prospects” kicking off the new series, U.S.-ROK New Economic Paradigm. Join a distinguished panel of experts consisting of the Hon. Diane Farrell, Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade at the United States Department of Commerce, Mr. Frank Ahrens, Principal of BGR Group, and Dr. Hyun-jung Je, President & Chief Representative of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Washington DC Office, in conversation with The Korea Society’s President & CEO Tom Byrne. Each speaker brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the discussion, offering insightful perspectives on foreign investment in the U.S., investment-friendly U.S. states, and how U.S.-Korea economic relations might be shaped by the upcoming US Presidential election.

This program will be recorded at The Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), Washington, D.C.

  

The Dynamic U.S.-ROK Trade and Investment Relationship: Current Issues and Prospects

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | 6 PM (EDT)


 The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Diane Farrell is the Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade. In this role, she plans, determines, and coordinates policy; directs the International Trade Administration (ITA); and oversees the daily operations of ITA, which has an annual budget of $613 million with approximately 2,100 trade and investment professionals—based in more than 100 U.S. cities and 70 markets around the world. Within the Department of Commerce, Diane Farrell also serves currently as Co-Chair of the Equity Council, alongside Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves.

Prior to becoming the Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, where she was the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets on all matters concerning international economics, trade, investment, and commercial policy programs and agreements with respect to Asia. In this role, she also oversaw planning and execution of Department of Commerce commercial diplomacy and export promotion strategies at United States Missions in Region Asia.

Previously, Farrell worked at the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC). As Executive Vice President, she oversaw business advocacy policy and government relations.

Farrell served on the Board of Directors at the Export Import Bank of the United States (U.S. EXIM Bank) before joining USIBC. A Presidential appointee, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she was responsible for voting on transactions in excess of $10 million as well as significant policy matters. Her portfolio responsibilities included small business, India, Southeast Asia, and portions of Latin America. In addition, she was named a member of the White House Business Council. During her tenure at U.S. EXIM Bank, Indian transactions expanded and diversified as aircraft sales and conventional and green energy projects, among others, led to India becoming the second largest country by U.S. dollar allocation in the bank’s overall portfolio.

Before serving at U.S. EXIM Bank, Farrell was elected as the First Selectwoman (mayor), in Westport, Connecticut. In this role she managed multimillion-dollar budgets within the Consumer Price Index and maintained the town’s AAA bond rating at a time when significant infrastructure investment was taking place. She oversaw the construction of schools, a municipal wastewater treatment plant, affordable housing, and other necessary facilities.

Farrell also served as Chairwoman of the Southwestern Connecticut Regional Planning Agency Metropolitan Planning Organization that was responsible for federally funded transportation infrastructure in a vital commercial corridor. As a select member of the National League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Steering and Policy Committee, she helped set policy goals for transportation and infrastructure initiatives in support of cities and towns across the United States.

Frank Ahrens, a Principal and Head of BGR Analytics, joined the firm in 2014. He uses data analytics to help individuals, corporations and governments identify winning strategies and employs the full range of earned- and paid-media tactics to improve clients’ profiles and protect their reputations. Working with terrific BGR colleagues, Frank builds relationships with top-tier U.S. media, creates print, digital and video content and deploys the latest SEO tactics. He helps clients land high-profile op-ed placements, score coveted TV news show bookings and produce positive, fact-based content designed to win Page 1 of Google search – an indispensable skill when crisis hits. Working with BGR’s Data Science Team, Frank established BGR Analytics in 2023, which creates data-based rankings of countries and states that give clients the intelligence they need for the most important decisions they make.

Frank has arranged client interviews with Fox News, CNN, The Washington Post and major wire services. Client op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. Frank’s clients have included the governments of South Korea, Panama and India, top-tier brands such as CJ Group, Bose and LSG Sky Chefs; and high-net-worth individuals in Hollywood, Europe and the Middle East.

Before coming to BGR, Frank was Vice President of Global Corporate Communications for Hyundai Motor at the automaker’s Seoul, South Korea, headquarters. He worked closely with Hyundai Motor government affairs offices in Washington and Brussels on breaking and long-range issues including labor, energy and trade. During Frank’s tenure, Hyundai was named “Fastest Growing Brand” by Interbrand in 2011 and 2012.

Frank is the author of “Seoul Man: A Memoir of Cars, Culture, Crisis, and Unexpected Hilarity Inside a Korean Corporate Titan,” the story of his three years as the only American at Hyundai Motor headquarters. It was named a Best Book of 2016 by the New York Post.

Prior to Hyundai, Frank worked for 18 years as an editor and reporter at the Washington Post. He covered the global financial crisis of 2008-2010 as well as the media and entertainment industries. Frank appeared frequently as a media industry expert on CNBC, MSNBC, PBS and other networks. He continues to write on international and industry matters, with articles appearing in Foreign Policy, Forbes, Automotive News, PR News and The Diplomat.

Hyun-jung Je is Chief Representative of KITA Washington Center in Korea International Trade Association. She is now in charge of advising and supporting Korean trade companies which are involved in trade and investment issues in the U.S. and also connects and plays a bridging role between Korean businesses and the US governments, congress and think tanks. Since she joined the KITA in 2001, she has worked as a researcher for most of her career years at the Institute for International Trade (IIT), a branch of the KITA. She published many research and policy papers focusing on Korea’s trade policies, free trade agreements and diverse trade issues involving Korean companies. From 2016 to 2018, she served as a private advisor for trade negotiations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and participated in the negotiations on market access during the Korea-US, Korea-Canada and the Korea-India FTAs. From 2020 to 2021, she also served as a member of the Presidential Commission on Policy Planning. Based on her own experiences and academic research, she published a book titled as “Public-Private Relationships in Trade Policy-making” in 2018. Hyun-jung Je holds Ph.D. in International Studies (major in international commerce) and B.A. and M.A. in International Relations from Seoul National University.