In a new video program produced by The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado spoke with Korea Society Board Director Dr. Victor Cha and NCAFP Director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security Susan Thornton about shifting U.S. and Chinese strategies toward the Korean Peninsula.
The discussion begins by examining how recent U.S. policy shifts—including modified joint military exercises and diplomatic outreach—impact the U.S.–ROK alliance. They also evaluate how North Korea’s military involvement with Russia alters Beijing’s leverage and regional security dynamics.
Next, the panel delves into regional perceptions of Kim Jong Un’s “two hostile states” policy and the abandonment of unification, exploring its implications for South Korean domestic politics and alliance stability.
The discussion also assesses the diminishing U.S.–PRC consensus on denuclearization alongside South Korea’s foreign policy approach under the Lee administration, which favors pragmatic, principled engagement across the region.
Finally, the experts analyze potential crisis escalation scenarios on the peninsula, emphasizing the need for effective U.S.–China crisis communication and contingency planning to prevent conflict.
Your virtual professor for teaching, learning, and exploring Korea
Professor TKS is a digital resource from The Korea Society, designed for learners, educators, and anyone interested in Korea. Available 24/7 in multiple languages, it makes The Korea Society’s knowledge and digital resources more accessible, personalized, and easy to explore.
Whether you’re developing a syllabus or curriculum, planning a lesson, researching a Korea-related topic, or looking for educational resources, Professor TKS provides personalized guidance based on your interests and needs. Explore Korean history, culture, language, society, U.S.–Korea relations, and more, discover relevant resources from The Korea Society, and create customized syllabi, curricula, and lesson plans for your classroom or learning goals.
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Whether you’re planning a single lesson, or a broader curriculum, The Korea Society Professor can help you organize your ideas into a structured learning experience. For the best results, tell the professor:
Topic — What would you like to teach? Audience — High school students, college students, professionals, or general learners? Length — One lesson, four weeks, a semester, etc. Learning goals — What should learners understand or be able to do? Format — Syllabus, curriculum, lesson plan, discussion guide, or another formats,
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“Develop a workshop for American professionals about working in a Korean corporate environment.” “Create a four-week syllabus on modern Korean history for college students.” “Develop a 60-minute lesson plan introducing Korean culture to high school students.”
Not sure where to start? Explore topics such as:
U.S.–Korea Relations Korean Workplace Culture & Cross-Cultural Management Korean History North & South Korea Korean Culture & Traditions Korean Art & Literature Korean Society & Social Issues Korean Religion & Philosophy Korean Economy & Development Korean Geography Korean Language & Education
The Korea Society Professor can also help you discover relevant The Korea Society programs, videos, discussions, and educational resources to support your learning and curriculum development.
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Find The Korea Society resources I can use to teach about the Korean War.” “Recommend Korea Society videos for a course on U.S.–Korea relations.” “Find resources about Korean workplace culture.”
You can also ask questions about The Korea Society’s programs, events, membership, and activities. Whether you’re looking for information about an upcoming program, a recap of a past event, registration details, or anything else about The Korea Society, just ask!
WHAT YOU CAN CREATE WITH PROFESSOR TKS
What You Can Create with Professor TKS
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Whether you’re developing a syllabus or curriculum, researching a Korea-related topic, or looking for educational resources, Professor TKS provides personalized guidance based on your needs.
Leadership Development & Education — The Korea Society
The Korea Society · Leadership Development & Education
Leadership Development and Education
Anchored by three flagship programs, this work delivers bidirectional training — equipping American leaders to advocate for the bilateral partnership and empowering Korean executives and firms to become effective community partners where they operate.
By 2031, this nationwide network will span business, policy, and civic sectors.
Anchored by leadership development and education programs, this work delivers bidirectional training across the U.S.–Korea relationship.
The Cross-Cultural Leadership Initiative, the U.S.–Korea Leadership Exchange Program, and Emerging Leaders Mentorship and Training together equip leaders on both sides of the partnership.
American leaders gain the tools to advocate for the bilateral partnership, while Korean executives and firms are empowered to become effective community partners where they operate.
By 2031, this nationwide network will span business, policy, and civic sectors.
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Three flagship programs.
Each builds leadership capacity across the U.S.–Korea relationship — from language and culture to exchange and mentorship.
01
Flagship Program
Cross-Cultural Leadership Initiative
Language and cultural programs that equip leaders to operate effectively across the U.S. and Korea.
02
Flagship Program
U.S.–Korea Leadership Exchange Program
Bidirectional exchange that prepares American leaders to advocate for the partnership and Korean executives to become effective community partners.
03
Flagship Program
Emerging Leaders Mentorship and Training
Mentorship and training that cultivate the next generation of leaders across business, policy, and civic sectors.
Curriculum & Engagement
How participants engage.
A practical curriculum blends history, values, politics, business practices, language, and societal traditions — cultivating essential skills in negotiation, team management, and trust-building.
Executive Education
Advanced programs for leaders steering the bilateral relationship.
Cross-Cultural Workshops
Practical sessions bridging U.S. and Korean professional norms.
Leadership Development
Training in negotiation, team management, and trust-building.
Language & Cultural Programs
Language and cultural fluency for effective engagement.
Community Involvement
Engagement within communities of increasing Korean presence.
Our Vision
By 2031, this nationwide network will span business, policy, and civic sectors — advancing the bilateral partnership through leaders equipped to build trust across borders.
Selected talks and briefings are released in audio. Subscribe on your platform of choice and never miss an episode.
New seriesKorea Expert Desk — a video interview series delivering sharp insight for decision-makers. Premiere: South Korea’s New Industrial Defense Strategy.
A premier nonpartisan forum advancing collaboration and deeper economic engagement between the United States and the Republic of Korea.
We convene policymakers, corporate executives, investors, entrepreneurs, academics, and financial leaders — creating trusted platforms for dialogue on the issues shaping the future of the bilateral economic relationship.
The Korea Society's Business & Economics Programs reinforce the Society's role as a premier nonpartisan forum advancing collaboration and deeper economic engagement between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea.
Our four flagship initiatives — the U.S.-ROK New Economic Paradigm, Startup Scene: Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, the Leadership Interview Series, and the Global Financial Leaders Forum — convene policymakers, corporate executives, investors, entrepreneurs, academics, and financial leaders.
Together they create trusted platforms for dialogue on the issues shaping the future of the bilateral economic relationship, balancing timely exchange with deeper examinations of the forces driving both economies.
These convenings generate timely dialogue, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, elevate emerging entrepreneurial talent, and expand professional networks — further advancing economic cooperation and mutual understanding in both countries.
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Four flagship initiatives.
Each convenes a distinct community across policy, industry, finance, and entrepreneurship to advance the U.S.-Korea economic relationship.
01
Flagship Initiative
U.S.-ROK New Economic Paradigm
Examining the evolving framework of U.S.-Korea economic engagement — from trade and investment to the industries defining the next chapter of the partnership.
02
Flagship Initiative
Startup Scene: Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow
Spotlighting emerging founders and the entrepreneurial talent building across the U.S. and Korean innovation ecosystems.
03
Flagship Initiative
Leadership Interview Series
In-depth conversations with the executives and leaders steering the bilateral economic relationship.
04
Flagship Initiative
Global Financial Leaders Forum
Bringing together investors and financial leaders on the capital, markets, and strategy shaping cross-border finance.
Recent Program Highlights
Convenings across the year.
Programming spanned flagship forums, closed-door roundtables, and public conversations connecting leaders from both countries.
3
Flagship forums, each anchored by a keynote and panel discussions
2
Exclusive executive roundtables
6
Fireside chats
2
Lectures
3
Standalone panel discussions
Our Impact
We generate timely dialogue, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, elevate emerging entrepreneurial talent, and expand professional networks — advancing economic cooperation and mutual understanding in both countries.
Beyond our four department-led programs, The Korea Society convenes leaders, members,
businesses, and partner organizations across the United States — moving beyond traditional
programming to create opportunities for collaboration, celebration, and lasting
relationship-building.
Convening the alliance beyond the program calendar.
Beyond its four department-led programs, The Korea Society expanded its national and
regional engagement in innovative ways, convening leaders, members, businesses, and
partner organizations across the United States.
These efforts moved beyond traditional programming to create opportunities for
collaboration, celebration, and lasting relationship-building. By marking major
milestones in the alliance and recognizing those who advance it, we
strengthened trust across government, business, civil society, academia,
generations, sectors, and regions.
Through our expanding corporate and individual membership programs, we connect people
and institutions to The Korea Society’s work and to one another — building enduring
communities of leaders and partners for a more dynamic, resilient, and meaningful
U.S.–Korea partnership.
Where we convene
Four ways we bring the relationship together.
From flagship galas to the fairway to emerging regional centers, each gathering builds trust in a different register.
01
Signature Event
Van Fleet Award & Annual Gala
Through the Van Fleet Award and our flagship Annual Gala in New York City, The Korea
Society elevates the U.S.–Korea alliance on the international stage. Distinguished leaders,
cultural figures, and partners come together to honor achievement, celebrate artistic and
cultural connections, and reaffirm a shared commitment to the people-to-people relationship.
For more than three decades, our highly regarded golf tournament has provided a more
personal setting for American and Korean leaders to deepen relationships, build trust, and
open new channels of communication and cooperation.
We continue to cultivate partnerships in emerging centers of the relationship, including
Tennessee and Georgia, where Korean corporate investment is expanding into communities with
historically limited Korean presence. Strong local relationships are essential to building
understanding, matching economic ties with trust — and responding quickly in moments of
crisis to preserve confidence in the broader relationship.
Through our expanding corporate and individual membership programs, we connect people and
institutions to The Korea Society’s work and to one another. By building enduring communities
of leaders and partners, we help create a more dynamic, resilient, and meaningful U.S.–Korea
partnership.
A go-to platform and hub for timely, credible policy insights on the critical issues shaping the U.S.-Korea relationship, South Korea, the Korean Peninsula, and the Indo-Pacific.
We build and empower communities of practitioners — connecting thought leaders and stakeholders from policy, industry, academia, media, and civil society.
The Korea Society's Geopolitical Affairs Department cultivates dialogue and action on pivotal developments affecting the U.S.-Korea relationship.
We serve as a trusted platform and hub for timely, credible policy insights, empowering our audiences and participants to better understand the crucial security, diplomacy, political, and geoeconomic issues shaping the U.S.-Korea relationship, the Korean Peninsula, and the Indo-Pacific.
We inform both general audiences and decision-makers, equipping the U.S. and Korea to navigate uncertainty, reduce risk, and seize on new synergies.
We build and empower communities of practitioners by hosting programs, building networks, offering perspectives, and providing engagement opportunities for diverse U.S. and Korean stakeholders from policy, industry, academia, media, and civil society organizations.
We convene thought leaders and policymakers for discussions, balancing rapid-response content with deeper examinations of Korea's historical, political, and societal dynamics.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher LandauAmbassador Kang, Kyung-wha, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United StatesGeneral (ret.) Vincent K. Brooks, Former Commander of USFK, UNC, & CFC
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Four pillars of our work.
Each organizes our programming across the relationship, the region, the peninsula, and the next generation of leaders.
The Korea Society President & CEO Abraham Kim recently visited LX Pantos Americas’ regional headquarters in Teaneck, New Jersey, where he met with CEO David Bang to discuss the importance of supply chain and logistics in strengthening U.S.–Korea economic cooperation.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the evolving U.S.–Korea economic relationship and the critical role of supply chains and logistics in supporting growing cooperation between the two countries. Dr. Kim also toured the company’s headquarters and learned more about LX Pantos Americas’ operations and vision.
During the visit, President Kim signed a large-scale mural commissioned for the opening of the company’s headquarters earlier this year. His signature joins those of other guests and contributors on the artwork, which reflects LX Pantos’ culture and vision for the future.
The Korea Society thanks LX Pantos Americas and CEO David Bang for hosting Dr. Kim and for the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue on strengthening U.S.–Korea ties.
Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado was quoted in a VOA article about North Korea-Iran cooperation. Corrado said, “A significant shift over the past few years is reshaping the nature of this relationship. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has opened the door to an unprecedented level of military industrial cooperation with North Korea and Iran that goes far beyond simple transfers. Over time, this cooperation has expanded into complex military industrial production networks linking the CRINK (China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea) partners. North Korea’s arms transfers should not be viewed merely as bilateral transactions, but as active participation in the illicit CRINK military production network. What is being exchanged includes not only weapons but also knowledge, personnel, dual-use materials, and production support.”
The Arts & Culture department is dedicated to promoting the excellence and diversity of Korean and Korean-American professionals across the cultural landscape — from artists and performers to authors and scholars.
Through a wide array of exhibitions and programs, we spotlight the richness of Korean culture and its heritage in the contemporary world: fine arts, literature, popular entertainment, culinary traditions, and more.
As global interest in Korean culture grows exponentially, the Arts & Culture department remains committed to supporting artists and creators across media.
Our gallery and event space in New York City serves as a vital hub in the world's cultural capital — attracting diverse visitors and providing a venue for artists and creators to engage directly with American audiences.
Our YouTube channel provides live webcasts and pre-recorded programs that promote recent activities and developments, while remaining an enduring resource for anyone interested in Korean arts and culture.
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Program areas.
Six areas spanning the visual arts, literature, cuisine, media, and the performing arts.
Spotlighting the richness of Korean culture and its heritage in the contemporary world — in fine arts, literature, popular entertainment, culinary traditions, and more.
Digital
Watch on YouTube.
Live webcasts and pre-recorded programs — an enduring resource for anyone interested in Korean arts and culture.
