The Korea Society 2026 Annual Gala took place on Monday, September 28 at Cipriani South Street in New York City. SK Inc. Chairman & CEO Tae-won Chey opened the 2026 Van Fleet Award presentation with a special toast honoring NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s contributions to U.S.–Korea ties.
The Korea Society 2026 Annual Gala took place on Monday, September 28 at Cipriani South Street in New York City. Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee opened the 2026 Van Fleet Award presentation with congratulatory remarks honoring NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s contributions to U.S.–Korea ties.
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The U.S.–Korea alliance is growing well beyond security, and Korea’s leaders are ready to build its next chapter with The Korea Society.
From October 19 to 22, 2026, Korea Society leadership traveled to Seoul for nearly 25 meetings in four days, building on the momentum of our record-setting September 28 Annual Gala honoring NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang. The delegation included:
The delegation met with valued sponsors, senior officials, business associations, media leaders, and institutional partners, including:
Highlights from the trip:
Across every meeting, the message was clear:
Korean government, corporate, and civic leaders see
The Korea Society as a trusted, non-partisan bridge.
The best is ahead.
Stay connected as we build toward our 70th anniversary in 2027!
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At a press conference in New York City on May 14th, President & CEO of The Korea Society, Dr. Abraham Kim, announced NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang as the recipient of the 2026 General James A. Van Fleet Award, and shared plans for the organization to expand activities nationwide.
Presented annually since 1995, the Van Fleet Award honors Korean and American individuals or entities who have made outstanding contributions to the partnership between the United States and Korea. The award recognizes Mr. Huang for his pioneering leadership in the artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries, which lie at the heart of economic cooperation between the two countries, and for his longtime partnerships with leading Korean innovators, including Samsung Electronics and SK Group.
“NVIDIA and Korean companies are creating the future of the global technology environment together,” said Dr. Kim. “The cooperation of these companies will lead to next-generation technological innovation and further strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. for generations to come.”
Dr. Kim also shared The Korea Society’s plans to extend its activities beyond New York and Washington, D.C. to regions across the United States. As the U.S.-Korea relationship evolves well beyond security and defense, The Korea Society will expand its focus from simply raising awareness of Korea to facilitating practical cooperation and connection between key decision makers and among communities.
Read more from the press conference in Maeil Business Newspaper.
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On October 14, The Korea Society brought its Cross-Cultural Leadership Initiative (CCLI) to SK Americas for a full-day leadership program at the company’s Manhattan office. The program brought together 19 HR and finance leaders from SK Americas’ member companies for their annual training.
As SK Group continues to expand its U.S. presence, the challenge is not simply bringing different teams together—it is creating the trust, alignment, and shared understanding that allow them to move in the same direction. The CCLI explored how cross-cultural leadership can help bridge headquarters, expatriate, and local perspectives, while bringing SK’s core value of Paegi (패기)—the spirit that challenges and overcomes hurdles—to life across its U.S. operations.
Led by Jim Lee, Founder and Chief Executive Coach of B-Spoke, the program invited participants to look more closely at something that can easily be overlooked: how cultural differences influence the way people communicate, build trust, make decisions, and work together.
Rather than treating cross-cultural leadership as simply another management skill, the CCLI positioned it as a business advantage—one that can strengthen collaboration, unlock influence, and help teams turn shared values into shared action. For organizations operating across borders, the question is not whether cultural differences exist, but how effectively leaders can navigate them.
During lunch, Dr. Abraham Kim, President and CEO of The Korea Society, held a fireside conversation with Frank Ahrens, Partner at BGR Group and author of Seoul Man. A former Washington Post journalist, Ahrens led global public relations for Hyundai Motor Group from 2010 to 2013, ultimately becoming a vice president and the highest-ranking non-Korean at Hyundai headquarters.
Drawing on his experience as an American executive working within a Korean corporate headquarters, Ahrens offered a firsthand perspective on a question at the heart of cross-cultural leadership: How can leaders bridge cultural differences while building trust, alignment, and a shared sense of purpose? His reflections highlighted how cultural awareness can shape trust, collaboration, and leadership well beyond the boardroom.
Through the CCLI, The Korea Society helps organizations working across cultures build the trust and understanding needed to collaborate more effectively and bring their shared values to life.
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The Korea Society President & CEO Abraham Kim recently sat down with the Korean news outlet EDAILY in New York for an interview on the future of U.S.-Korea economic relations. He emphasized the role of private, nongovernmental diplomacy in strengthening ties between the two countries at a time of growing economic interdependence.
In the interview, Abraham Kim, Ph.D., highlighted the role of private diplomacy in complementing government-to-government ties, noting that neutral platforms such as The Korea Society can foster candid dialogue, build trust, and address areas that formal diplomacy cannot. .Korea’s commitment to approximately $350 billion (468 trillion won) in U.S. investment, he noted, reflects increasingly interconnected interests, from U.S. jobs and industrial capacity to Korean companies’ growth and innovation. He cautioned, however, that domestic politics can complicate international issues, including investment negotiations.
President Kim emphasized predictability, reciprocity, and mutual respect as guiding principles for resolving differences and sustaining a strong alliance. He stressed that agreements should endure regardless of changes in administration or political landscape, and that they should deliver tangible benefits to both sides. He also noted that Korea’s investments in semiconductors, energy, and shipbuilding now reach deep into America’s future economic competitiveness, which calls for mutual respect for each country’s institutions and decision-making constraints.
While acknowledging that the alliance is undergoing a period of change, he affirmed that it remains robust. Such moments, he noted, are when the true strength of a partnership is tested and when continued dialogue can build new bridges and deepen collaboration between the two nations.
Read the full article in Korean here.
[Source] Edaily (By Sung-in Seol, New York Correspondent)
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On October 19, 2026, The Korea Society’s Vice President Jiyoung Suh and Associate Director of Development Jamie Joo attended Korea–U.S. Friendship Night at the Korean Cultural Center New York, hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York.
Celebrating friendship and cooperation between the two countries, the evening opened with welcoming remarks by Amb. Sang Ho Kim, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in New York. Distinguished speakers included Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, New York State Assemblymember Ron Kim, New Jersey Assemblywoman Ellen Park, and New York City Council Member Linda Lee. The program also featured traditional Korean drumming and samulnori performances.
The ceremony honored the late U.S. Army Private First Class Charles R. Johnson with the Taegeuk Order of Military Merit, accepted by his family. Johnson sacrificed his life while defending Outpost Harry during the Korean War in 1953, saving fellow soldiers. Certificates of Appreciation also recognized individuals and organizations for their service to Korea, contributions to the Korean American community, and efforts to strengthen U.S.–Korea relations.
The Society was especially pleased to celebrate two honorees with close ties to our community: Korean War veteran Salvatore Scarlato, a longtime friend and past speaker at the Society, and Emily Hau, daughter of Society board member Sandor Hau, Managing Director & President, Charlesbank Credit Partners. Emily was recognized as one of the Third-Generation Korean American Youth Representatives for her volunteer service with the Korean American Family Service Center.
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On March 26, Dr. Kim also met Ambassador Jihoon Cha, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations to introduce himself as the new President, learn more about the activities of the Permanent Mission of the ROK to the UN, and share The Korea Society’s vision.
The two leaders exchanged views on the importance of strengthening U.S.–Korea cooperation amid rapidly evolving global dynamics and reaffirmed the important role of The Korea Society. They also shared perspectives on bilateral cooperation, particularly in the area of AI.
On March 23, The Korea Society leadership—President & CEO Dr. Abraham Kim and Vice President Jiyoung Suh—joined a special dinner hosted by ROK Acting Consul General Sang Ho Lee at ROK Consul General’s residence.
The evening was a warm welcome for Dr. Kim in his new role, bringing together prominent Korean corporate leaders from the NY/NJ area. It was a valuable opportunity to share the Society’s new vision and future plans and exchange insights on strengthening the U.S.–Korea economic partnership.
The attendees, other than those listed above, are:
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On September 28th at Cipriani South Street, The Korea Society 2026 Annual Gala brought together over 530 guests from business, government, technology, academia, and civil society in support of the deep and meaningful partnership between the United States and Korea.
We were delighted to present the 2026 Van Fleet Award to Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, in recognition of his pioneering leadership in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence—technologies that form a cornerstone of the expanding economic and technological partnership between the United States and Korea.
Watch Jensen Huang’s full Van Fleet Award acceptance speech.
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On September 28th at Cipriani South Street, The Korea Society 2026 Annual Gala brought together over 530 guests from business, government, technology, academia, and civil society in support of the deep and meaningful partnership between the United States and Korea.
We were delighted to present the 2026 Van Fleet Award to Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, in recognition of his pioneering leadership in accelerated computing and artificial intelligence—technologies that form a cornerstone of the expanding economic and technological partnership between the United States and Korea.
The Van Fleet Award presentation was followed by a Fireside Chat with Jensen Huang, moderated by Juju Chang, co-anchor of ABC News’ Nightline. The conversation explored Mr. Huang’s career, NVIDIA’s decades-long collaboration with Korean partners, and the future of the AI industry.
Watch the full Fireside Chat with Jensen Huang.
