Join us for a discussion on the current status and future pathways for U.S.-Korea-Japan trilateral relations, with Dr. Joshua Walker, President and CEO of Japan Society, and Emma Chanlett-Avery, Deputy Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Washington DC office and the Director for Political-Security Affairs. The moderator for this program is Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation.
The Korea Society thanks our corporate sponsors and individual members and the Korea Foundation for their generous support, which has made this program possible.
Charting Future Pathways for U.S.-Korea-Japan Trilateral Relations
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 4 PM (EDT)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Emma Chanlett-Avery is Deputy Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Washington, DC office and the Director for Political-Security Affairs. Previous to this post, she served for 20 years as a Specialist in Asian Affairs at the Congressional Research Service, where she focused on U.S. relations with Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Thailand, and Singapore, with an emphasis on security issues and alliances. In 2023, she served as a Congressional Fellow on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, assisting the Chairman with drafting Asia policy legislation and preparing for hearings. Ms. Chanlett-Avery was a Presidential Management Fellow, with rotations in the State Department on the Korea Desk and at the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group in Bangkok, Thailand. She also worked in the Office of Policy Planning as a Harold Rosenthal Fellow. She is a member of the Mansfield Foundation U.S. – Japan Network for the Future and a Mansfield-Luce Asia Network Scholar. In 2016, she received the Kato Prize, awarded by Washington think tanks for strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance. She serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Association of Japan America Societies, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Japan America Society of Washington DC, and as a Trustee of International Student Conferences, Inc. Ms. Chanlett-Avery received an MA in international security policy from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and her BA in Russian studies from Amherst College.
Joshua W. Walker, PhD became President & CEO of Japan Society in December 2019. Previously, he worked at Eurasia Group, the world’s leading political risk analysis firm, where he served as global head of strategic initiatives and Japan in the Office of the President. Prior to that, he was CEO and president of the USA Pavilion of the 2017 World Expo in Astana, Kazakhstan; founding dean of the APCO Institute; and senior vice president of global programs at APCO Worldwide, a leading global strategic communications firm based in Washington, D.C. Before joining the private sector, he worked in numerous roles at various U.S. government agencies, including the State Department and the Defense Department. He is Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, and professor of Leadership and the American presidency at George Mason University and the Reagan Foundation. He was also Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and co-founded the Yale Journal of International Affairs. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond, a master’s degree from Yale University, and a doctorate from Princeton University. Dr. Walker grew up in Japan where his parents still serve as missionaries, came to the United States when he was 18, and is bicultural and bilingual.
Join us for a discussion on the latest developments in Korea, including domestic politics north and south of the 38th parallel, inter-Korean relations, US-North Korea developments, Russia’s role, and more, featuring team members from NK News, including Chad O’Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of Korea Risk Group, Jeongmin Kim, Lead Correspondent at NK News and Editorial Director at Korea Pro, Colin Zwirko, Senior Analytic Correspondent for NK News, and Shreyas Reddy, Lead Correspondent at NK News. This program is moderated by The Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.
This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
Korean Peninsula Update with the NK News Team
Monday, March 17, 2025 | 12 PM (EDT)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Chad O’Carroll is the founder of NK News/NK Pro and related holding company Korea Risk Group. In addition to being the group’s CEO, O’Carroll is a frequent writer and commentator about the Koreas, having written about the two nations since 2010. He has visited the DPRK multiple times, worked and lived in Washington, D.C. with a focus on peninsula issues, and lived in the ROK since 2016.
Jeongmin Kim is a Correspondent at NK News and Editorial Director at KOREA PRO, based in Seoul. Kim covers inter-Korean relations and North and South Korean foreign and military affairs. Kim has covered the 2022 ROK presidential election on the ground, and prior to joining NK News, she worked for the CSIS Korea Chair in Washington D.C. and Reuters news agency’s Seoul bureau.
Shreyas Reddy is the Lead Correspondent at NK News, based in Seoul. He previously worked as a researcher at BBC Monitoring, where his work focused on news and key people and organizations from the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Colin Zwirko is a Senior Analytic Correspondent for NK News based in Seoul. He joined the company in 2018 after receiving a master’s degree in international security and foreign policy from South Korea’s Yonsei University.
Join us for a program on deterrence and readiness with Major General Jason R. Armagost, who is the Commander of Eighth Air Force and the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. “The Mighty Eighth” is responsible for the service’s bomber force and airborne nuclear command and control assets, encompassing approximately 24,000 Airmen across six installations, and proudly operating more than 150 E-4, B-1, B-2, B-52 and T-38 aircraft.
Major General Armagost will discuss deterrence and readiness amid escalating threats including challenges posed by North Korea, China, and Iran as well as how the U.S.’s bomber force operates across the globe.
This program is moderated by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) president and CEO Susan Elliott and produced in collaboration with the NCAFP.
This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
Nuclear Deterrence and Readiness Amid Escalating Threats with USAF Major General Jason R. Armagost
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | 12 PM (EST)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Maj. Gen. Jason R. Armagost is the Commander, Eighth Air Force, and Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. “The Mighty Eighth” is responsible for the service’s bomber force and airborne nuclear command and control assets, encompassing approximately 24,000 Airmen across six installations, and proudly operating more than 150 E-4, B-1, B-2, B-52 and T-38 aircraft. The J-GSOC serves as the central command and control node for all operations within Air Force Global Strike Command, orchestrating warfighting and readiness activities for the Commander, Air Forces Strategic.
Maj. Gen. Armagost graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and was commissioned in 1992. He has served in multiple operational and training assignments and logged more than 2,900 hours in the B-2A, F-16CJ, F- 16CG, B-1B, B-52H and T-38A. His notable educational and staff assignments include a fellowship at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, California, Chief of Nuclear Operations on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, and Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements at Air Force Global Strike Command.
Maj. Gen. Armagost commanded the 13th Bomb Squadron at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. His operational assignments supported contingency operations during operations Desert Strike, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel and Deliberate Resolve. He also served as the Deputy Commanding General for Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, where he led coordination of the DoD’s historic security assistance support effort to the Ukrainian government. Further, he has flown numerous combat missions in the F-16CJ, B-2A, B-1B and the B-52H.
Ambassador Susan M. Elliott is an accomplished diplomat with an earned doctorate from Indiana University. During her 27-year diplomatic career, Ambassador Elliott held a variety of leadership positions at the U.S. Department of State. She became President and CEO of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy in August 2018.
From 2015 to 2017, Ambassador Elliott served as the Civilian Deputy and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of the United States European Command. Ambassador Elliott was the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan from 2012 to 2015. Prior to her Ambassadorial appointment, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
Ambassador Elliott joined the U.S. Department of State in March 1990. During her Foreign Service career, Ambassador Elliott worked in a variety of overseas and Washington-based assignments. Her previous overseas assignments include Minister Counselor for Political Affairs in Moscow, Russia; Principal Officer in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Deputy Economic Counselor and Visa Section Chief in Athens, Greece. Other overseas assignments include Moscow, Russia and Lima, Peru.
Ambassador Elliott worked on the staff of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a Deputy Executive Secretary and Director of the Executive Secretariat Staff. Earlier in her career she reported on conflicts in the countries of the former Soviet Union when she worked in the Office of the Coordinator for Regional Conflicts in the New Independent States.
Join us for a discussion about fallout from the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s Martial Law declaration, his subsequent impeachment and the presidential transition in Seoul, challenges to South Korea’s democracy, and implications for the U.S.-Korea relationship and Korea’s foreign relations, with Kelly Kasulis Cho, Washington Post Breaking News Reporter, Andrew Yeo, senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Asia Policy Studies, and Daniel Sneider, lecturer in East Asian Studies at Stanford. This program is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado and program officer Chelsie Alexandre.
This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
Challenges for Korea’s Democracy
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 8 AM (EST)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Kelly Kasulis Cho is a breaking news reporter and editor at The Washington Post’s Seoul hub. She has been reporting on North and South Korea for eight years, since the days of former President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment and the whirlwind of tension and diplomacy between President-elect Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. She has covered the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the coronavirus pandemic, South Korean elections, the tragic 2022 Itaewon Halloween crowd crush, the stabbing of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, the 2025 Jeju Air plane crash and more. She also recently covered the final moments of WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange’s years-long legal battle and his path to freedom from a U.S. courthouse in Saipan. Previously, Kelly was a staff editor at The New York Times, the managing editor of NK News and NK Pro and a freelance foreign correspondent covering the Koreas.
Daniel C. Sneider is a lecturer in international policy at Stanford’s Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy and a lecturer in East Asian Studies at Stanford. His own research is focused on current U.S. foreign and national security policy in Asia and on the foreign policy of Japan and Korea. Since 2017, he has been based partly in Tokyo where he is working on a diplomatic history of the creation and management of the U.S. security alliances with Japan and South Korea during the Cold War. Sneider contributes regularly to the leading Japanese publication Toyo Keizai and is a Non-resident Distinguished Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute where he writes regularly for the Peninsula blog. Sneider is the former Associate Director for Research at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford and directed the Divided Memories and Reconciliation project on wartime historical memory in East Asia. Prior to coming to Stanford, Sneider was a long-time foreign correspondent. Sneider served as national/foreign editor of the Mercury News. From 1990 to 1994, he was the Moscow bureau chief of the Christian Science Monitor, covering the end of Soviet Communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union. From 1985 to 1990, he was Tokyo correspondent for the Monitor, covering Japan and Korea. Prior to that he was a correspondent in India, covering South and Southeast Asia. Sneider has a BA in East Asian history from Columbia University and an MPA from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Andrew Yeo is a senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Asia Policy Studies. He is also a professor of politics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Yeo is co-editor of the forthcoming book “Great Power Competition and Overseas Bases: Chinese, Russian, and American Force Posture in the 21st Century” (Brookings Institution Press, forthcoming). He is also the author or co-editor of five other books including “Asia’s Regional Architecture: Alliances and Institutions in the Pacific Century” (Stanford University Press, 2019), “State, Society, and Markets in North Korea” (Cambridge University Press 2021), “North Korean Human Rights: Activists and Networks” (Cambridge University Press 2018); “Activists, Alliances, and Anti-U.S. Base Protests” (Cambridge University Press 2011); and “Living in an Age of Mistrust: An Interdisciplinary Study of Declining Trust in Contemporary Society and Politics and How to Get it Back” (Routledge Press 2017). Yeo received his doctorate in government from Cornell University, and bachelor’s in psychology and international studies from Northwestern University.
Join us for a discussion on the newly launched book: Korea-US-China Trilateral Relations in the Xi Jinping Era. The authors, CHUNG Duck Koo, Korea’s former Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Energy, and YUN Byung-se, Korea’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, examine Korea-US-China trilateral relations through a strategic triangular lens. The book moves beyond conventional discussions of bilateral ties to provide an in-depth analysis of the complexity, conflict, and economic interdependence characterizing the relationships among these three nations. In the discussion, Minister Chung and Minister Yun also address the new US administration and shifts in Korean politics, offering timely insights to shed light on unfolding events. The moderator for the program is Korea Society president and CEO Thomas Byrne. The book is available for purchase here.
Korea-US-China Trilateral Relations: Looking Back and Looking Forward
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 | 2 PM (EST)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Chung Duck Koo is a former Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Energy of the Republic of Korea during President Kim Dae-Jung’s administration (1999-2000). He is also the founder of the North East Asia Research Foundation (NEAR Foundation), South Korea’s premier privately-funded independent think-tank, and currently serves as its chairman. Chung embarked on his career as a government official in 1971, dedicating nearly three decades of service. During the onset of the Korean financial crisis, Chung, a Vice Minister of Finance at the time, played a pivotal role in the early resolution of Korea’s liquidity crisis as a chief negotiator with the IMF. After retirement from the cabinet, Chung became a professor at the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) at Seoul National University and served as the director of the Seoul National University Center for International Finance. In 2003, Peking University in China invited him as a Distinguished Chair Professor, where he taught Korean Economic Development and Open-Door Policy. In 2005, he served as a visiting professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing, where he taught the International Monetary Regime and the future prospects of the yuan. In 2013, he was appointed as a policy advisor at CASS (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences). During the early years of Xi Jinping’s first term, the Chinese government recommended that Mr. Chung lead special lectures and academic seminars involving distinguished policymakers, bureaucrats, and high-ranking officials from 18 government departments. Presently, he is based at the Center for Strategies and International Studies (CSIS) as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow.
Yun Byung-se served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea from March 2013 until June 2017 (longest serving Foreign Minister after 1981). Prior to that, he served as Deputy National Security Adviser (Senior Secretary) to the President responsible for Korea’s foreign, defense and unification policy and as Senior Coordinator at the National Security Council of the Presidential Office. As a career diplomat with 37 year-long experience, his foreign postings include the United States, the United Nations in New York and Geneva, Singapore and Australia. At the headquarters, he was Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, was the Foreign Minister. He graduated from Seoul National University’s College of Law and received a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University’s Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He was a Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) of Sogang University in Seoul from 2009 until early 2013. He is currently Chairman of Seoul International Law Academy (SILA), Co-Chair of REAIM Global Commission(AI), and Chairman of NEAR Global Survey Project. He is also on the board of Korea Peace Foundation and the NEAR Foundation and is affiliated with several global ex-leaders’ forums and projects on international peace and security, non-proliferation and geopolitical risks. His global survey report 2023 on the world order was published in English and in Korean by the NEAR Foundation under the title of “Quo Vadit Mundus: Competing for Order in a Fragmenting World.” He regularly contributes his writings to the Korea JoongAng Daily and the Korea Times and moderates the annual CSIS-JoongAng Conference and other forums frequently.
Photo credit: Office for Government Policy Coordination, Prime Minister’s Secretariat |
On January 24, 2026, The Korea Society President and CEO Abraham Kim (second from right) attended a luncheon with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok of the Republic of Korea in downtown Manhattan, alongside a select group of Korean American leaders. Attendees included New York State Assemblyman Ron Kim, New York State Assemblywoman Grace Lee, Mayor Chong Paul Kim of Palisades Park, New Jersey, and Mayor Mark Park of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The private gathering took place during Prime Minister Kim’s historic U.S. visit—the first standalone visit by a South Korean premier in more than four decades—highlighting a renewed commitment to alliance stewardship and people-to-people diplomacy.
Prime Minister Kim emphasized that the current moment presents a pivotal opportunity to deepen U.S.–Korea cooperation across policy, economic, security, and cultural domains. He underscored the strategic importance of Korean American leadership in bridging the two societies and reaffirmed his commitment to sustained, high-level engagement to address bilateral issues in real time.
Dr. Abraham Kim participated as the only non-elected Korean American leader at the table, contributing actively both as a national Korean American civic leader and as the newly appointed President and CEO of The Korea Society. He highlighted the Society’s mission, cross-sector outreach, and longstanding role as a national platform connecting policymakers, business leaders, scholars, and civic actors engaged on Korea issues.
The luncheon reflected a shared belief that a stronger, more resilient U.S.–Korea alliance depends not only on government-to-government ties, but also on empowered community leadership and trusted networks sharing a common vision for a healthy bilateral alliance.
Join us for a discussion on the Trump Administration’s economic security policy towards Asia with Navin Girishankar, president of the Economic Security and Technology Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and former Counselor to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Yeo Han-koo, former trade minister of the Republic of Korea and senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The moderator for the program is Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne. The discussion will cover US-China economic competition and its impact on Northeast Asian countries like Korea and Japan, plus: tariffs, international trade, and the impact on critical next generation technologies including semiconductors, EVs, and batteries.
The Korea Society thanks our corporate sponsors and individual members and the Korea Foundation for their generous support, which has made this program possible.
This program is co-hosted by The APEC Study Center at Columbia University.
What to Expect: The Trump Administration’s Economic Security Policy on Asia
Friday, January 24, 2025 | 12 PM (EST)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Navin Girishankar is president of the Economic Security and Technology Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He leads a bipartisan team of over 40 resident staff and an extensive network of non-resident affiliates dedicated to providing independent research and strategic insights on economic and technology policies and their critical role in competitiveness as well as national security. Prior to joining CSIS, Navin served as Counselor to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce on a wide range of domestic and international issues. In that role, he crafted the Department of Commerce’s place-based framework for industrial investments in chips, broadband, and other strategic technologies; its approach to U.S.-China economic relations; and U.S. economic diplomacy efforts with allies in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Global South, including the U.S. commercial engagement strategy for the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and the first-ever Department-wide Africa strategy. Navin also helped architect the Department’s national security approach to critical and emerging technologies and threats covering investment screening, export controls, and strategic capital deployment. Prior to his service in U.S. government, Navin held senior commercial roles at Bridgewater Associates, where he worked with founder Ray Dalio advising the largest institutional investors in the Middle East and Asia. Prior to his work in asset management, Navin spent over 20 years at the World Bank, where he held senior policy, country, finance, and evaluation roles. Over his career at the World Bank, Navin led a number of major initiatives including the Bank’s 2015 trade and competitiveness strategy, Expanding Market Opportunity and Enabling Private Initiative for Dynamic Economies; its 2011 flagship evaluation, World Bank Country-Level Engagement on Governance and Anticorruption; and the first-of-its-kind 2009 study, Innovating Development Finance: From Financing Sources to Financing Solutions. He also authored numerous articles and papers on economic, fiscal, and innovation policy; sustainable finance; governance and state-building; and evaluation. He holds a master in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor of arts in economics with a minor in African and Middle East studies from Williams College. He is a percussionist in the Indian classical tradition and a student of various meditation traditions.
Yeo Han-koo, former trade minister of the Republic of Korea, has been senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics since June 2023. His research focuses on international trade policy, industrial policy, supply chain resilience, and economic security and international trade negotiations including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Yeo completed almost three decades of public service as trade minister of the Republic of Korea in 2022, in the final year of the Moon Jae-in presidency. A veteran international trade negotiator, Yeo has been involved in a number of bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations, including as the chief negotiator for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Korea-UK Free Trade Agreement, Korea–Central America Free Trade Agreement, Korea-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement. He was also an original participant in developing the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. While serving as commercial attaché at the Korean Embassy in Washington, he was involved in amendment negotiations of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement and Section 232 steel negotiations. As Korean minister of trade, he oversaw conventional trade negotiations, export controls, and investment screening. Yeo also led negotiations for Korea’s export control measures against Russia in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A graduate of Seoul National University, Yeo has served as visiting professor at the Seoul National University Business School, teaching international trade, negotiation, and economic security issues. Yeo holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School.
Advancing the U.S.-ROK Alliance and the Global Rise of Jeollanamdo
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Join us for the next installment of our “Local Leadership in a Global Context” series, as we delve into a discussion with the Governor of Jeollanamdo Kim Yung-rok, moderated by Tom Byrne, President & CEO of The Korea Society… Read More
Martial Law Implications for South Korea and the U.S.-Korea Relationship
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 | 8 AM (EST)
Join us for a program that explores recent political events in South Korea, including a brief history of martial law in Korea, the events leading up to the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s decision to invoke Martial Law, the National Assembly’s counter-action, and the long term consequences of the episode… Read More
[YPN] Breaking Into UX/Product Design
Friday, December 6, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EST)
In the next program of our Young Professionals’ Network series, The Korea Society is hosting a panel discussion focused on breaking into and building a career in technology as a User Experience (UX) Designer… Read More
The Hungnam Rescue
Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 6 PM (EST)
Join us for an inspiring and heartwarming story timed for the holiday season about the largest wartime humanitarian evacuation in history. During The Korean War, naval and merchant ships from America and its allies rescued almost 100,000 North Korean refugees. Among these ships was a humble freighter… Read More
Seoul: Tale of A Smart City Lessons from South Korea on How to Build Smarter Cities with KRISTI SHALLA & SUNG JIN PARK
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | 6 PM (EST)
With a vibrant population of over 10 million, Seoul ranks as a top global destination on many travel lists. We invite you to an immersive book that offers a unique exploration of Seoul through the lens of a smart city. Join authors, Kristi Shalla and Sungjin Park, as they discuss their book, Seoul: Tale of a Smart City… Read More
2024 KOREA SOCIETY VAN FLEET SIGNATURE POLICY CONFERENCE
Friday, November 22, 2024 | 9:15 AM – 2 PM (EST)
The Van Fleet Signature Policy Conference is The Korea Society’s landmark policy event. Held in the District Ballroom of The Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., the conference provides insights on the fast evolving threats and opportunities impacting the dynamic U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) relationship… Read More
2024 Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture The Politics of The Silence of Love in Colonial Korea with David Krolikoski
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 6 PM (EST)
The Korea Society is pleased to announce that the eighth annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Awardee is Dr. David Krolikoski, assistant professor at the University of Hawai’i. In his lecture Dr. Krolikoski examines The Silence of Love (Nim ŭi ch’immuk, 1926)… Read More
Maybe Happy Ending: A New Broadway Musical
Monday, November 18, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EST)
Join us for a conversation with the cast members Helen J. Shen and Marcus Choi of this enchanting new Broadway musical… Read More
Author Talks: Yeon Somin
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Rising Korean literary star Yeon Somin makes her English-language debut with The Healing Season of Pottery, a feel-good story about a young woman finding solace and a sense of self through art. The winner of the prestigious Korea New Writers Award (for Lazy Kinko), Yeon’s latest, translated by the award-winning Clare Richards… Read More
Artist Talk: Hayoon Jay Lee with Seph Rodney
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
In the modern tradition of abstract art, artists look beyond what we physically see. Using color, shape, line, and texture, they express strong emotional content without constraints of representation. Hayoon Jay Lee uses rice as object, motif, metaphor and visceral biomorphic forms, meticulously and meditatively arranging individual grains of rice into a surface with modeling paste to create physical and emotional topographies… Read More
Expert Take: The Moscow-Pyongyang Connection, Then and Now, with Dr. Kathryn Weathersby
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 | 4:00 PM (EDT)
This program explores the historical and contemporary relationship between North Korea and Russia. How did the Kim Regime’s relationship with the Soviet Union evolve during The Korean War, early Cold War period, and the Sino-Soviet split? How did triangular diplomacy with the People’s Republic of China play a shaping role in the relationship?… Read More
Artist Talk: Annette Hur
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
In the modern tradition of abstract art, artists look beyond what we physically see. Using color, shape, line, and texture, they express strong emotional content without constraints of representation. With her bold colors and brushstroke, Annette Hur deliberately positions… Read More
Banchan with Caroline Choe – In Conversation with Marja Vongerichten
Thursday, October 10, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
Banchan, the shared side dishes that accompany a Korean meal, are often the real stars of the table, and it’s time we celebrate them. From the kitchen of chef Caroline Choe… Read More
Next Steps for U.S.-Korea Relations: Key Diplomatic and Economic Developments
Friday, October 4, 2024 | 10 AM (EDT)
Join us for a special conference on U.S.-Korea relations produced in partnership with the East Asia Foundation (EAF) and the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP). This forum provides a venue for expert discussion on the security, diplomatic and economic dimensions of the U.S.-Republic of Korea relationship… Read More
The Rise of Korean Contemporary Art with Peter Kahng
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
Join us for an engaging discussion with Peter Kahng, an expert on the intersection of global art markets and contemporary Korean art. As a lecturer at Stanford University specializing in “Global Art Markets in Asia… Read More
Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation Series on Ethics & Common Values A Conversation with Minister Kyung-wha Kang
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 | 6 PM (EDT)
The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Minister Kyung-wha Kang, President and CEO of Asia Society, in a conversation with Ambassador (ret) Kathleen Stephens… Read More
Force Multiplier: The U.S.-Korea Alliance Amid Strategic Competition
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 | 12 PM (EDT)
How can the U.S.-Korea Alliance rise to the challenge of an increasingly complex and fraught geopolitical environment? As competing strategic triangles solidify in Northeast Asia, what new challenges and opportunities will arise for the U.S.-Korea… Read More
Forget Me Not: Impact of North Korean Human Rights Abuses on Families Worldwide
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 | 4:30 PM (EDT)
Join us for a unique and special event highlighting the profound impact of North Korea’s human rights abuses, with a focus on divided families. The program opens with introductory remarks from Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul… Read More
The South Korean Film Industry with Sangjoon Lee, Dal Yong Jin, and Jason Bechervaise
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 | 6 PM (EDT)
South Korea’s film industry is producing movies and original series eagerly anticipated by the global audience, and it is now arguably considered one of the few countries outside the United States to have captivated the world’s hearts and minds through pop music, TV dramas, and film… Read More
Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution | A Curator’s Perspective
Thursday, September 5, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution is a compelling exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art about the history and transformative legacy of Korean fashion, presenting garments ranging from excavated 17th-century aristocratic garments to contemporary Korean couture by leading… Read More
Korean War Armistice Day Salute 2024
Saturday, July 27, 2024
Join us at The Korea Society to honor Veterans who served in The Korean War. This ceremony marks the 71st Anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. This program will provide perspectives on the experience of a front-line soldier as told by a Korean War veteran… Read More
Minsoo Kang: The Melancholy of Untold History with Ed Lin
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
A beautifully crafted, enriching saga inspired by East Asian mythology, The Melancholy of Untold History is Minsoo Kang’s debut novel, steeped in history and lyrically exciting, interweaving four complex yet entertaining stories… Read More
Hyeseung Song: Docile with Emma Eun-joo Choi
Thursday, July 18, 2024 6:30 PM (EDT)
Docile is the rarest of things: a scorchingly honest, beautiful, hugely evocative memoir that’s also a proper pageturner: I read it breathlessly in a single sitting, transported and deeply moved. It’s at one and the same time the story of a life and a meditation on identity… Read More
Bridging Korean Culture with Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy
Thursday, July 11, 2024 | 6:30 PM
Join us for the next program in our Young Professionals’ Network series, presented by The Korea Society in partnership with the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF). This event will feature a dynamic panel discussion with successful entrepreneurs… Read More
Author Talks: Miye Lee
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
What if there was a store that sold dreams? Which would you buy? And who might you become when you wake up? A captivating story that will leave a lingering magical feeling in readers’ minds, Miye Lee’s The Dallergut Dream Department Store is the first book in a bestselling… Read More
Ga Mu Ak: An Evening of Korean Traditional Music and Dance
Monday, July 1, 2024 | 6:30 PM
There is a long tradition in Korea of presenting various performances–singing, instrument playing, and dancing–on one stage. Join us for another enchanting evening of Korean traditional music and dance performances, featuring virtuosos from Korea… Read More
The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election – What It Could Mean at Home and Abroad
Friday, June 28, 2024 | 10:30 AM (EDT)
Join us for a bipartisan pair of Former Members of Congress to hear a forecast unpacking how America’s 2024 presidential and congressional elections will impact U.S. domestic politics, U.S. foreign policy, and America’s dynamic relationship with South Korea… Read More
Cornerstone of the Nation: The Defense Industry and the Building of Modern Korea under Park Chung Hee
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 | 6 PM (EDT)
June 25, 2024 – Join us for a conversation with Dr. Peter Banseok Kwon, Assistant Professor of Korean Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York, on his newly released book: Cornerstone of the Nation: The Defense Industry and the Building of Modern Korea under Park Chung Hee. Newly released by… Read More
Empowering Women with Holistic Care: A Conversation with Rael’s Co-Founder and CEO, Yanghee Paik
Monday, June 24, 2024 | 5 PM (EDT)
The Korea Society is pleased to invite you to a fireside chat with Co-founder and CEO of Rael, Yanghee Paik. In 2017, Yanghee joined forces with two other Korean-American women to revolutionize the stagnant American feminine-care product market by introducing clean, high-performing holistic feminine care products… Read More
PROJECT BRIDGE YOUTH AMBASSADORS 2024 Community Presentation
Friday, June 21, 2024 | 6 PM (EDT)
Join us to celebrate the 2023-2024 participants of the longest running education program offered at the Society, the Project Bridge Youth Ambassador Program… Read More
Writing Short Stories with Gina Chung and Yun Ko-eun
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
Is the short story a fiction writer’s laboratory where you can experiment with characters, plots, and ideas? or is it an art form of its own, telling a complete story in just a few words? Read More
The Power of Money: How Governments and Banks Create Money and Help Us All Prosper
Thursday, May 30, 2024 | 6:00 PM
Join us for the launch of the Korean translation of The Power of Money: How Governments and Banks Create Money and Help Us All Prosper by economist and bestselling author Paul Sheard. Money issues dominate the news… Read More
Hallyu! The Korean Wave: The Curatorial Roundtable
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Today, South Korea is a cultural superpower—a global trendsetter producing award-winning films like Parasite, riveting dramas like Squid Game… Read More
June Hur: A Crane Among Wolves with Ellen Oh
Monday, May 13, 2024 | 6 PM (EDT)
To save her sister, a teen girl becomes entangled in a political conspiracy with an enigmatic prince in this fiery new YA novel. June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace… Read More
Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation Series on Ethics & Common Values A Conversation with Min Jin Lee
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 | 6 PM (EDT)
With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition… Read More
Quick Take Changes in US-Korea-China-Taiwan Relations, with Sean King and Dr. Dean Chen
Thursday, May 2, 2024 | 4 PM
Given heightened tensions and strategic competition in the Indo Pacific, how is South Korea navigating its diplomatic, economic, and security relationships with the US, China, and Taiwan… Read More
Author Talks: Park Seolyeon
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
A millennial turned magical girl must combat climate change and credit card debt in A Magical Girl Retires, a delightful, witty, and wildly imaginative ode to magical girl manga by Park Seolyeon… Read More
Quick Take North Korea’s New Posture with Dr. Soo Kim
Thursday, April 25, 2024 | 4 PM
In 2024, North Korea’s leadership has made a number of striking changes to its foreign policy, including abandoning its goal of unification and declaring South Korea its “principal enemy… Read More
ZERO WASTE: A Director’s Talk
Monday, April 22, 2024
Zero Waste is a timely documentary film that explores the current recycling efforts in South Korea through the personal stories of six changemakers. These individuals are advocates for a circular economy… Read More
Quick Take South Korea’s New Foreign Policy and Public Opinion with Dr. Kuyoun Chung
Friday, April 19, 2024
This program examines shifts in South Korea’s foreign policy posture, featuring insights and analysis from Dr. Kuyoun Chung, Assistant professor of the Department of Political Science at the Kangwon National University… Read More
Korea: A New History of South and North with Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Join us for a book talk with authors Professor Victor Cha and Professor Ramon Pacheco Pardo, who discuss their new book, Korea: A New History of South and North with policy director Jonathan Corrado… Read More
INTERVIEW with BUSAN MAYOR PARK HEONG-JOON
Thursday, April 18, 2024 | 12:00 PM
Join us for a “Local Leadership in a Global Context” series discussion with Mayor of Busan, Park Heong-joon, moderated by Tom Byrne, President & CEO of The Korea Society. Mayor Park, re-elected with overwhelming support… Read More
Author Talks: Yun Ko-eun with Lizzie Buehler
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
In the first short-story collection of hers to be translated into and published in English, South Korean author Yun Ko-eun conjures up slightly off-kilter worlds tucked away in the corners of everyday life… Read More
Majestic Elegance- Art, Crafts, and Techniques by Sunglim Kim
Thursday, April 11, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
In this lecture, Professor Sunglim Kim explores various metalwares and decorative arts throughout the history of the Korean peninsula, and craftsmanship and techniques used to create them… Read More
Rapid Reaction: Unpacking the Korean Election
Thursday, April 11, 2024 | 1 PM (EDT)
Join us for a rapid reaction analysis of the Republic of Korea’s high stakes 2024 legislative election, held in South Korea one day prior on April 10. This election could shift the control of power in the National Assembly, resulting in an emboldened electoral mandate for President Yoon Suk Yeol… Read More
Crystal Hana Kim: The Stone Home with Susan Choi
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
A hauntingly poetic family drama and coming-of-age story that reveals a dark corner of South Korean history through the eyes of a small community living in a reformatory center, The Stone Home is a stunning work of great emotional power from Crystal Hana Kim… Read More
Recapturing Lost Ground on North Korean Human Rights, with Ambassador Julie Turner
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | 12 PM (EDT)
Join us for a conversation about recovering lost ground in the international effort to address North Korea’s human rights violations, featuring: Ambassador Julie Turner… Read More
The Philosophy of Korean Tea
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
Darye–”etiquette for tea” or “tea rite”– has been an integral part of Korean history and culture for over a thousand years. Donghyun Kim, a Korean heritage curator, discusses the history of tea… Read More
Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 | 12:00 PM (EDT)
Join us for a discussion with the Senior Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg News Saleha Mohsin on her newly released book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order… Read More
Starry Field with Margaret Juhae Lee and Grace M. Cho
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
In her intimate and touching debut, Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History, journalist Margaret Juhae Lee uncovers her family’s lost history that had been buried in the darkness of Korea’s colonial decades… Read More
Colloquy: Translating Korean Poetry
Monday, March 25, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
The Korea Society is delighted to present Colloquy: Translating Korean Poetry, featuring five poets and translators –Stine An, Eunice Lee, Seo Jung Hak, Megan Sungyoon, and Soje– for an evening of poetry reading and conversation… Read More
The Dynamic U.S.-ROK Trade and Investment Relationship: Current Issues and Prospects
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | 6 PM (EDT)
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… Read More
The Republic of Korea and the UN Security Council with ROK Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Joonkook HWANG
Friday, March 15, 2024 | 4:30 PM (EDT)
Please join us for a timely discussion on the Republic of Korea’s membership in the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term, featuring the ROK Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Joonkook HWANG… Read More
Jang: The Soul of Korean Cooking
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
Like the foundational role of butter in French cooking or olive oil in Italian cuisine, jangs stand as the cornerstone of Korean cooking, infusing every dish with a symphony of flavors and complexity. Chef Mingoo Kang… Read More
Legal Career Insights: A Panel Discussion
Monday, March 11, 2024 | 12 PM (EDT)
In the next program of our Young Professionals’ Network series, The Korea Society, in partnership with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), will be hosting a panel discussion focused on the pursuit of a career in law. Our panel comprises four experienced legal professionals: Karen Kim, Senior Counsel at QBE North America and President of AABANY; Judge Judy Kim… Read More
Korean Unification: A Fading Prospect?
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 | 8:00 AM (EST)
Join us for this conversation about prospects for Korean Unification with Jeongmin Kim, Lead Correspondent at NK News / Editorial Director at Korea Pro, Dr. Lee Sang-shin, director of the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy at Korea Institute of National Unification (KINU), and Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, the Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI)… Read More
Snowglobe with Soyoung Park and Joungmin Lee Comfort
Monday, March 4, 2024
Snowglobe by Soyoung Park, the first book in a powerful young adult dystopian duology, is a groundbreaking exploration of personal identity, and the future of the world as we know it. The winner of the Changbi X Kakaopage Young Adult Novel Award, the novel has been translated into English by Joungmin Lee Comfort… Read More
Charting Entrepreneurial Paths: Curtis Lee, From Luxe to Pinwheel and Beyond
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 | 6 PM (EST)
Navigating the uncertainties of quitting an established career to venture into entrepreneurship is a common challenge for many aspiring startup founders. The question of when to take that leap adds another layer of complexity to the journey. To shed light on these dilemmas, we invite you to join our conversation with Curtis Lee… Read More
Deterring North Korea: A Conversation with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins
Thursday, February 22, 2024 | 12 PM (EST)
Join us for a discussion on deterrence and North Korea with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, United States Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Together in conversation with US Air Force Reserve Major Jessica Taylor… Read More
Author Talks: Hwang Bo-reum
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 | 5:00 PM
The charming slice-of-life novel Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by debut novelist Hwang Bo-reum became an instant smash hit with Korean readers. Now, the irresistible bestseller is available to English readers for the first time with an effervescent translation by Singaporean translator Shanna Tan… Read More
Concrete Utopia: A Director’s Talk
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
The story begins in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic disaster. What if our apartment complex is the only building left standing after a devastating earthquake? Produced by Climax Studio… Read More
Rumbles of Thunder and Endangered Peace on the Korean Peninsula
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | 12 PM (EST)
Recent events have heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula—North Korea’s successful launch of a military satellite resulting in Seoul’s decision to partially suspend the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), and followed by Pyongyang’s deployment of additional forces near its border with South Korea… Read More
Author Talks: Bora Chung & Anton Hur
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
A rising star of Korean literature, Bora Chung burst onto the American literary scene last year with the publication of her astounding debut, Cursed Bunny: Stories, translated by Anton Hur. Met with universal praise, these surreal, chilling fables that take on patriarchy… Read More
Startup Scene: Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow Saeju Jeong: An Unwavering Visionary Behind Noom
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 | 6 PM (EST)
Join us for our inaugural program of Startup Scene: Entrepreneur of Tomorrow, featuring Saeju Jeong, the Co-Founder and former CEO, and now serving as Executive Chair of Noom. Noom, established in 2008 with Saeju’s friend, Artem Pekatov, introduced a pioneering weight loss app in 2017… Read More
An Evening of Korean Traditional Dance
Tuesday, January 23, 2024 | 6:30 PM (EST)|
Join us for an enchanted evening of Korean traditional dance performances. Kim Myoseon, Master Instructor of Seungmu (monk’s dance), the 27th Important Intangible Cultural Property of the Republic of Korea… Read More
Interview with Governor of Gyeonggi Province Dong Yeon Kim
Thursday, January 18, 2024 | 6:00 PM (EST)|
Join us for the “Local Leadership in a Global Context” series with Governor of Gyeonggi Province Dong Yeon Kim, moderated by Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, Korea Society Board Chair… Read More
Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation Series on Ethics & Common Values Inaugural Lecture by Dr. Jim Yong Kim
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 | 6 PM (EST)|
With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation… Read More
The U.S.-South Korea Alliance: Why It May Fail and Why It Must Not
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 | 6 PM (EST)|
Join us for a book talk with the Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy Scott Snyder. This new work provides an authoritative overview of the internal and external pressures on the U.S.–South Korea alliance and explores its future prospects… Read More
The U.S.-South Korea Alliance: Why It May Fail and Why It Must Not
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 | 6 PM (EST)|
Join us for a book talk with the Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy Scott Snyder. This new work provides an authoritative overview of the internal and external pressures on the U.S.–South Korea alliance and explores its future prospects… Read More
Beyond Utopia: Screening and Q&A with Sue Mi Terry and Seohyun Lee
Thursday, January 4, 2024 | 6 PM|
Join us for a screening of the documentary film BEYOND UTOPIA, winner of the Audience Award for US Documentary Features at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. BEYOND UTOPIA is a suspenseful look at the lengths people will go to gain freedom. It follows various individuals as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on earth… Read More
On January 13, the Council of Korean Americans and the Korea Economic Institute of America presented the Korean American Day Award to now-President & CEO of The Korea Society, Abraham Kim, recognizing his visionary leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and decades of dedicated service to the Korean American community.
Scott Snyder, President & CEO of the Korea Economic Institute of America, delivered remarks:
He approaches his work with intentionality, and it’s an intentionality that is built around connection. I think that that is both a set of characteristics that has embodied what he has done at CKA and it’s also a set of attributes that will serve him well as he moves to The Korea Society as their new president.
Photo credit (left): Council of Korean Americans |
January 13, 2026 marked 123 years since the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States in 1903. The Korean American community’s enduring spirit and impact across cultural, economic, and diplomatic spheres inspires and empowers the day-to-day work of The Korea Society. As the first Korean American president in its 69-year history, TKS is grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Dr. Abraham Kim in commemoration of this historical achievement.
Founded in 1957, The Korea Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting greater awareness, understanding, and cooperation between the U.S. and Korea.
Join us for the next installment of our “Local Leadership in a Global Context” series, as we delve into a discussion with the Governor of Jeollanamdo Kim Yung-rok, moderated by Tom Byrne, President & CEO of The Korea Society.
Governor Kim and Tom Byrne explore the intertwining of history with contemporary globalization, especially as it pertains to the U.S.-ROK Alliance. Here, they highlight the global leap of Jeollanamdo in various facets of everyday life, including politics, food, and culture, while also giving us a closer look at how the relationship between Jeollanamdo and the United States has evolved over the years.
Advancing the U.S.-ROK Alliance and the Global Rise of Jeollanamdo
IN-PERSON: Friday, October 25, 2024 | 10:30 AM (EDT) VIDEO RELEASE: Tuesday, December 17, 2024
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Kim Yung-rok was inaugurated as the 39th Governor of Jeollanamdo on July 1, 2022, marking his second consecutive term in office. With over four decades of public service experience, Governor Kim has dedicated his career to advancing the prosperity and sustainability of Jeollanamdo, focusing on green energy, smart agriculture, and balanced regional development. His leadership is characterized by a vision to transform Jeollanamdo into a global hub for future industries, particularly in renewable energy and sustainable farming.
Governor Kim’s path to leadership is grounded in his extensive governmental experience. Before his current role, he served as the Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs from 2017 to 2018, where he was instrumental in modernizing South Korea’s agricultural policies. His work focused on enhancing food security and rural development, while also driving agricultural innovation to strengthen the country’s competitiveness on the global stage.
In the National Assembly, where he served two terms as a representative, Governor Kim played a pivotal role in shaping policies related to agriculture and rural communities. His tenure was marked by legislative efforts aimed at promoting regional autonomy and economic development, with a particular emphasis on supporting farmers and addressing the challenges of rural depopulation.
As Governor, Kim Yung-rok has overseen numerous transformative projects for Jeollanamdo. One of his most significant initiatives is the province’s emergence as a leader in offshore wind energy and green hydrogen production. Under his leadership, Jeollanamdo is developing a massive offshore wind farm, which is set to be one of the largest in the world, and is creating an ecosystem for green hydrogen that will power future industries. These initiatives align with Governor Kim’s broader vision of positioning Jeollanamdo at the forefront of South Korea’s carbon-neutral future.
Born in 1955 in Wando, Jeollanamdo, Kim Yung-rok’s academic credentials include a Master’s in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University and a Bachelor’s in Public Administration from Konkuk University. His early career in public service saw him hold various key positions, including Vice Governor of Jeollanamdo, where he was instrumental in the province’s economic and administrative modernization.
Governor Kim’s leadership has been widely recognized. He is a four-time recipient of the Excellence in National Assembly Audit Award and has been honored multiple times for his public service and governance contributions. His publications, including On My Knees (2011) and The Ocean Built Me (2008), reflect on his journey and the values that drive his public service.
