Welcome
Mr. Bill. Rhodes
Dinner Chair

Greetings
The Hon. Donald P. Gregg
Chairman, The Korea Society

Mr. Evans J.R. Revere
President, The Korea Society

H.E. Lee Hee-Beom
50th Anniversary Commemoration Chair

Video Presentation

Remarks

The Hon. Christopher R. Hill
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Dinner

Keynote Address
H.E. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Introduction by Mr. Bill. Rhodes

Musical Interlude
Ms. Rose Jang, Soprano
With accompaniment by an ensemble from the
New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra
Introduction by Mr. Frederick F. Carriere

Van Fleet Award Ceremony

Honorees:

H.E. Kim Dae-jung
Video presentation with remarks by The Hon. Donald P. Gregg

Mr. & Mrs. Houghton Freeman
Introduction by Mr. Evans J.R. Revere

Korea Foundation
Introduction by The Hon. Donald P. Gregg

Closing Remarks
Mr. Evans J.R. Revere

BAN KI-MOON

Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, brings to his post 37 years of service both in government and on the global stage.

Career highlights

At the time of his election as Secretary-General, Mr. Ban was his country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His long tenure with the ministry included postings in New Delhi, Washington D.C. and Vienna, and responsibility for a variety of portfolios, including Foreign Policy Advisor to the President, Chief National Security Advisor to the President, Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and Director-General of American Affairs. Throughout this service, his guiding vision was that of a peaceful Korean peninsula, playing an expanding role for peace and prosperity in the region and the wider world.

Mr. Ban has longstanding ties with the United Nations, dating back to 1975, when he worked for the Foreign Ministry’s United Nations division. That work expanded over the years, with assignments as First Secretary at the ROK’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, Director of the UN Division at the ministry’s headquarters in Seoul, and Ambassador to Vienna, during which time, in 1999, he served as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization. In 2001-2002, as Chef-de-Cabinet during the ROK’s Presidency of the General Assembly, he facilitated the prompt adoption of the first resolution of the session, condemning the terrorist attacks of 11 September, and undertook a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the Assembly’s functioning, thereby helping to turn a session that started out in crisis and confusion into one in which a number of important reforms were adopted.

Mr. Ban has also been actively involved in issues relating to inter-Korean relations. In 1992, as Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister, he served as Vice Chair of the South-North Joint Nuclear Control Commission following the adoption of the historic Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In September 2005, as Foreign Minister, he played a leading role in bringing about another landmark agreement aimed at promoting peace and stability on the Korean peninsula with the adoption at the Six Party Talks of the Joint Statement on resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.

Education

Mr. Ban received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Seoul National University in 1970. In1985, he earned a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Prizes and awards

Mr. Ban has received numerous national and international prizes, medals and honours. In 1975, 1986 and again in 2006, he was awarded the ROK’s Highest Order of Service Merit for service to his country.

Lee Hee-Beom

is chairman and CEO of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Korea’s largest and most influential trade organization. KITA’s activities include supporting overseas marketing for Korean corporations, facilitating international trade cooperation, educating international trade specialists and advising the Korean government and international bodies on a wide range of trade-related matters.

Prior to taking the helm at KITA, Lee served as minister of Commerce, Energy and Industry in the cabinet of President Roh Moo-hyun. This appointment marked the apex of a 30-year career in Korea’s international trade diplomacy establishment. Beginning in 1973 as a deputy director in the Ministry of Trade, Lee moved on to become the commercial attaché to the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. from 1988 to 1991, filling the same position at Korea’s mission to the European Union in Brussels from 1994 to 1998. In these roles Lee took part in the Super 301 Negotiations, talks on renewing steel and textile arrangements with the U.S. and the Korea-EU Shipbuilding Negotiations. In 1998, Lee became standing commissioner of the Korean Trade Commission and special counsel to Kim Dae Jung’s Presidential Transition Committee. After serving as chairman and CEO of Korea Productivity in 2002, Lee became the president of Seoul National University of Technology in early 2003.

Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering and a master’s in public administration from Seoul National University. He also holds an MBA (summa cum laude) from George Washington University and a Ph.D. in business management from Kyunghee University in Seoul. Lee received a Presidential Commendation in May 1984.

Bill Rhodes
Chairman, President and CEO
Citibank N.A.

Chairman, President and CEO
Citicorp Holdings Inc.

Senior Vice Chairman
Citigroup Inc.

Bill Rhodes is the senior international officer for Citigroup. He has specific responsibilities for client relationships worldwide, as well as for relationships with governments and other official institutions. He is a member of Citigroup’s Operating and Management Committees.

Rhodes gained a reputation for international financial diplomacy in the 1980s because of his leadership in managing the developing world’s external-debt crises. During that period, and into the 1990s, Rhodes headed the advisory committees of international banks that negotiated debt-restructuring agreements for Argentina, Brazil, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. In 1998, when the Republic of Korea experienced liquidity problems, he chaired the international bank group that negotiated the extension of short-term debt of the Korean banking system. In early 1999, at the request of the government of Brazil, he acted as worldwide coordinator to help implement the maintenance of trade and inter-bank lines by foreign commercial banks to Brazil.

In addition to sitting on many corporate boards, Rhodes is a governor and trustee of The New York-Presbyterian Hospital, a member of the Lincoln Center Consolidated Corporate Fund Leadership Committee and a vice chairman of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Business Committee and Chairman’s Committee. He is a member of the board of overseers of the Watson Institute for International Studies and chairman emeritus of the board of trustees of the Northfield Mount Hermon School.

He has received decorations and honors from various governments and institutions, including an honorary doctorate in humane letters from his alma mater, Brown University. He is a chevalier and officer of France’s Legion of Honor and has received decorations from Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela and Jamaica, as well as multiple awards from not-for-profit organizations in recognition of his contributions to international banking and finance.

Rhodes joined Citibank in 1957 after graduating from Brown University.

Dinner Chair 

William R. Rhodes
Chairman, President & CEO, Citibank, N.A.
Senior Vice Chairman, Citigroup, Inc.

50^th Anniversary Commemoration Chair

Lee Hee-beom
Chairman & CEO
Korea International Trade Association
Korea-U.S. Economic Council

Benefactor

Citigroup, Inc.

Korea International Trade Association

Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Standard Chartered Bank

The Starr Foundation

Tiger Asia Management L.L.C.

Patron

American International Group, Inc.

Citigroup, Inc.

Gale International

GS Caltex Corporation

Korea International Trade Association

Lazard Asset Management LLC

LG Electronics, North American HQ

Sponsor

The Boeing Company

Korea Exchange Bank

KPMG LLP

Lehman Brothers

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Prudential Financial, Inc.

SK USA, Inc.

The Washington Times Foundation

Donor

Citibank, N.A.

Deloitte & Touche

Hyosung (America) Inc.

Korean Bankers Association in New York

NYSE Euronext

The Coca-Cola Company

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Korean Consulate General

POSCO America Corporation

Special Acknowledgement

Additional support was provided by Alexandra Munroe; Mark Gaston, Gaston Capital Management Inc.; On Sohn, SEI Global.

We gratefully acknowledge in-kind donations from Johnnie Walker.

The Korea Society 2006 Annual Dinner

honoring
The Honorable Madeleine Albright
Former United States Secretary of State

and
2006 Van Fleet Awardee
Lee Kun-Hee
Samsung Chairman

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

The Pierre
Fifth Avenue at 61st Street
New York City

Reception – 6:30 PM – Cotillion Room
Dinner – 7:30 PM – Grand Ballroom

Hundreds of friends of The Korea Society-including many of the most prominent members of the business and diplomatic establishments in the U.S. and the ROK-gathered in the main ballroom of The Pierre hotel in New York City to celebrate the organization and those who have done outstanding work in carrying out its mission of forging ever closer, deeper U.S.-Korea ties. At this year’s annual dinner, Lee Kun-Hee, chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, was honored with The Korea Society’s 2006 James A. Van Fleet Award. Madeleine Albright, former U.S. secretary of state, delivered the keynote address.

Introduced by Donald P. Gregg, president and chairman of The Korea Society, Albright spoke in rousing defense of the U.S.-Korea alliance. Recounting her experiences in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue in the 1990s, Albright decried the current administration’s hard-line posture towards Pyongyang, urging that the U.S. conduct direct and unconditional talks with the North and cement a comprehensive plan for denuclearization and development on the Korean peninsula. “It is important that all concerned focus less on process and debating points than on progress and results,” she said.

Albright was followed by a last-minute addition to the program, South Korea’s foreign minister and the leading candidate for U.N. secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon. Minister Ban praised all the work of The Korea Society over the last year, as well as the many contributions made by Chairman Lee to U.S.-Korea relations. Donald P. Gregg then took the podium to present the award.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by the sounds of the International Sejong Soloists, one of the most prestigious string ensembles in New York, and the stylings of renowned Korean jazz vocalist Youn Sun Nah.

The 2006 annual dinner was one of the most successful in The Korea Society’s history. The caliber of the program attracted a full house of guests and sponsors, as well as numerous members of the Korean, American and Japanese press.  

Madeleine Korbel Albright served as the 64th secretary of state of the United States.  In 1997, she was named the first woman secretary of state and became, to that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the US government. (portrait by Timothy Greenfield Sanders)

Dr. Albright is the founder of The Albright Group LLC, a global strategy firm.

She is the first Michael and Virginia Mortara Endowed Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service.  She is the chairman of The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, chair of The Pew Global Attitudes Project and president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation.  Dr. Albright is the co-chair of the High Level Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor (HLCLEP) and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Board of Trustees for the Aspen Institute.  
   
As Secretary, Dr. Albright reinforced America’s alliances, advocated democracy and human rights, and promoted American trade and business, labor, and environmental standards abroad.

Accomplishments during former Secretary Albright ’s tenure included the expansion and modernization of NATO and NATO’s successful campaign to reverse ethnic cleansing in Kosovo; the promotion of peace in the Balkans; the reduction of nuclear dangers from Russia; the strengthening of democracy in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America; the skillful management of our multifaceted relationship with China including trade as well as human rights; and the growth of trade in the Americas, in Africa through the African Growth Opportunity Act, and through the conclusion of hundreds of other agreements that facilitated American business overseas. 

From 1993 – 1997, Dr. Albright served as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as a member of the President’s Cabinet.  In 1995, she led the U.S. delegation to the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.

Dr. Albright was the Director of Women in Foreign Service Programs and a Research Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University during the decade prior to her return to public service.  From 1989 -1992, she was President of the Center for National Policy, a non-profit public policy organization based in Washington D.C.  As a professor, Dr. Albright wrote extensively on change in communist systems particularly on the role of the media. 

From 1978-81, Dr. Albright was a member of President Carter’s National Security Council and White House staff.  From 1976-78, she served as Chief Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie. 

Dr. Albright received her B.A. with Honors, from Wellesley College, Masters and Doctorate from Columbia University’s Department of Public Law and Government, as well as a Certificate from the Russian Institute.

She was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and immigrated to America with her family after Communists took control of that country in 1948.  She is the mother of three daughters and has six grandchildren.

Dr. Albright’s autobiography, Madam Secretary: A Memoir, was published in September, 2003. She has a new book entitled The Mighty and The Almighty – Reflections on America, God and World Affairs, published in May, 2006. (as of 5-06)

Lee Kun-Hee is chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, a leading manufacturer of industrial and consumer electronics. Prior to serving in this role, Lee served as chairman of the Samsung Group from 1987 to 1998 and vice chairman of the group from 1978 to 1987. He began his career with the Samsung Group in 1968, serving as executive director of Joong-Ang Daily News and Tong-Yang Broadcasting Corporation until 1978. Lee has made many noteworthy contributions to the global business community. For his dedication to improving economic and social ties between France and Korea, the French government honored him in 2004 with the Commandeur de la Légion D’Honneur (Commander of the Legion of Honor), a prestigious decoration established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.

Lee has worked tirelessly in a variety of roles to advance the well-being of Korea and the Korean people. He has been of vice chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries since 1987, and vice chairman of the Korea-Japan Economic Committee since 1981. He is the current director of the Korean Youth Association.

Lee has also worked to extend opportunities to Korean athletes. Lee served as president of the Korean Amateur Wresting Federation from 1982 to 1996 and as honorary president since 1997. He has been a standing member of the Korean Olympic Committee since 1982, becoming vice president of that committee in 1993 and honorary president in 1996. In 1996, Lee was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee and, later that year, as a member of the Korean Organizing Committee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea-Japan.

Born on January 9, 1942 in the town of Uiryung, Kyongnam Province, South Korea, Lee is married with one son and two daughters. He majored in economics at Waseda University in Tokyo, studied business administration at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and has received two honorary doctorates-one, in business administration, from Seoul National University in January 2000, and the other, in philosophy, from Korea University in May 2005.

BENEFACTORS

PATRONS

BENEFACTORS

Citigroup Inc.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Standard Chartered Bank

PATRONS

American International Group, Inc. 
Corning Incorporated
Kookmin Bank
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd 

SPONSORS

FedEx Express 
Gale International
GS Caltex Corporation
Korea Exchange Bank
Korean-American Friendship Association
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Lehman Brothers
LG Electronics, North America Headquarters 
Poongsan Corporation 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Prudential Financial
SK USA, Inc.
Tiger Asia Management L.L.C.
 

DONORS

Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
Gale International
Hyosung America Incorporated
Kim & Chang
Korea Bankers Association of New York
KPMG LLP
Merrill Lynch
NYSE Group 

CONTRIBUTORS

Asian American Bar Association of NY
The Boeing Company
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP 
DMZ Forum 
Korea International Trade Association 
Korea Consulate General 
POSCO America Corporation
State Street Financial

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Additional support was provided by Robert A. Terry, Westinghouse.

We gratefully acknowledge in-kind donations from Johnnie Walker.