2015 Van Fleet Award Honoree

DR. HO YOUN KIM
FOUNDER, KIM KOO FOUNDATION
CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, AND CEO
BINGGRAE CO., LTD

Ho Youn Kim is the founder of the Kim Koo Foundation, which he established in honor of Kim Koo (1876-1949), the Premier of the Korean Provisional Government and the Korean national, in all major polls, admired the most by fellow Koreans. He is Chairman and CEO of Binggrae Corporation Ltd., a major producer of food and beverages in Korea. He is also chairman of Adan Library, which stores one of the most extensive archives on early modern and modern Korean literature, including several pieces of Korean National Treasure. He is also chairman of the Republic of Korea Air Force History Foundation. Dr. Kim is former ROK National Assemblyman and member of the National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Unification.

Dr. Kim transformed Binggrae into a model corporation with high profit rates and a high degree of financial stability. For his leadership, he was awarded the Order of the Silver Tower in 2011, CEO of the Year 2004 by the Korea Management Association, and the Order of Civil Merit by the Republic of Korea’s government. Binggrae products are sold widely beyond Korea’s borders, in the U.S., Canada, South America, China, Russia, and throughout Southeast Asia.

To better present Korean history and culture to an international body of students, scholars, and practitioners in the United States, the Kim Koo Foundation has established the following programs: Kim Koo Visiting Professorship (2004) and Kim Koo Forum on U.S.-Korea Relations at the Korea Institute, Harvard University (2005); Kim Koo Library at the Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University (2009); Kim Koo Chair in Korean Studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (2012); and the Kim Koo Professional Series at The Korea Society. The Harvard Kim Koo Forum, a seminar series on Korea, peace and security in Northeast Asia, East Asian history and culture, has played an important role in advancing mutual understanding and knowledge between Korea and the U.S. Former speakers at the Forum include President Park Geun Hye, former President Kim Dae Jung, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and former U.S. Ambassadors to Seoul Stephen Bosworth, Thomas Hubbard, and Kathleen Stephens.

In 2014, Dr. Kim, a former officer of the Air Force, became the inaugural chairman of the ROK Air Force History Foundation, which sheds a new light on the history of cooperation between the ROK and U.S. air forces through hosting conferences and related programs. A recent conference featured former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force Ronald R. Fogleman and former Commander of the Seventh Air Force Stephen G. Wood.

Dr. Kim is Goodwill Ambassador of Habitat for Humanity Korea. Since 2001, he has participated each year with his family in volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity within Korea and overseas. Dr. Kim’s philanthropy extends widely to supporting food banks, Save the Children, orphanages, student scholarships, descendants of Korean independence fighters, the disabled, and retirement communities. He is an honorary board member of the Midwest Young Artists, the largest youth ensemble music program in the Midwest, and a member of the Asian Advisory Group of the Fletcher School, Tufts University.

Dr. Kim received his bachelor’s in management from Sogang University in 1979, master’s in economics from Hitotsubashi University in 1985, and doctorate in management from Sogang University in 2006. In recognition of his active involvement in and support for civil diplomacy, Dr. Kim was awarded the Order of Altan Gadas (Polar Star) from Mongolia, and I’ordre du Mérite Agricole from France, the highest awards given to foreign nationals by the respective governments.

Key Note Speaker & 2014 Van Fleet Award Honoree

MARILLYN A. HEWSON
CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, AND CEO
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION

Marillyn A. Hewson is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation. She previously held a variety of increasingly responsible executive positions with the Corporation, including President and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin’s Electronic Systems business area.

In her 30 years with Lockheed Martin, Ms. Hewson has held several operational leadership positions including President of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration; Executive Vice President of Global Sustainment for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics; President and General Manager of Kelly Aviation Center, L.P., an affiliate of Lockheed Martin; and President of Lockheed Martin Logistics Services. She has also served in key corporate executive roles, including Senior Vice President of Corporate Shared Services, Vice President of Global Supply Chain Management, and Vice President of Corporate Internal Audit.

Ms. Hewson serves on the Board of Directors of DuPont and previously chaired the Sandia Corporation Board of Directors from 2010 to 2013. She served on the Board of Directors of Carpenter Technology Corporation from 2002 through 2006. In September 2013, Ms. Hewson was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Export Council, the principal national advisory committee on international trade. She serves as Steering Committee Chair for the Defense Industry Initiative, an association of U.S. defense companies committed to conducting business affairs at the highest ethical level. She is a member of the Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries Association, and is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Ms. Hewson serves on the Board of Directors of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, the Board of Governors of the USO and on the Board of the National Geographic Education Foundation. She is a member of The Business Roundtable, the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., and the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration Board of Visitors. Ms. Hewson has been selected by Fortune magazine as one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” for the past four years and was named #4 in 2013.  She was named by Forbes as one of the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” in 2013.

Born in Junction City, Kansas, Ms. Hewson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and her Master of Arts degree in economics from The University of Alabama. She also attended the Columbia Business School and Harvard Business School executive development programs.

2014 Van Fleet Award Honoree

YONGMAAN PARK
CHAIRMAN AND CEO
DOOSAN GROUP

Mr. Park is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Doosan Group, and he is also Chairman of key Doosan businesses including Doosan Infracore and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction. Doosan is a Global conglomerate with $24 billion revenue generated from the construction power and desalination plants as well as the manufacture of power equipment, construction equipment, engines and machine tools. Doosan boasts a storied history of 118 years, making it the oldest company in Korea—yet it is simultaneously the most dynamic enterprise.

Mr. Park has been in the front-and-center of the renowned transformation of the Doosan Group. He has led over 42 deals including acquisitions and divestitures of businesses as part of the strategic drive to overhaul Doosan’s business portfolio, turning Doosan from a consumer goods company to an ISB (Infrastructure Support Business) focused enterprise. Included in this portfolio change was the acquisition of Bobcat, the world leader in compact construction equipment. He has also spearheaded Doosan’s broader globalization efforts, transforming the Korean company into a multi-national conglomerate with operations in more than 30 countries, with over 50 percent of its 43,000 employees working overseas. Mr. Park’s leadership has led Doosan to achieve a seven-fold revenue growth in just over a decade. Doosan’s success, and Mr. Park’s leadership, have received tremendous publicity abroad and are frequently benchmarked in the industry.

In acknowledgement of his leadership and expertise, Mr. Park was elected as Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in August 2013. The KCCI is the nation’s largest business organization encompassing 71 regional chambers and approximately 150,000 firms and industry associations in Korea. Mr. Park, as Chairman of the KCCI, plays a central role in representing diverse voices of businesses and building close partnerships between the private and public sectors.

Mr. Park has also been known for his devoted service to enhance the commercial ties between Korea and other countries, being awarded the Order of Civil Merit of Spain in 2003 and the Order of Leopold Ⅱ of Belgium in 2009. Mr. Park has been Chairman of the Korea-Spain Economic Cooperation Committee since 2000, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Special Olympics – Korea since 2011. Mr. Park has been described as an open and caring leader who places people at the core of his values, and is currently devoted to building a strong common corporate culture within Doosan designed to achieve unparalleled success of Doosan for another 100 years.

An avid photographer and dedicated athlete, Mr. Park spends his leisure time in pursuing documentary photography and cross-country trekking. Mr. Park has traversed the Korean Peninsula on foot, travelling 550 km along a north-south path and 320 km along a west-east path. Most recently he has walked across 230km around the southern coast, setting a record of total 1,100km.

Mr. Park is also a public figure known for his open communication through Twitter, with more than 155,000 followers.

Mr. Park received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Seoul National University in 1978 and his MBA from Boston University in 1982. He is fluent in English and Japanese.

2010 Van Fleet Award Honoree

GENERAL COLIN L. POWELL
65TH SECRETARY OF STATE
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

IN RECOGNITION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND IN HONOR OF VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR

General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret) became the 65th Secretary of State on January 20, 2001. As he stated at his confirmation hearing, the guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy during his tenure was that “America stands ready to help any country that wishes to join the democratic world.”

Born in New York City on April 5, 1937, General Powell was raised in the South Bronx. His parents, Luther and Maud Powell, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. General Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from Morris High School and the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in geology. He also participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958. His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University.

General Powell is the recipient of numerous U.S. military awards and decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart.

General Powell’s civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President’s Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. He has received awards from over two dozen countries to include a French Legion of Honor and an honorary knighthood bestowed by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

General Powell is the Founder of the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies at his alma mater, the City College of New York. The Center is student-focused with a mission to develop a new generation of publicly engaged leaders. He is also the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the America’s Promise Alliance, dedicated to forging a strong and effective partnership alliance committed to seeing that children have the fundamental resources they need to succeed.

He has also been a member of the Board of Trustees of Howard University and the Board of Directors of the United Negro College Fund. The General also served on the Board of Governors of The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and was a member of the Advisory Board of the Children’s Health Fund.

General Powell is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama. The Powell family includes son Michael; daughters, Linda and Annemarie; daughter-in-law Jane, and grandchildren Jeffrey, Bryan, Abigail and Patrick.

2010 Van Fleet Award Honoree

GENERAL PAIK SUN YUP

IN RECOGNITION OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND IN HONOR OF VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR

Paik Sun Yup, the Republic of Korea’s foremost army general during the Korean War, was born in 1920 near Pyongyang. After service in the Manchurian Army during World War II, he escaped the onrushing Soviet Army for Pyongyang, where he became actively involved in Korea’s fledging national liberation movement. Realizing in 1946 that a communist takeover in the north was inevitable, Paik made his way to the south and joined the South Korean Constabulary (later to become the ROK Army). When North Korea launched its general offensive against the ROK on June 25, 1950, then Colonel Paik was commander of the ROK 1st Infantry Division. During the course of the war, he became the first South Korean to achieve the rank of four-star general. Paik participated in all ten of the major campaigns of the Korean War, commanded an independent corps that conducted the largest anti-guerilla operation of the war, and was the ROK’s initial representative to the armistice negotiations. 

Following the signing of the armistice, Paik served twice as ROK Army chief of staff and was also chairman of the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired from active duty in 1960 as the most highly decorated soldier in the ROK Army. His military decorations include two Taeguk Medals (Korea’s highest award), as well as seven U.S. medals, including one Silver Star, four Legions of Merit and a Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. After his retirement from the ROK Army, General Paik served as ambassador to Taiwan in 1960, France (and concurrently 16 other European and African nations) in 1961, and Canada in 1965. From 1969 to 1971, he served as the ROK Minister of Transportation and played a significant role in establishing the country’s current public transportation system. From 1971 to 1980, he was president of South Korea’s largest chemical company. From 1999 to 2003, he was chairman of the ROK 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee. 

Residing in Seoul, Paik and his wife of 65 years, In Sook, have four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Paik is the author of several books, including From Pusan to Panmunjom (1992) as well as chairman of the Military History Compilation Institute Advisory Committee to the Ministry of National Defense, the first president of the Association of the ROK Army, and elder adviser to the National Diplomacy and Security Council.

2009 Van Fleet Award Honoree

THE HONORABLE HENRY A. KISSINGER
56TH SECRETARY OF STATE
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Dr. Henry A. Kissinger has dedicated a lifetime to the cause of diplomacy and to the advancement of America’s interests throughout the world.  Through his service to his country, including as 56th Secretary of State, through his work as an educator and scholar, as an advisor to presidents, as a prize-winning author, and as a private citizen and commentator, Dr. Kissinger has left his mark on U.S. foreign policy and America’s place in the world.

2009 Van Fleet Award Honoree

CHUNG MONG-KOO
CHAIRMAN
HYUNDAI-KIA AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Chairman Chung Mong-Koo exemplifies the visionary leadership, innovative spirit, and global perspective that are the hallmarks of the world’s finest corporate leaders.

As chairman and chief executive officer of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Chairman Chung oversees one of the world’s most successful automobile manufacturers. He has made his company the world’s fifth largest automaker by applying the hands-on management style and attention to quality that form the core of his leadership philosophy.

The United States has been a major beneficiary of his firm’s global expansion. Today, some 20,000 Americans are employed in Hyundai-Kia’s production, sales, and development relatedoperations throughout the United States and this number is expected to grow. Hyundai-Kia’s commitment to the U.S. market and to its American workers underscores the deepening links between the American and Korean economies. 

In recognition of the leadership that has made Hyundai-Kia one of the world’s most successful firms; for the important contribution his company is making to the strengthening of U.S.-ROK economic ties; and in appreciation of the major role he has played in supporting The Korea Society’s growth and development, we are honored to present Chairman Chung Mong-Koo with the 2009 Van Fleet Award.

2008 Van Fleet Award Honoree

DON OBERDORFER
CHAIRMAN
U.S.-KOREA INSTITUTE
SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Over a distinguished career in journalism spanning nearly four decades, including a quarter century as a White House correspondent, Northeast Asia correspondent, and diplomatic correspondent for the Washington Post, Don Oberdorfer has established an unparalleled reputation as one of the leading American experts on Korea.

Don Oberdorfer is universally acclaimed for his thoughtful, thorough, and meticulous analysis of the diplomatic and strategic issues defining the relationship between the United States and the Korean peninsula, with a particular focus on the tensions and dramatic changes of the last quarter-century. His highly praised book, The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History, offers a lucid, balanced, and dramatic account of the major developments on both sides of the armistice line. This magisterial work is a model of the indispensable guidance Don Oberdorfer has provided to American policy makers and the general public alike. It has become the standard by which other contemporary histories of Korea will be judged.

Few Americans have done more than Don Oberdorfer to raise awareness of developments on the Korean peninsula or to deepen the knowledge and understanding of the background and context of U.S. Korea relations. These contributions testify eloquently to his unswerving, lifelong commitment to honest and independent inquiry. As the first journalist selected for this recognition, it is my great pleasure and honor to welcome Don Oberdorfer to the ranks of the distinguished recipients of the James A. Van Fleet Award.

2008 Van Fleet Award 

PEACE CORPS KOREA VOLUNTEERS

Many Americans have dedicated themselves to the cause of U.S.–Korea friendship over the years. Few Americans have done more for this cause than the approximately 2,500 men and women who served as Peace Corps volunteers in Korea from 1966 to 1981. Answering their country’s call, these Americans gave two years of their lives to work in Korea during an era when the idea of Korea as a modern democracy and a world-class economy was only a dream in the minds of visionaries.

The Peace Corps Korea volunteers shared with Koreans from all walks of life their skills and their spirit of sacrifice. Traveling to a foreign land, they were determined to contribute to its development and did so in a way that is still remembered and appreciated on both sides of the Pacific. The volunteers shared their talents and knowledge with newfound friends in Korea, and in doing so they developed a deep appreciation for Korea’s culture and language as well as a strong affection for the Korean people.

Today, many Koreans speak of the profound educational and personal impact the Peace Corps volunteers had on them. And today, those volunteers continue to distinguish themselves in government, academia, and business, carrying with them and spreading to others the deep feelings for Korea that have helped make fast the bonds that link our two peoples. The Korea Society is pleased to honor the selfless dedication these Americans showed in support of U.S.–Korea relations by bestowing a 2008 James A. Van Fleet Award on the veterans of the Peace Corps Korea program. It is a special honor to have The Honorable Kevin O’Donnell, the first country director of the Peace Corps Korea program, accept the award on behalf of all those who served America–and Korea–so well as Peace Corps Korea volunteers.