Program Brief
2026 Armistice Day Reception
In a reception commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement and celebrating the U.S.-ROK alliance, The Korea Society, in collaboration with the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) New York City Metro Area Chapter and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, brought together veterans, policy leaders, and alliance supporters to honor the service and sacrifice of U.S. and Republic of Korea veterans.
The commemoration emphasized that the U.S.-ROK alliance extends far beyond diplomatic agreements, having been forged through shared sacrifice in the mud, snow, and blood of the battlefield. This relationship was historically exemplified by the partnership between Eighth Army Commander General James Van Fleet and General Paik Sun-yup, whose mutual respect laid the tactical and structural foundation for the modern Republic of Korea Army. As highlighted throughout the evening, the loss of thousands of American and Korean soldiers, including General Van Fleet's own son, created an unbreakable bond.
Marking the anniversary of the Armistice Agreement signed on July 27, 1953, the evening reception provided an opportunity for reflection on the alliance's historic achievements while reaffirming a shared commitment to its future.
This program was made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation, KDVA, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, and The Korea Society's individual and corporate members.
The program was covered by Voice of America. A video is available to view here.
Key Takeaways
1. Peace Through Security and the Evolution of the Armistice
Consul General Sangho Kim framed the 1953 Armistice not as a permanent resolution, but as a provisional pause that granted South Korea the essential time required to rebuild from the ashes of war into a global democracy and economic powerhouse. While seven decades under a temporary ceasefire has carried immense economic burdens and persistent fears of renewed conflict, he argued that the responsibility of the present generation is to leverage the U.S.–ROK alliance, robust deterrence, and steady diplomacy to transition from mere containment toward a lasting treaty that permanently eliminates the fear of war on the Korean Peninsula.
2. The Frontline Reality and the Enduring Human Legacy of Combat
Korean War Marine veteran Jack Foley offered a grounded, personal perspective on the human cost and living legacy of the Korean War, recounting his 1951 deployment with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. Foley detailed the immediate, exhausting transition to frontline mountain combat, where troops endured months of constant vigilance without permanent shelter, paved roads, or basic amenities like clean uniforms. Beyond his battlefield service, Foley highlighted the profound personal bonds formed in the decades following the war. Serving in the New York City Police Department during the 1960s, his encounters with Korean immigrants routinely transformed into immediate, deep friendships rooted in mutual respect for his service which culminated in his upcoming official revisit to South Korea.
3. Preserving Memory and Mobilizing Modern Partnerships
Reflecting on the modern responsibilities of both nations, speakers from The Korea Society and KDVA framed veteran sacrifice as an ongoing "debt of duty" rather than a simple historical memory. General Chris Stockel and Korea Society Policy Director Jonathan Corrado noted that a strong US-ROK alliance remains essential for guaranteeing regional stability and economic growth in Northeast Asia. Honorably fulfilling the mission of Korean War veterans requires continuous, active coalition-building across government, veteran organizations, and civil society in both the United States and South Korea to ensure that historical courage continues to secure lasting peace and prosperity.
2026 Armistice Day Commemorative Reception
Thursday, July 23, 2026 | 6:00 PM (EDT)
The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017
About the Speakers:
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Consul General Sangho Kim of the Republic of Korea in New York. Consul-General Kim Sang Ho serves as the Consul-General of the Korean Consulate General in New York, a position he assumed in April 2026. Prior to his diplomatic appointment in New York, Consul-General Kim was actively involved in civic and national organizations, serving as a Board Member for the Citizen's Coalition for Urban Future from 2024 to 2026 and as the Director General of the External Cooperation Bureau for the National Council for People's Sovereignty from 2024 to 2025. From 2018 to 2022, he served as the Mayor of Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province. He served as the Vice Chair of the Policy Committee at the Central Headquarters of the Democratic Party of Korea from 2017 to 2018, which followed an eight-year tenure as an Advisor to a Member of the National Assembly for the Democratic Party of Korea from 2008 to 2016. |
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Brigadier General (Ret.) Chris Stockel currently serves as the Korea Defense Veterans Association New York City Metro Chapter president. He is also the vice president of the Civil Affairs Association, senior U.S. civil military operations (CMO) advisor to the Korea Battle Simulation Center (KBSC). He commanded infantry, special forces, and civil affairs units, culminating at the one-star level as commanding general (CG) of the 351st Civil Affairs Command (CACOM) in Mountain View, CA and as the acting Combined Forces Command (CFC) C9 (civil affairs), Korea. As CG of the 351st, he was responsible for nearly all civil affairs operations in the INDO-PACIFIC. Previous to this, he was deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) and chief of staff (COS) of the 352nd CACOM. Before this, he was the commander of the civil military operations center (CMOC) and deputy COS strategic effects Operational Command Post (OCP) Third Army/ARCENT, Kuwait. He deployed twice to Iraq – once as a CA officer and later as the PAO for CJSOTF-AP. Other assignments included interagency duty with State counter-terrorism at Main State in the CT bureau, formerly S/CT, a joint assignment with USSOCOM, and Special Operations USEUCOM (SOCEUR). His training assignments, tours, and deployment postings included numerous European, Asian, Central American, Caribbean, East African, and Middle Eastern countries (including Egypt, Iraq, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon, and Kuwait). He spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations focused on China, at AUSA LANPAC in Hawaii on HADR, and testified about Iraq before Congress to the House committee on State and Foreign Operations. Stockel earned a BA in Mathematics/Computer Science with a minor in German from Trenton State College including a year abroad at the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany and a Master's Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is a life member of the Council of Foreign Relations. While in uniform he held DoD language ratings in German, Arabic, and Spanish. He is ranger and special forces qualified. His numerous awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, German Parachute Badge, Latvian Special Forces Parachute Badge, Indonesian Parachute Badge, and Cote d'Ivoire Parachute Badge. |
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Jack Foley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps following his graduation from high school in March 1951 at the age of 17. Jack completed recruit training at Parris Island before being transferred to Camp Pendleton in California for advanced infantry instruction. The training included rigorous Mountain Warfare exercises in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in preparation for deployment to Korea. Upon his return home in late November 1952, he was promoted to the rank of Marine Sergeant in the USMC and assigned to the 2nd Marine Division at Camp LeJeune, NC serving with the Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. In May 1953, Jack was reassigned to Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA where he served as a Weapons instructor at the Officer Candidate School. Following this assignment, he returned to Camp LeJeune where he completed his service and was honorably discharged. After Jack's honorable discharge from active duty in 1955, he was accepted into the New York City Police Department where he began his career in law enforcement. Concurrently, he rejoined the Marine Corps as a reservist, ultimately serving a total of 25 years and retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant. During that time, he participated in specialized training programs including Desert Warfare training in the Mojave Desert, Jungle Warfare School in Panama, and Cold Weather training in Norway. In 1990, Jack continued his commitment to public service by joining the Lee County Sheriff's Office in Fort Myers, Florida. He served proudly as a Deputy Sheriff and later retired with the rank of Police Sergeant. |