THE KOREA SOCIETY

The Korea Society fondly remembers our friend, former United States Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and Emory University President Emeritus James T. Laney, who passed away on August 13, 2026, at the age of 98.

For his full obituary, please go here. An excerpt reads:

“An ordained United Methodist minister and scholar, President Laney came to Emory in 1969 to serve as dean of Candler School of Theology… When the Board of Trustees named him to lead Emory in 1977, President Laney made clear that he had great plans for the university… The appointment of President Laney as US Ambassador to South Korea in 1993 marked a remarkable transition from university leadership to international diplomacy. Laney carried Emory’s tradition of scholarship, moral leadership, and service onto the world stage.”

In 1996, Ambassador Laney received The Korea Society’s highest honor, the Van Fleet Award, recognizing his profound dedication and outstanding contributions to U.S.-Korea relations.

“Your service in Korea, as a soldier, as a professor, and now as American ambassador, exemplifies what General Van Fleet had in mind when he created The Korea Society in 1957. These career achievements perfectly embody the spirit of the James A. Van Fleet Award which I am delighted to present to you now. Your acceptance of the award brightens its luster, and your accomplishments set a very high standard which we hope that others will seek to follow.”

Earlier this year, Ambassador Laney was also honored with the Pacific Century Institute’s Building Bridges Award, celebrating an eight-decade engagement with Korea that began when he arrived as a young U.S. Army counterintelligence officer in 1947.

In his remarks, Ambassador Laney reflected on witnessing Korea’s remarkable transformation from a war-torn nation into one of the world’s most prosperous democracies. To watch his full Building Bridges Award remarks, please go here.

The Korea Society, joined by its extensive community of friends, pays tribute to the remarkable legacy of Ambassador Laney—an eminent statesman, scholar, and mentor—and expresses its profound gratitude for his lifetime of service and steadfast commitment to the enduring U.S.-Korea partnership.