All of us at the Korea Society were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ambassador Steve Bosworth, an outstanding professional diplomat and foreign policy intellectual who played an enormous role in promoting US-Korea relations over the past twenty years. I had the honor of following in Steve’s footsteps as Ambassador to Korea, where his steady hand was crucial to the cooperation between our two countries that facilitated Korea’s successful response to the financial crisis of the late 1990’s. As the first Executive Director of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), Steve had earlier led the effort to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through regional cooperation. Given his dedication to peaceful resolution of the issues dividing the Korean Peninsula, I was not surprised that he answered the call of duty seven years ago when President Obama asked him to return to lead efforts to build productive dialogue with the North. It is tragic the North Korean regime was not prepared to accept the opportunities offered them.

Throughout his diplomatic career, Steve somehow found himself in situations crying out for his skillful touch, whether it be in Asia or Latin America, or dealing with the most pressing multinational issues of the day, including energy security, non-proliferation, and democracy promotion. I first met him in the 1970’s, when, as a very young diplomat, Steve led consumer country efforts to cope with the Arab oil embargo through the creation of the International Energy Agency in Paris, an organization that has lived beyond the crisis to become one of the world’s leading authorities on energy issues. I next encountered Steve when he was Ambassador to the Philippines just as the “people power movement,” inspired in part by US calls for reform, lead to the collapse of the long-standing Marcos dictatorship. Steve’s cool-headed leadership was crucial to a successful transition.

Steve always had time for The Korea Society, whether as trusted advisor, keynote speaker, or featured participant in less formal events, such as the conversation he had with TKS Vice President Steve Noerper a few months ago. His passing is a loss for us and for US diplomacy. Our hearts go out to Chris and the rest of Steve’s family.

Remembering Ambassador Stephen Bosworth

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