Join an intimate conversation with defector Seongmin Lee, who escaped North Korea in 2009. Hailing from the border town of Hyesan, Lee witnessed the tumultuous social and economic change in the wake of the 1990s famine. Lee converses with associate policy director Jonathan Corrado in this event marking the fourth anniversary of the release of the UN Commission of Inquiry Report on North Korea human rights.
Marking thirty years since the shift from authoritarianism to democracy in South Korea, the Korea Society hosts analysts and experts for an intimate discussion of the transition then, the flowering of democracy since, to include the Candlelight Movement, and the state of Korea’s democracy today. This is a small-group, special recording session.
PART 2
Thursday, February 15
3:00 PM
Special recording narration: Ms. Lauren Bernstein, Actors Equity
Introduction: Dr. Stephen Noerper, Korea Society
3:15 PM
Flowering of Korea’s Democracy: Mr. Philip Sherman, Citi (ret.)
3:20 PM
Evolution of Korea’s Democracy: Professor Sung-yoon Lee, Fletcher School
Discussion
4:00 PM
Coffee/Tea
4:15 PM
Korea 1987: Transitions Then and Since
Discussion
5:00 PM
Adjourn
Reception: Morton’s, 45th Street
Friday, February 16
10:00 AM
Korea’s Democracy and US-Korea Relations: Mr. Bruce Klingner, Heritage and Dr. Sue Mi Terry, CSIS, Mr. Scott Snyder, CFR, and Professor Sung-yoon Lee, Fletcher School, in conversation with Dr. Stephen Noerper, Korea Society
11:30 AM
Adjourn
Special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Philip Sherman, Actors Equity, and the Korea Foundation
These first-Wednesday monthly roundtables draw members and supporters from policy, corporate, media, academe, and the United Nations to discuss and debate Korea’s leadership, regional relations or the North Korea challenge. The 2018 kickoff addresses issues of politics and policy in the lead-up to the Winter Games and takes place two days prior to the Opening Ceremonies. Korea Society senior director and Columbia adjunct professor Stephen Noerper addresses the lead-up to the Winter Games with a call-in from the Council on Foreign Relations’ Scott Snyder and the Center for a New American Security’s Patrick Cronin.
Against the backdrop of China’s mounting influence and North Korea’s growing nuclear capability and expanding missile arsenal, South Korea faces a set of strategic choices that will shape its economic prospects and national security. In South Korea at the Crossroads, Scott A. Snyder examines the trajectory of fifty years of South Korean foreign policy and offers predictions—and a prescription—for the future. Pairing a historical perspective with a shrewd understanding of today’s political landscape, Scott Snyder contends that South Korea’s best strategy remains investing in a robust alliance with the United States.
This event has been rescheduled from Wednesday, January 31 at 4 PM. It will now be held on Thursday, February 1 at 6 PM. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
South Korea at the Crossroads
with
Scott Snyder
Freefor Korea Society Fellow, Patron, and Corporate members with RSVP
This noon session serving policy and corporate leaders examines politics, stability and security on and around the Korean Peninsula. This session features Dr. Sue Mi Terry, who has assumed leadership of Korea programs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Dr. Terry, who appears widely in media and was featured at a recent New Yorker event, speaks with Dr. Stephen Noerper, Korea Society senior director, and lends thoughts to likely developments in politics and security for Korea and her neighbors in 2018.
Forecasting Korean Politics and Security
with
Sue Mi Terry
Freefor Korea Society Fellow, Patron, and Corporate members with RSVP
Author Ned Forney and retired Admiral J. Robert Lunney discussed the Heungnam Evacuation and Lunney’s “Ship of Miracles” in this special holiday event commemorating the United Nation’s first humanitarian evacuation. Forney spoke to his major Seoul daily release profiling six descendants of those saved, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Lunney, who welcomed President Moon to Virginia during his first US visit as President, shares reflections on those harrowing days, acts of heroism, and the extraordinary flight to freedom.
A holiday reception follows, marking the December 1950 evacuation for members and guests, to include visitors from the United Nations nearby. The event also marks the 60th anniversary of the first Korea Society board meeting on December 12, 1957. Come celebrate the holidays and be touched by tales of sacrifice and the triumph of the human spirit and Korea-US friendship.
Thursday, December 14, 2017 | 4 PM
Heungnam Remembered
Korea Society Fellow, Patron, and Corporate members, please register HERE for complimentary tickets.
Ned Forney is a writer living in Seoul, South Korea. He is a former career educator and US Marine Corps veteran who has spent the past 8 years overseas, living in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, China, and most recently, South Korea. He is currently working on a non-fiction book about the Chosin Reservoir Campaign and Heungnam Evacuation. Ned frequently writes articles and gives lectures on the Korean War and Korean-American friendship. He is a graduate of The Citadel and is the grandson of the late BGen. Edward H. Forney, USMC, the control officer at Heungnam in December 1950. Ned’s articles and blog posts can be found at nedforney.com.
J. Robert Lunney enlisted in the United States Navy at 17 during the closing days of World War ll and served with the Naval Amphibious Forces-Pacific in the Mariana Islands operating out of Saipa,n for which he was awarded the Victory Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. During the Korean War he served aboard the SS Meredith Victory with the Military Sea Transportation Service at the Inchon Landing and Heungnam Evacuation. He was awarded the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and U.S. Gallant Ship Citation together with the Combat Action Ribbon. The Guinness Book of World Records cites the wartime action of his ship in December 1950 at Heungnam as “the greatest rescue operation ever by a single ship by evacuating 14,000 refugees” threatened with annihilation by communist forces. In 1997 and 1998 Bob having been designated by the Dept. of Defense observed the joint recovery of American war dead in North Korea and met with the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs on POW/MIA issues He received his Doctor of Law degree from Cornell University, and in 2006, in recognition of his humanitarian service during the Korean War, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Woosuk University, Jeonju, Korea.
The Korea Society concluded its fifth class in the Kim Koo Professional Series in November 2017. The professional series brings together senior professionals from media, corporate and international organizations for intimate roundtable discussion with US thought leaders on Korea and Northeast Asia. The Fall 2017 class featured speakers Sue Mi Terry of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Washington’s Korea policy; Russian professor Anna Kireeva on Korea-Russia relations; and former UN Panel of Experts member and US analyst William Newcomb on North Korea sanctions and financial cut-offs. The program is supported by the generous commitment of the Kim Koo Foundation and builds professional knowledge on Korea and networks for future cooperation. A sixth class takes place in March 2018.
Have Olympic fever? You will. Curious about the first of the three successive Olympics Games in Northeast Asia beginning in 2018? Amazed by photos of PyeongChang ready to host the world?
The Hon. Lee Hee-beom, President and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, speaks to Korea Society members, media and other dignitaries in advance of the XXIII Winter Games. The day after a United Nations resolution supporting the Games, President Lee shares insights into the path toward PyeongChang, final steps ahead of the February 9 Opening Ceremonies, and his hopes for PyeongChang and Korea as grand host of these historic events. The Korea Society invites dignitaries and guests to enjoy viewing a display of historic Winter Olympic memorabilia and light reception following President Lee’s remarks and Q&A. Join the Society in February 2018 as it features viewings of the Winter Olympics live at 350 Madison Avenue.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017 | 11 AM
Arrivals | 10:30 – 10:45 AM Address and Q&A | 11 AM Light reception and historic Winter Olympic display | 12 Noon
Seating is limited and first-come. Pre-registration and a photo ID is required, no-same day registration, and no admittance after 10:45 AM.
PyeongChang 2018 Launch featuring Olympic Committee President Lee Hee-beom
