Sibling defectors from Pyongyang Seohyun Lee and Hyun-Seung Lee discuss their life in North Korea, their journey to escape, and their transition to life in the United States, alongside Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) President & CEO Hannah Song, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. Hyunseung and Seohyun Lee are prominent North Korean activists and siblings. They’re the children of Ri Jong-ho, a high ranking North Korean defector who worked for decades in “Office 39,” which generates revenue for the North Korean leadership. Hyun-Seung and Seohyun were raised in Pyongyang, educated in China, and escaped North Korea in 2014 with their family after witnessing a series of brutal purges by Kim Jong Un. They speak to their experience as millennials from Pyongyang and share the true nature of the Kim regime and the reality of life in North Korea. The event marks the anniversary of the February 2014 publication of the historic UN Commission of Inquiry report on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
This program is made possible by the generous support from the Korea Foundation.
Pyonghattan: Escapees from North Korea’s Capital In-Person and Livestream
Thursday, March 31, 2022 | 6 PM
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Seo-Hyun Lee was born and raised in central Pyongyang and grew up with the best educational opportunities available in North Korea. In 2008, she enrolled at Kim Il Sung University and continued her study in the Chinese language in the department of Foreign Languages & Literature. After moving to China with her family, she graduated from China Dongbei University of Economics and Finance in 2014 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance. During a heightened period of brutal purges by the Kim Jong Un regime, her family defected to South Korea and finally resettled in the United States in 2016. Advocating for North Korean human rights, Seo-Hyun works with HRNK and LiNK to inform the international community about the uncensored truth of North Korea. Seo-Hyun also works with several other NGOs, such as Lumen, to disseminate information into North Korea, which she believes is the best way to liberate the North Korean people. On top of that, in order to bring greater awareness of North Korea to the outside world, she and her brother have launched a YouTube channel called “Pyonghattan” to share their diverse experiences of living in Pyongyang’s core society.
Hyun-Seung (Arthur) Lee escaped North Korea when he was 29 years old. He engaged in trade and economic relations between China and North Korea through his managerial role in a business entity under the DPRK regime. He graduated from China Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, where he was the chairman of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, Dalian China branch. After completing his military service in 2005 with the rank of Sergeant, he was granted membership in the Korean Workers Party. Despite his prestigious background and elite-level education, a series of brutal purges by Kim Jong Un forced him and his entire family to defect in late 2014, making their way first to South Korea. Subsequently, the entire family emigrated to the United States (2016) where Hyun-Seung has been engaged with several Washington DC think tanks and NGOs in consulting roles.
Hannah Song is President and CEO of Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). She joined in 2006 as Deputy Director, managing day-to-day operations and coordinating overseas programs, including underground shelters and refugee resettlement efforts in the United States and in South Korea. At the end of 2008, she became President/CEO, helping to re-found the organization with a new mission focused on building international support for the North Korean people, providing direct assistance to North Korean refugees, and developing long-term, people-focused strategies to accelerate positive change inside the country. Hannah regularly speaks at international fora and to the media on North Korea-related issues.
The Korea Society is deeply saddened by the passing of Madeleine Albright. The first female Secretary of State, Secretary Albright played a pivotal role in the Korean peninsula peace process. She was the first sitting US Secretary of State to visit Pyongyang and meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in October 2000.
Secretary Albright was also a great friend to The Korea Society. In 2006, she delivered the keynote address at the Society’s Annual Dinner, and spoke to the importance of the US-ROK alliance as well as the importance of cementing a comprehensive plan for denuclearization and development on the Korean peninsula.
And just last October, Secretary Albright delivered virtual remarks at the 2021 Annual Dinner on the successes of the U.S.-Korea relationship over the past seventy years and the need for Seoul and Washington to continue working together to confront future challenges.
Secretary Albright was a tireless advocate for the U.S.-Korea alliance whose work encapsulates the message and mission of The Korea Society. She will be dearly missed.
The Korea Society fondly remembers our friend, Rear Admiral J. Robert Lunney, who passed away last week at the age of 94.
For his full obituary, please go here. An excerpt reads:
“J. Robert Lunney died peacefully surrounded by his wife and son on Thursday March 10th. He was born on 15 December 1927 in New York City. Bob was admired by all that knew him for his commitment to family, his humor, passion for history, and dedication to the many organizations he was a member of. Enlisting in the Navy at 17, during World War ll, he served with the Naval Amphibious Forces, Pacific (Marshall Islands and Mariana Islands) 1945-46. During the Korean War he served in Korea, 1950-1951, with the Military Sea Transportation Service as a staff officer (Inchon Landing; Hungnam Evacuation). His Gallant Ship Citation commends Admiral Lunney for his courage and resourcefulness in participating in ‘one of the greatest marine rescues in the history of the world’ at Hungnam, North Korea during December 1950. The Guinness Book of World Records cites this wartime action as, ‘The greatest rescue operation ever by a single ship by evacuating 14,000 refugees’ threatened with annihilation. He will be missed greatly by his wife of 46 years, Joan, and their son Alex.”
To watch a short film produced by The Korea Society detailing the heroic actions of Rear Admiral J. Robert Lunney, his Captain Leonard La Rue, and many others, please go here. This film was adapted from a program where Rear Admiral J. Robert Lunney spoke alongside author, educator, and US Marine Corps veteran Ned Forney, and former Korea Society Senior Director Dr. Stephen Noerper. To view the full conversation,please go here.
In advance of the Republic of Korea 2022 presidential election, the eighth since Korea’s democratization, The Korea Society invites experts in Seoul for a live webcast discussion with a forecast and impact analysis. Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Seoul/Tokyo bureau chief for The Washington Post, Karl Friedhoff, Marshall M. Bouton Fellow for Asian Studies at The Chicago Council, Jeongmin Kim, Lead Correspondent at NK News and NK Pro, and Dr. Katrin Katz, Korea Society’s Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow, join policy director Jonathan Corrado to discuss the implications of the vote for Korea, the U.S.-ROK Alliance and relationship, inter-Korean relations, and coordination on North Korea policy.
This program is made possible by the generous support from the Korea Foundation.
Korea’s Presidential Election: Forecast and Impact Analysis
Monday, March 7, 2022 | 8 AM (EST)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Michelle Ye Hee Lee is The Washington Post’s Seoul/Tokyo bureau chief, covering Japan and the Koreas. She is based in Tokyo. Previously, she covered money and influence in politics and voting access on the national political enterprise and accountability team and was a reporter for The Post’s Fact Checker. Prior to joining The Post in 2014, she was a government accountability reporter at the Arizona Republic in Phoenix. She is serving her second term as the president of the Asian American Journalists Association, a non-profit founded in 1981 with more than 2,000 journalists across the U.S. and in Asia.
Karl Friedhoff is a fellow in public opinion and Asia policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Prior to his work at the Council, he was a Korea Foundation-Mansfield Foundation US-Korea Nexus Scholar and a member of the Mansfield Foundation’s Trilateral Working Group. Friedhoff was previously based in Seoul where he was a program officer in the Public Opinion Studies Program at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. His writing has appeared in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among others, and he has been a frequent guest on both TV and radio to discuss US foreign policy in Asia, South Korea’s politics, and international relations in East Asia. Friedhoff earned his BA in political science at Wittenberg University and an MA in international commerce at Seoul National University.
Jeongmin Kim is a Lead Correspondent at NK News and NK PRO, based in Seoul. She covers inter-Korean issues, as well as DPRK-related foreign affairs, defense and humanitarian developments. As a press corps member for the National Assembly, Democratic Party, and People Power Party, Kim has closely followed the 2022 ROK Presidential election news. Prior to joining NK News, she worked for Reuters Seoul bureau and CSIS Korea Chair in Washington D.C. Her writings on both Koreas appeared on Foreign Policy, Asia Society, and the National Interest, and has been a regular guest on TV and radio to discuss North Korea. Kim earned a BA in Asian Studies at Underwood International College (UIC), Yonsei University, and is currently pursuing MA in political science at Seoul National University.
Dr. Katrin Fraser Katz, is The Korea Society’s inaugural Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow. Dr. Katz is a former director for Japan, Korea, and oceanic affairs on the staff of the National Security Council, where she served from 2007 to 2008. Previously, she was a special assistant to the assistant secretary for international organization affairs at the U.S. Department of State and an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. She currently also serves as an Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident) in the Office of the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. She was previously an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University and has also taught at Georgetown University. In 2017, Dr. Katz received the inaugural Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Series award from The Korea Society. Dr. Katz’s research, which has been supported by grants from the Korea Foundation and the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy, explores the interplay of cooperation and conflict in East Asia’s political, economic, and security dynamics. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University; a master’s degree in East Asian and international security studies from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, where she was awarded the John C. Perry Scholarship for East Asian Studies; and a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in international relations and Japanese from the University of Pennsylvania.
Join us for the second edition in our Global View series, a discussion with Yale University Elihu Professor of History Odd Arne Westad on the subject of his book Empire and Righteous Nation: 600 Years of China-Korea Relations, hosted jointly with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP). The discussion is moderated by Korea Society Board Chair Ambassador (ret.) Kathleen Stephens, and introductions are provided by NCAFP president and CEO Ambassador (ret.) Susan Elliott and Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne. This program will be live webcast for a virtual audience. Please RSVP to receive the viewing link by clicking the button below. There will also be a limited in-person audience by invitation only.
Empire and Righteous Nation: 600 Years of China-Korea Relations
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 | 4 PM
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Odd Arne Westad is a scholar of modern international and global history, with a specialization in the history of eastern Asia since the 18th century. He is Elihu Professor of History at Yale University. His latest work, Empire and Righteous Nation: 600 Years of China-Korea Relations, explores the cultural and political relationship between China and the Koreas over the past 600 years. Illuminating both the ties and the tensions that have characterized the China–Korea relationship, Empire and Righteous Nation provides a valuable foundation for understanding a critical geopolitical dynamic. Westad has published sixteen books, most of which deal with twentieth century Asian and global history. In the first part of his career, Westad was mainly preoccupied with the history of the Cold War, China-Russia relations, and the history of the Chinese civil war and the Chinese Communist Party. He published two monographs, Cold War and Revolution, which deals with US and Soviet intervention in the Chinese Civil War in 1944-1946, and Decisive Encounters, which is a general history of the Chinese civil war and the Communist victory in the period from 1946 to 1950. Today, Westad is mainly interested in researching histories of empire and imperialism, first and foremost in Asia, but also world-wide. He is also trying to figure out how China’s late twentieth century economic reforms came into being and how their results changed the global economy. Westad joined the faculty at Yale after teaching at the London School of Economics, where he was School Professor of International History, and at Harvard University, where he was the S.T. Lee Professor of US-Asia Relations. He is a fellow of the British Academy and of several other national academies.
Ambassador (ret.) Kathleen Stephens is a former American diplomat. She was U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea 2008-2011. She is currently Board Chair of The Korea Society and President & CEO of the Korea Economic Institute. Korea has been a leitmotif of Ambassador Stephens’ life and career since she served in rural Korea as a Peace Corps volunteer and trainer, 1975-1977. She was in Korea 1983-1989, first as a political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul reporting on Korea’s domestic political and human rights scene, and later leading the U.S. Consulate in Busan. Other overseas assignments included postings to China, former Yugoslavia, Portugal, Northern Ireland, where she was U.S. Consul General in Belfast during the negotiations culminating in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, and India, where she was U.S. Charge ‘d Affaires (2014-2015). Ambassador Stephens also served in a number of policy positions in Washington at the Department of State and the White House. These included acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (2012), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2005-2007), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (2003-2005), and National Security Council Director for European Affairs at the Clinton White House. Stephens was William J. Perry Fellow for Korea at Stanford University 2015-2018. She is a Mansfield Foundation Distinguished Fellow, Pacific Century Institute board chairman, vice-chair of the board of trustees for The Asia Foundation, and board chair of The Korea Society. She has been President and CEO of the Korea Economic Institute of America since September 2018, based in Washington, DC.
Ambassador (ret.) Susan M. Elliott, is an accomplished diplomat with an earned doctorate from Indiana University. During her 27-year diplomatic career, Ambassador Elliott held a variety of leadership positions at the U.S. Department of State. She became President and CEO of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy in August 2018. From 2015 to 2017, Ambassador Elliott served as the Civilian Deputy and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of the United States European Command. Ambassador Elliott was the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan from 2012 to 2015. Prior to her Ambassadorial appointment, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Ambassador Elliott worked on the staff of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a Deputy Executive Secretary and Director of the Executive Secretariat Staff. Earlier in her career she reported on conflicts in the countries of the former Soviet Union when she worked in the Office of the Coordinator for Regional Conflicts in the New Independent States.
In the midst of supply chain shortages and increasing competition, how can the US and Korea partner on critical technologies and address national security imperatives? Join for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities for enhanced US-Korea tech and digital cooperation, featuring Dr. Miyeon Oh, director and senior fellow of the Asia Security Initiative in the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, and Troy Stangarone, Senior Director and Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI), in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. Please note that the date for this event has been rescheduled. Thank you for your understanding!
This event is co-hosted by Columbia University’s APEC Study Center.
Towards a US-Korea Tech Alliance
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 | 12 PM (EST)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Dr. Miyeon Oh is director and senior fellow of the Asia Security Initiative in the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. She joined the Council in 2016 to craft A Strategy for the Trans-Pacific Century: Final Report of the Atlantic Council’s Asia-Pacific Strategy Task Force. In Fall 2021, she has also been appointed director and senior faculty lead of Korea Studies at John Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, where she received her PhD. She was selected as the 2017 Strategy and Policy Fellow by the Smith Richardson Foundation and was a foreign policy pre-doctoral fellow at the Brookings Institution in 2013-2014. Additionally, Dr. Oh has a significant background in public policy and international affairs with master’s degrees from both the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Yonsei University in Korea, and public-sector experience with the United Nations and Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Her areas of expertise include global supply chains of emerging technology that is critical to national security, energy security, infrastructure development and digital connectivity in the Indo-Pacific, changing political and economic architecture in the Asia-Pacific, Sino-Russian relations, US-China strategic competition/cooperation and the Belt Road Initiative, US-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation, and the US-ROK alliance.
Troy Stangarone is Senior Director and Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI). He oversees KEI’s trade and economic related initiatives, as well as the Institute’s relations with Capitol Hill and the Washington, DC trade community. As part of his broader portfolio he serves as the editor for KEI’s flagship publication, Korea’s Economy, and oversees KEI’s blog, The Peninsula. Mr. Stangarone has written extensively and has been widely quoted on U.S.-Korea relations, South Korean trade and foreign policy, and North Korea. His work has appeared in publications such as Foreign Policy, CNBC, CNN, the South China Morning Post, East Asia Forum, China-US Focus, the JoongAng Ilbo, and the Korea Herald. His comments have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, CNN, Politico, Chosun Ilbo, Donga Ilbo, JoongAng Daily, and Yonhap News Service. He has also appeared on TV and radio for outlets such as Bloomberg News, CNBC Asia, and BBC Radio. In addition to his work at KEI, Mr. Stangarone is a member of the North Korea Economic Forum’s Steering Committee, the International Council of Korean Studies Board, and the Korea-America Student Conference’s National Advisory Committee. He is a columnist for the Korea Times and a regular contributor to The Diplomat. Prior to joining KEI, Mr. Stangarone worked on Capitol Hill for Senator Robert Torricelli on issues relating to foreign affairs and trade. He also served as an aide to Governor James McGreevey of New Jersey. He holds a MSc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Memphis.
Global View on the Korean Peninsula Tuesday, December 14, 2021 | 4 PM
Join us for this program co-hosted by The Korea Society and The National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) about the Korean Peninsula in the global perspective, featuring Walter Russell Mead, Global View Columnist at The Wall Street Journal and the James Clarke Chace Professor of Foreign Affairs and Humanities at Bard College… Read More
Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer at YouTube discusses the rise of K-content and the new creator economy; with Park Young Sun, former minister of SMEs and Startups of Republic of Korea; Bernie Cho, President of DFSB Kollective; and Dr. Sue Mi Terry, Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy Wilson Center; moderated by Korean YouTuber Seungkug Lee… Read More
Interview with LG Chem CEO Hak Cheol Shin Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | 6 PM ET
Join us for a conversation between Mr. Hak Cheol Shin, Chief Executive Officer of LG Chem, and Tom Byrne, the President and CEO of The Korea Society. In this third episode of the ‘President’s Interview Series,’ Mr. Shin will discuss his remarkable career starting out from 3M Korea and serving as the Vice Chair at 3M headquarter in the U.S. to his current role as the CEO of LG Chem… Read More
Beasts of a Little Land with Juhea Kim Tuesday, December 7, 2021 | 6 PM
An epic story of love, war, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Korean independence movement, Beasts of a Little Land follows the intertwined fates of a young girl sold to a courtesan school and the penniless son of a hunter. From the perfumed chambers of a courtesan school in Pyongyang to the glamorous cafes of a modernizing Seoul and the boreal forests of Manchuria, where battles rage… Read More
New Food Media with Eric Kim Thursday, December 2, 2021 | 6:30 PM (EST)
Food writer Eric Kim is known for sharing recipes accompanied with thoughtful storytelling and reflection. At first Kim pursued academia, teaching undergraduate literature courses while working towards a PhD in American Literature at Columbia. He unexpectedly found his path to success by writing and curating content for leading publishers in food media such as Food Network, Food52, and Saveur… Read More
Thinking Northeast Asia: The Year in Review Thursday, December 2, 2021 | 12 PM
Pacific Forum President Emeritus and WSD-Handa Chair in Peace Studies Ralph Cossa provides a media and member-friendly wrap-up of the year by way of politics and security on and around the Korean Peninsula, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado… Read More
Artist Talk: Jayoung Yoon Tuesday, November 30, 2021 | 5 PM
Jayoung Yoon‘s work is composed of strands of her own hair that are hand knotted or woven into forms to create intricate sculptures. The woven hair resembles fine nets or webs, allowing the viewer to see through the strands, giving the work a delicate transparency, while the material lends the work a feeling of intimacy and envelopment … Read More
U.S. Diplomacy and Security in Korea 2021 Wednesday, November 17, 2021 | 2:30 PM
Former Ambassador and Admiral Harry Harris, UNC/CFC/USFK Commander General Robert Abrams, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift will sit down with Korea Society Board Director and former UNC/CFC/USFK Commander General Walter “Skip” Sharp for a discussion exploring Northeast Asia geopolitical … Read More
Author Talks: Sang Young Park| Tuesday, November 16, 2021 | 5 PM
Love in the Big City is the English-language debut of Sang Young Park, one of Korea’s most exciting young writers. A runaway bestseller, the novel hit the top five lists of all the major bookstores and went into twenty-six printings as one of the highest selling debuts of recent years in Korea… Read More
Countdown to the US Congressional Midterm Elections: What Can We Expect from the 117th Congress?| Monday, November 15, 2021 | 4 PM (EST)
Candid analysis from Former Members of Congress on the upcoming US Midterms Elections. How will it impact the Congressional legislative agenda in terms of domestic and foreign policy? What will their foreign trade and security priorities be? How can the US work with allies and partners such as The Republic of Korea… Read More
Lessons Learned with CEO & Co-Founder of Radish Fiction Seung Yoon Lee| Friday, November 12, 2021 | 6 PM (EST)
Join us as Seung-yoon Lee, CEO, and Co-Founder of Radish Fiction, shares “lessons learned” from his years of experience in media innovation. Before taking on his current position as the Global Strategy Officer at Kakao Entertainment, he founded Radish Fiction, serialized fiction app bringing curated premium, and original stories to readers everywhere… Read More
What Makes a Great Korea Analyst?| Thursday, November 4, 2021 | 12 PM
Council on Foreign Relations Director of the Program on US-Korea Policy and Senior Fellow Scott A. Snyder, Atlantic Council Senior Fellow and former U.S. National Intelligence Officer for North Korea Markus Garlauskas, and Stimson Center nonresident fellow Rachel Minyoung Lee join Senior Director Stephen Noerper and Policy Director Jonathan Corrado for… Read More
10th Anniversary Special with Eric Nam| Wednesday, November 3, 2021 | 6 PM EDT
Celebrating the 10th year of our Young Professionals’ Network (YPN) series, The Korea Society is excited to announce the YPN 10th Anniversary Special with singer-songwriter Eric Nam, one of the most popular and recognizable celebrities in Asia. As a Korean American singer, songwriter, entertainer… Read More
Artist Talk: Sui Park| Tuesday, November 2, 2021 | 5 PM
Sui Park creates 3-dimensional organic forms using industrial materials. The abstract forms of dynamic characteristics resemble transitions and transformations in nature, yet they also capture subtle but continuous changes in our emotions, sentiments, memories, and expectations… Read More
Asian American Involvement in U.S. Politics Featuring Congressman Andy Kim| Monday, November 1, 2021 | 5:30 PM
Join us for this conversation about Asian American involvement in U.S. politics featuring Congressman Andy Kim. How has the role of Asian Americans in U.S. politics evolved over time and responded to pressing issues? This conversation is moderated by Tony Kim, board director for The Korea Society and Partner at Centerview Partners…. Read More
Keum Suk Gendry-Kim was a teenager when her mother revealed a family secret: she was separated from her sister during the Korean War. It’s not an uncommon story—the peninsula was split down the 38th parallel, dividing one country into two… Read More
Artist Talk: Woomin Kim| Tuesday, October 12, 2021 | 5 PM
Through her textile and sculptural projects, Woomin Kim examines the active materiality of daily objects and urban landscapes. One of the three artists featured in Interlacement: A Group Exhibition at The Korea Society, Kim discusses her art and career… Read More
The Rise of Anti-Chinese Sentiments in South Korea: Political and Security Implications| Thursday, October 7, 2021 | 12 PM
Stanford University Director of the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, founding director of its Korean Studies program, and William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea Gi-Wook Shin shares insights on rising anti-China sentiments in South Korea and their implications for the upcoming South Korean presidential election, as well as the US-ROK alliance. Professor Shin, in conversation with Senior Director Stephen Noerper, also explores these sentiments relative to Korean feelings toward Japan and the United States… Read More
The US-Korea Global Partnership: Supply Chain and Semiconductors| Thursday, September 23, 2021 | 12 PM
In the first program of a new series chronicling the rise of global cooperation between the United States and Korea, Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne discusses supply chain resilience and semiconductors in conversation with Tami Overby, McLarty Associates Senior Director and former president of the US Korea Business Council, and John Neuffer, President and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association. The program opens with remarks on the importance of US-Korea cooperation on semiconductors by Won-kyong Kim, the Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics Inc… Read More
Marie Ann Yoo: The Feeling of Han | Thursday, September 16, 2021 | 5 PM
As a young Korean-American woman who grew up in Hawaii, Yoo had a chance to visit Korea for the first time in her life when her mother was offered a job in Seoul. Excited to be going overseas for the first time, she was inspired by what she saw and saved money while working on the U.S. base in Korea to purchase a 35mm Petri camera… Read More
North Korea, Inc. and China| Thursday, September 9, 2021 | 12 PM
Harvard University Director of the Korea Project and Adjunct Lecturer John Park shares insights into recent North Korea developments and China’s interplay. Subsequent to the Moon-Biden summit and marking the anniversary of its mutual defense pact, the PRC and DPRK reaffirmed ties. Park, in conversation with Senior Director Stephen Noerper, sheds light on the implications for stability in Northeast Asia and implications for the US-ROK alliance… Read More
Annual Armistice Day Salute| Tuesday, July 27, 2021 | 12 PM
Since its founding by General James A. Van Fleet, the Korea Society has honored the service and sacrifice of Korean war veterans. This video salute features remarks on the anniversary of the signing of the 1953 Armistice by Society president and CEO Tom Byrne, Korean Consul General Ambassador Chang Won-sam, Korea Society board chair and former Ambassador to Korea Kathleen Stephens… Read More
YouTube & K-pop with Robert Kyncl| Thursday, July 22, 2021 | 8 PM (EDT)
When experts analyze the worldwide success of K-pop, all point to one watershed moment in 2012: Psy’s music video Gangnam Style was uploaded to YouTube. As YouTube became the main platform for music video release, K-pop broke through the language and cultural barriers and reached out to the world. Through YouTube, K-pop songs are watched and shared around the globe, and Korean artists communicate with their ever-increasing and dedicated fans everywhere… Read More
Talking COVID-19 Vaccine Cooperation with John Rim,Samsung Biologics, President & CEO| Wednesday, July 21, 2021 | 7 PM (EDT)
Join us for a conversation between Mr. John Rim, President and CEO of Samsung Biologics, and Tom Byrne, the President and CEO of The Korea Society. In this second episode of the ‘President’s Interview Series,’ President Rim will discuss his extensive career and senior leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as his current role as the head of Samsung Biologics… Read More
Artist Talk: Mina Cheon| Wednesday, June 30th, 2021 | 6:30 PM (EDT)
The global art activist Mina Cheon draws inspiration from the partition of the Korean peninsula, in which she enlists a range of mediums including painting, sculpture, video, installation, and performance to deconstruct and reconcile the precarious history and ongoing coexistence between North and South Korea. Her solo exhibition at The Korea Society showcases her most recent painting series of Unification Flags… Read More
New Narratives in Korea: Illustrator Wooh Na Young| Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Illustrator Wooh Na Young, also known by her pen name “Obsidian,” has caught the eyes of people around the world with her distinctive style of reinterpreting Western characters in hanbok, Korean traditional clothing… Read More
Author Talks: Bae Myung-Hoon| Tuesday, June 15, 2021
One of the most popular science fiction writers in Korea, Bae Myung-Hoon explores the forces that shape modern life with wit and a sly wink at the reader. His writings are known for their inventive premises and clarity of language, and much of his work is also considered political satire… Read More
Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World| Tuesday, June 15, 2021 | 9 AM (EDT)
Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon discusses his new book Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World on its release, in conversation with Korea Society board chairwoman Ambassador Kathleen Stephens and with a welcome by Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne. This event is co-hosted with the Korea Economic Institute of America… Read More
The Power of Nunchi with Euny Hong| Thursday, June 10, 2021 | 12 PM (EDT)
Nunchi is Korea’s superpower. A sixth sense for winning friends and influencing people, this time-honored skill helps you connect with others so you can succeed in everything from business to politics to love. In The Power of Nunchi: The Korean Secret to Happiness and Success, Euny Hong explains the practice of nunchi in a highly prescriptive guide for social success… Read More
Challenges and Opportunities for U.S.-Japan-Korea Trade Relations| Thursday, June 3, 2021 | 8 AM
Join us for this discussion about the dynamics of U.S.-Japan-Korea trade relations and regional economic integration, featuring Asia Society Policy Institute Vice President Wendy Cutler, Waseda University Professor Emeritus and Economic Research Institute for East Asia and ASEAN Senior Research Advisor Shujiro Urata, and Korea Development Institute and Johns Hopkins University Professor Wonhyuk Lim. How can the three countries overcome obstacles to cooperate on shared challenges to achieve prosperity and shape the economic rules of the road? What will the Biden administration mean for U.S. trade policy… Read More
Cycling in Korea| Thursday, June 3, 2021
In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 3rd as International World Bicycle Day to recognize “the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transport…. Read More
A Conversation with Chairman Yongmaan Park| Wednesday, June 2, 2021 | 7 PM (EDT)
In our inaugural episode of the ‘President’s Interview Series’, we are pleased to invite Yongmaan Park, Chairman of Doosan Infracore for a conversation with The Korea Society’s President Tom Byrne. As one of the most successful and powerful business leaders in Korea and the world, Chairman Park will discuss his extensive career and leadership role as the Chairman of Doosan Infracore and former Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Chairman Park will also share his views and insights on key issues and challenges in the U.S.-Korea economic cooperation post pandemic… Read More
U.S.-Korea Summit Analysis| Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Join us for this rapid response analysis on the first summit meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. In a discussion covering the latest trends regarding the U.S.-Korea Alliance, geostrategic coordination, North Korea issues, and COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy, Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne is joined by former UNC/CFC/USFK Commander General (ret.) Vincent Brooks, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs George W. Ball Adjunct Professor Ambassador (ret.) Christopher R. Hill, and Dr. Peter J. Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine… Read More
From “Ga-yo” to K-pop| Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | 7:00 PM
Believe it or not, BTS and Blackpink are not the entirety of Korean popular music. At the birthplace of K-pop, “idol” groups share the stage with the new generation of “trot” singers, power balladeers, hip-hop artists and indie bands. Music critic Youngdae Kim surveys the recent history of popular music in Korea and how it has evolved as K-pop exploded all around the world… Read More
Bridging the Divide: Social & Cultural Integration of North and South Korea| Thursday, May 20, 2021 | 12:00 PM
Join us for this discussion about obstacles and opportunities for inter-Korean social and cultural integration, featuring Dr. Hyun In-nae, Ewha University Professor and former director of the Korea Hana Foundation, and Bada Nam, Secretary General for the South Korean non-governmental organization People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE). In an interview with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado, the two draw insights from the findings of new survey research to… Read More
COVID LESSONS FROM SOUTH KOREA: All About COVID-19 Vaccines with Global Vaccine Expert Dr. Jerome Kim| Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | 7 PM (EDT)
Do you want to learn more about Covid-19 vaccines and the global vaccination effort? Please join The Korea Society for a conversation on COVID-19 vaccine development and distribution with Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and Tom Byrne, Korea Society President/CEO. Dr. Kim, who was named one of “The 50 Most Influential People in Vaccines” in 2014 by the vaccine industry organization Vaccine Nation, will share the importance of COVID-19 vaccines combating this prolonged pandemic… Read More
Spotlight on Korean Studies in K-12 Schooling| Monday, May 17, 2021 | 4:00 PM (EDT)|
Join us as we explore the insights gained from educators who have advanced long-standing Korean language and Korean educational programming in their schools. Learn how the creative Korean programming our speakers developed evolved over time. Bruce Ballard, Professional Development Specialist at Bronx Charter School for Better Learning, shares his experience with elementary school programming… Read More
Sacred Images and Magical Things| Thursday, May 6, 2021 | 6 PM (EDT)|
Statues, paintings, and masks—like the bodies of shamans and spirit mediums—give material form and presence to otherwise invisible entities, and sometimes these objects are understood to be enlivened. Dr. Laurel Kendall explores how magical images are expected to work with the shamans and spirit mediums in contemporary South Korea… Read More
Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture 2021| Thursday, May 6, 2021 | 3 PM (EDT)|
University of Missouri Assistant Professor and Institute for Korean Studies Co-Director Aram Hur, the 2021 Sherman Scholar award recipient, speaks on May 6 at 3 PM to Korea’s Changing National Story and Democratic Future. Hur addresses Korean nationalism, a “rapidly fragmenting and changing” national story… Read More
Young Professional’s Network Media and Entertainment “Spotlight”: A Conversation with AB WORLD CEO Angie Byun| Tuesday, April 27, 2021 | 7 PM (EDT)|
Join us as we welcome renowned businesswoman Angie Byun as she reflects on her career as a leader in the media, entertainment, and fashion industries. Learn insider secrets about her executive roles with Vogue, GQ, The New Yorker, Wired, and Golf Digest and how those experiences helped her land her current position as CEO at AB WORLD… Read More
Samul Nori: Dynamic Rhythms from Korea| Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 6 PM (EDT)|
Samul nori, the South Korean percussion genre with powerful rhythmic forms, has reached international popularity. First created in Seoul in 1978 by a quartet of musicians, samul nori (which translates simply into “four things play”) is a neo-traditional musical repertory that has been performed on many international stages by professional ensembles and amateur musical enthusiasts around the world… Read More
Women in Congress: A Conversation with U.S. Representative Young Kim| Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | 6:15 PM EDT|
U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) joins The Korea Society to share her journey in becoming one of the first Korean American women elected to Congress in its 230-year history. As an immigrant, small business owner, and previous California State 65th district Assemblywoman… Read More
Role of Regional Players in Inter-Korean Peace and Unification| Friday, April 16, 2021 | 12:00 PM EDT|
Join us for a discussion on regional roles in building inter-Korean peace and unification with Columbia University adjunct professor Katrin Fraser Katz, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior research analyst Kathryn Botto, and Columbia University adjunct professor, Weatherhead East Asian Institute research scholar and Society senior director Stephen Noerper… Read More
Hot! Hot! Hot! Korean Food in the Age of Kpop| Thursday, April 8, 2021 | 6 PM EDT|
Once considered a dubious cuisine relegated to the “ethnic food” category, Korean food is now hotter than ever in the United States and beyond. Ingredients like gochugaru and gochujang show up on menus of American fast food chains and local grocery aisles… Read More
Korea and Sino-US Relations with Orville Schell and Yun Sun| Thursday, April 1, 2021 | 1 PM EDT|
Stimson Center senior fellow and China Program director Yun Sun and Asia Society Arthur Ross director of the Center for US-China Relations Orville Schell join senior director Stephen Noerper to discuss where Korea sits relative to China and US priorities. They explore China policy in the new US administration… Read More
Young Professional’s Network “Surviving” the Professional World – Advice from Yul Kwon| Friday, March 26, 2021 | 6:30 PM EDT|
Yul Kwon, Google Senior Director of Product Management and the first Asian American winner of the CBS reality show Survivor, will join the Society to share his diverse career trajectories in product management, technology, law, and media. Yul has worked with major government agencies and private companies including Google… Read More
COVID LESSONS FROM SOUTH KOREA: A Conversation on K-Syringe with Former Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young Sun| Premieres: Friday, March 26, 2021 | 12 PM (EDT)|
Former Minister of SMEs and Startups of ROK and Seoul Mayoral candidate, Park Young Sun joins The Korea Society for a conversation on Korea’s new innovative syringe development, known as the ‘K-Syringe.’ This conversation will be led by Society President Tom Byrne… Read More
The Korean Art of Fermentation| Thursday, March 25, 2021 | 6 PM (EDT)|
There is a long and illustrious history of fermentation in Korean cuisine. Different types of fermented food – doenjang, ganjang, gochujang, and kimchi to name just a few – are integral and essential to the Korean way of eating and cooking… Read More
The Historical Causes of Korea’s Division and Challenges to Reconciliation| Thursday, March 18, 2021 | 12 PM|
Michael D. Shin, a Fellow of Robinson College, Cambridge, looks at the late Joseon period and the Japanese colonial period to examine the historical causes of Korean division and investigate their impact on inter-Korean reconciliation in this program supported by the UniKorea Foundation… Read More
The King, the Virtuous Queen, and His Wicked Consort| Thursday, March 11, 2021 | 6 PM|
The saga of King Sukjong, Queen Inhyeon, and Concubine Jang Hui-bin is one of the most famous episodes in the 500-year-long history of Joseon dynasty. Filled with palace intrigues and passionate love affairs, the story of the 19th king of Joseon, his virtuous queen, and one of the most infamous women in the history of Joseon dominates the popular culture and imagination even today… Read More
Lessons Learned with Nelson Chai| Thursday, March 4, 2021 | 8 PM|
Join us as Nelson Chai, Chief Financial Officer of Uber, shares “lessons learned” from more than a decade of experience in senior positions at some of the world’s leading publicly traded companies, including Uber, CIT Group, Merrill Lynch, and NYSE Euronext, among others… Read More
Restaurants in the Covid-19 Era: A Roundtable| Thursday, March 4, 2021 | 6 PM (EST)|
Since the pandemic started, restaurant and food service businesses had to combine flexibility and ingenuity in order to survive. Constantly dealing with ever-changing regulations and restrictions, restaurateurs had to quickly pivot and develop new business models, including outdoor dining and shipping nationwide… Read More
New Developments in Inter-Korean Relations| Thursday, March 4, 2021 | 12 PM|
Woodrow Wilson Center director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy Jean Lee converses with senior director Stephen Noerper on ROK-DPRK relations. They address impasse and opportunity between North Korea and South Korea and offer recommendations for US and other policy makers on peninsular realities and possibilities. This program is made possible thanks to support from the Korea Foundation… Read More<
Women in Trade: A Talk with Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee| Friday, February 26, 2021 | 7 PM EST|
In the second episode of our Women’s Leadership series, we are pleased to welcome South Korean Minister for Trade Yoo Myung-hee for a conversation on her 25-year career in shaping the international trade infrastructure. As Deputy Minister for FTA Negotiations, and later Director-General for Bureau of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Yoo Myung-hee has been at the forefront of numerous high-profile trade agreements, including the 2018 US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) and the 2019 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership… Read More
Edtech: Consumer Technology in the Digital Age A Conversation with Edmodo CEO Susan Kim| Tuesday, February 23, 2021 | 7 PM |
Covid-19 increased online education platforms, replacing classrooms with computer screens all across the globe. This has left many teachers, students, and parents at the mercy of education and consumer technology. Susan Kim, CEO of Edmodo, an education technology company with over 100 million users worldwide, joins The Korea Society to discuss consumer technology, online education, and start ups in the modern age. Based on her multiple leadership roles including Google, eBay, and EatWith, she will give insights on business, start-ups, and the edtech industry and how it will shape the future… Read More
COVID LESSONS FROM SOUTH KOREA: A Conversation with Celltrion Group Chairman Mr. Jung-jin Seo & Korea Society President Tom Byrne| Friday, February 19, 2021 | 7 PM EST|
Jung-jin Seo, Chairman of Celltrion Group, a leading Korean biopharmaceutical company, joins The Korea Society’s President, Tom Byrne for a conversation on the race to develop antibody treatments for the COVID-19 virus. Together, they will discuss the role of the Korean biopharmaceutical industry and Celltrion’s active involvement in combating COVID-19. Join us to learn about how K-bio’s work fits into global efforts to combat the pandemic… Read More
Pathways to a Brighter Future for North Korea’s Economy| Thursday, February 18, 2021 | 6 PM EST|
Join us for a discussion about scenarios for North Korean development and inter-Korean economic integration. Seoul National University economics Professor Byung-Yeon Kim, former World Bank economist and a consultant on Asian affairs Brad Babson, and NK Pro analyst Peter Ward join Korea Society President Tom Byrne in conversation… Read More
ADG7: A Virtual Concert| Friday, February 12, 2021|
Celebrate the Year of Ox with a virtual concert by Ak Dan Gwang Chil a.k.a. ADG7! This award-winning Korean traditional music group’s powerful and engaging performance will immerse audiences into a spiritual experience and bring blessings of positive energy to kick off a new year… Read More
Human Rights and North Korea: Honoring the Anniversary of the UN Commission of Inquiry Report| Sunday, February 4, 2001 | 1:00 PM|
The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) executive director Greg Scarlatoiu and Bush Institute senior fellow Victor Cha joined senior director Stephen Noerper for a discussion of human rights in North Korea and its placement on the Biden administration’s new policy agenda… Read More
A Conversation with Ambassador Kathleen Stephens| Thursday, January 28, 2021 | 6 PM|
In our inaugural episode of The Korea Society’s Women in Leadership series, we are pleased to welcome Ambassador Kathleen Stephens for a conversation on her distinguished career. Having extensive experience in international relations, Amb. Stephens, a decorated former U.S. diplomat, will share her special and deep connections to Korea… Read More
North Korea’s Eighth Party Congress with Robert Carlin and Glyn Ford| Tuesday, January 26, 2021 | 12 PM|
North Korea senior analysts Robert Carlin and Glyn Ford speak about the political and economic implications of the party congress with senior director Stephen Noerper. Stanford University’s Carlin and Track2Asia’s Ford provide critical insight on possibilities for change, impasse and next steps in this timely, newsmaker event. This program is made possible thanks to support from the Korea Foundation… Read More
House of Hummingbird: Streaming and A Director’s Talk| Sunday, January 24, 2021 | 6 PM|
Grand Prix for the Best Film – Berlin International Film Festival, Generation 14+ Competition Best International Feature Film Award; Best Cinematography in an International Feature Award; Best Actress in an International Feature Award – Tribeca International Film Festival 14-year-old Eun-hee moves through life like a hummingbird searching for a taste of sweetness wherever she may find it. Ignored by her parents and abused by her brother, she finds her escape… Read More
The Magical Language of Others with E.J. Koh| Wednesday, January 13, 2021 | 6 PM|
The Magical Language of Others is a powerful and aching memoir, a tale of deep bonds to family, place, and language. After living in America for over a decade, Eun Ji Koh’s parents return to South Korea for work, leaving fifteen-year-old Eun Ji and her brother behind in California. Overnight, Eun Ji finds herself abandoned and adrift in a world made strange by her mother’s absence. Her mother writes letters … Read More
Author Talks: Kim Soom| Thursday, January 7, 2021 | 6 PM|
One Left is a provocative, extensively researched novel constructed from the testimonies of dozens of “comfort women.” Kim Soom tells the story of a woman who was kidnapped at the age of thirteen while gathering snails for her starving family. The horrors of her life as a sex slave follow her back to Korea, where she lives in isolation gripped by the fear that her past will be discovered. Yet … Read More
Join for a discussion on the future of North Korea policy, featuring: Frank Aum, senior expert on Northeast Asia at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Dagyum Ji, journalist for The Korea Herald covering North Korea and security, and Bruce Klingner, Senior Research Fellow for Northeast Asia at The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado, and with an introduction by Korea Society president & CEO Tom Byrne. Following a New Year’s address by North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un, the panelists discuss what’s next for North Korea policy, including analysis of various diplomatic approaches, changes to the internal situation, and implications for the U.S.-ROK Alliance.
A New North Korea Policy?
Thursday, January 6, 2022 | 8 AM (EST)
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Join us for this program co-hosted by The Korea Society and The National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) about the Korean Peninsula in the global perspective, featuring Walter Russell Mead, Global View Columnist at The Wall Street Journal and the James Clarke Chace Professor of Foreign Affairs and Humanities at Bard College. The discussion is moderated by Korea Society president & CEO Tom Byrne, with an introduction from NCAFP president and CEO Ambassador Susan M. Elliott.
This event will be available via live webcast. Please click the button below to receive the YouTube link in your email and view virtually. A limited number of in-person seats will also be given on an invitation-only basis. Proof of vaccination is required to attend.
Hybrid Program Global View on the Korean Peninsula
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 | 4 PM
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
Walter Russell Mead is the Ravenel B. Curry III Distinguished Fellow in Strategy and Statesmanship at Hudson Institute, the Global View Columnist at The Wall Street Journal and the James Clarke Chace Professor of Foreign Affairs and Humanities at Bard College in New York. He is also a member of Aspen Institute Italy and board member of Aspenia. Before joining Hudson, Mr. Mead was a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations as the Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy. He has authored numerous books, including the widely-recognized Special Providence: American Foreign Policy and How It Changed the World (Alfred A. Knopf, 2004). Mr. Mead’s next book is entitled The Arc of A Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Future of the Jewish People.
Susan M. Elliott, Ambassador (ret.) is an accomplished diplomat with an earned doctorate from Indiana University. During her 27-year diplomatic career, Ambassador Elliott held a variety of leadership positions at the U.S. Department of State. She became President and CEO of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy in August 2018. From 2015 to 2017, Ambassador Elliott served as the Civilian Deputy and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of the United States European Command. Ambassador Elliott was the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan from 2012 to 2015. Prior to her Ambassadorial appointment, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Ambassador Elliott worked on the staff of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a Deputy Executive Secretary and Director of the Executive Secretariat Staff. Earlier in her career she reported on conflicts in the countries of the former Soviet Union when she worked in the Office of the Coordinator for Regional Conflicts in the New Independent States.
Join us for a conversation between Mr. Hak Cheol Shin, Chief Executive Officer of LG Chem, and Tom Byrne, the President and CEO of The Korea Society. In this third episode of the ‘President’s Interview Series,’ Mr. Shin will discuss his remarkable career starting out from 3M Korea and serving as the Vice Chair at 3M headquarter in the U.S. to his current role as the CEO of LG Chem. Since Mr. Shin took office in 2019, LG Chem’s market capitalization in the Korean stock market has more than doubled to 55 trillion won (US$46.6 billion) from 24 trillion won (US$20.3 billion).
This interview will provide an opportunity to learn more about Mr. Shin’s role and leadership in LG Chem’s growth during the past two years as well as the company’s ESG based expanding business portfolio and the next growth engine moving forward. This program was recorded at LG Chem headquarters in Seoul when President Byrne recently visited South Korea.
Interview with LG Chem CEO Hak Cheol Shin
Premieres: Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | 6 PM ET
The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017
