The Korea Society
The Korea Society, an American organization promoting greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea, presents the leading voices in public policy, business, education, intercultural relations, and the arts.
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Sweden's Role in Korean Peninsula Diplomacy with Ambassador Peter Semneby
12/18/2025
Sweden's Role in Korean Peninsula Diplomacy with Ambassador Peter Semneby
December 18, 2025 - Join us for a discussion with Ambassador Peter Semneby, the Swedish Government's Special Envoy for the Korean Peninsula. In conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado, Ambassador Semneby will provide a brief overview history of Sweden's role in Korea, examine Sweden's convening capacity as exhibited in 2018-2019, investigate whether Sweden's interests and perspective have been affected by North Korea's involvement in the Russo-Ukraine War and Sweden's ascension to NATO, and explore ideas for how to break the current impasse. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below:
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US-Korea Shipbuilding Cooperation with Jeffrey Voth
12/11/2025
US-Korea Shipbuilding Cooperation with Jeffrey Voth
December 11, 2025 - Join us for a conversation on the obstacles and pathways for enhanced US-Korea shipbuilding cooperation with Jeffrey Voth, President of Herren Associates, Inc., an engineering and technology firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. He is author of a recent article, "" US President Donald J. Trump has met twice with Republic of Korea President Lee Jae Myung, first in Washington in August and next in Gyeongju on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in October. The two leaders agreed to The Korea Strategic Trade and Investment deal, which includes a commitment by Korea to invest $150 billion in the US shipbuilding sector. According to the released after the two summits, Korea has committed to help the US modernize and expand its shipbuilding industry via investments in American shipyards and workforce. And the US has approved Korea's development of nuclear-powered attack submarines, and will "work closely" with Korea to advance requirements for this shipbuilding project, including avenues to source fuel. To help facilitate this collaboration, the US and Korea also agreed to create a shipbuilding working group on maintenance, repair, and overhaul, workforce development, shipyard modernization, and supply chain resilience. Drawing on decades of shipbuilding and combat system integration experience, including direct work on Korea's Sejong the Great class of destroyers, which are among the largest and most heavily armed Aegis Combat System-equipped surface combatants outside the US Navy, Jeffrey Voth will discuss construction challenges and allied collaboration opportunities in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Gaining Global Perspective: Insights on Workplace Culture
12/11/2025
Gaining Global Perspective: Insights on Workplace Culture
December 10, 2025 - In the next program of our Young Professionals' Network series, The Korea Society is hosting a panel discussion to explore what it takes to navigate leadership roles in multinational companies, make major career transitions, and think strategically on a global scale. Panel Speakers Melissa Choi: Director, Global Marketing at Elizabeth Arden Skincare, Revlon Youngjin Yoon: Director at Morgan Stanley Moderated by Stephanie Hwang, Development Program Officer at The Korea Society, the discussion will also highlight how national and organizational culture shape leadership styles, decision-making, and career growth in international companies. Speakers will share practical strategies and lessons that young professionals can apply as they pursue global careers. Join us in-person at The Korea Society on Wednesday, December 10th at 5:30 PM for this conversation, followed by opportunities for discussion and networking with the speakers. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Korea-China Relations: A History of Intervention with Dr. Ji-Young Lee
12/05/2025
Korea-China Relations: A History of Intervention with Dr. Ji-Young Lee
December 4, 2025 - Join us for a discussion with Dr. Ji-Young Lee for an examination of the circumstances and methods of Chinese military intervention in the Korean Peninsula. Dr. Lee is Associate Professor of International Relations at American University's School of International Service, and author of China's Hegemony: Four Hundred Years of East Asian Domination (2016) and an upcoming work under contract titled: The Great Power Next Door, a historically informed analysis of when and how China has chosen to militarily intervene in the Korean Peninsula. Dr. Lee's 2020 article, "," speaks to the contemporary dimension of the evolving relationship. The moderator of the program is policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared | The Curatorial Roundtable
12/03/2025
Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared | The Curatorial Roundtable
December 2, 2025 - The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art presents , the first U.S. exhibition of significant works from the renowned Lee Kun-Hee Collection. On view through February 1, 2026, features over 200 works, including a dozen National Treasures designated by the Korean government. The largest and most comprehensive presentation of Korean art ever mounted at the National Museum of Asian Art, the exhibition spans 1,500 years—from ancient Buddhist sculptures and ceramics to paintings, furnishings and modern masterpieces of the 20th century. Donated to the Republic of Korea in 2021 by the family of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee, the collection reflects more than 70 years of generational collecting and comprises more than 23,000 works, a testament to a decades-long commitment to preserving and sharing Korea’s artistic legacy and cultural heritage. presents a remarkable selection from the collection to American audiences for the first time, alongside additional loans from the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, Korea, shown exclusively in Washington, D.C. In a conversation with The Korea Society, three curators from the National Museum of Asian Art–Carol Huh, J. Keith Wilson, and Sunwoo Hwang–explore the depth and diversity of Korean art and reflect on the practice of collecting in Korea. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Diplomacy Panel - Adaptation or Transformation? - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum
12/01/2025
Diplomacy Panel - Adaptation or Transformation? - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum
Recorded November 14, 2025 - The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society’s flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history. This year’s conference was held in The Atlantic Council’s office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society’s individual and corporate members. Diplomacy Panel - Adaptation or Transformation? Moderator: Ambassador (Ret.) Kathleen Stephens, Korea Society Board Chair Ambassador (Ret.) Kim Hyoung-zhin, Former Republic of Korea Ambassador to the European Union and Deputy National Security Advisor Ambassador (Ret.) Philip Goldberg, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea For more information, please visit the link below:
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Geoeconomics Panel - Nexus of Trade, Investment, and National Security - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum
11/28/2025
Geoeconomics Panel - Nexus of Trade, Investment, and National Security - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum
Recorded November 14, 2025 - The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society’s flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history. This year’s conference was held in The Atlantic Council’s office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society’s individual and corporate members. Geoeconomics Panel- The Nexus of Trade, Investment, and National Security Moderator: Tom Byrne, Korea Society President & CEO Yoo Myung-hee, Former Republic of Korea Trade Minister Dr. Nadia Schadlow, Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute and Former US Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy Kimberly Donovan, Director of the Economic Statecraft Initiative within the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center For more information, please visit the link below:
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Security Panel - Deterring and Defending in a Regional Conflict - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum
11/27/2025
Security Panel - Deterring and Defending in a Regional Conflict - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum
Recorded November 14, 2025 - The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society’s flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history. This year’s conference was held in The Atlantic Council’s office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society’s individual and corporate members. Security Panel - Deterring and Defending in a Regional Conflict Moderator: General (Ret.) Walter Sharp, Korea Society Board Vice Chair Dr. Shin Beomchul, Senior Research Fellow at the Sejong Institute and former Republic of Korea Vice Minister of National Defense Markus Garlauskas, Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security General (Ret.) Paul LaCamera, former Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Combined Forces Command, and United Nations Command David Maxwell, Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and former U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel For more information, please visit the link below:
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History Panel - The Forging of an Alliance - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum
11/26/2025
History Panel - The Forging of an Alliance - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum
Recorded November 14, 2025 - The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society’s flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history. This year’s conference was held in The Atlantic Council’s office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society’s individual and corporate members. History Panel - The Forging of an Alliance Moderator: Jonathan Corrado, Korea Society Policy Director Dr. Kathryn Weathersby, Adjunct Professor of Asian Studies in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University Dr. David Fields, Associate Director of the Center for East Asian Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison For more information, please visit the link below:
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U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum Keynote Remarks
11/25/2025
U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum Keynote Remarks
Recorded November 14, 2025 @ Atlantic Council HQ Washington D.C. - We are happy to share this special keynote address from our 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum featuring U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts. The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society’s flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history. This year’s conference was held in The Atlantic Council’s office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society’s individual and corporate members. Introduction: Tom Byrne, Korea Society President & CEO Keynote: U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts - Video Remarks For more information, please visit the link below:
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U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum Keynote Remarks
11/20/2025
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau - 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum Keynote Remarks
Recorded November 14, 2025 @ Atlantic Council HQ Washington D.C. - We are happy to share this special keynote address from our 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum featuring U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. The Van Fleet Policy Forum is The Korea Society’s flagship policy event. Through panel discussions, keynote remarks, and networking opportunities, the forum convenes senior thought leaders from the US and Korea for dynamic, informative, and analytical discussions on security, diplomacy, geoeconomics, and alliance history. This year’s conference was held in The Atlantic Council’s office in Washington D.C. and produced in partnership with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The 2025 Van Fleet Policy Forum was made possible by the generous support of The Kim Koo Foundation as well as The Korea Society’s individual and corporate members. Introduction: Matthew Kroenig, Vice President and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Keynote: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau For more information, please visit the link below:
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Modern Architecture in Korea: Travels Through Terra Incognita
11/18/2025
Modern Architecture in Korea: Travels Through Terra Incognita
November 17, 2025 - Modern architecture in Korea is characterized by open and dynamic attitudes formed through a unique set of historical circumstances. Through colonial rule, war, and poverty, it was cut off from its older building traditions, emerging only in the latter half of the twentieth century as part of a condensed process of modernization. It is enigmatic in that its build first, think later (if at all) condition has rebuffed holistic narratives of its disjunctive evolution. Long dominated by the construction sector and state bureaucracies, it is now an amalgam of large corporate firms, creative studios, and diverse communities in the culture industry. It is now in crisis for its uncertain response to the challenges of climate change and Korea’s turn to structural low-growth. Neither affirming nor negating traditions and theories, Korean architecture is most interesting when it raises questions and belies unfulfilled ambitions. This lecture, presented by 2025 Korea Foundation LAB Series, features Pai Hyungmin, a distinguished architect and scholar. Video version of this program can be found here: For more information, please visit the link below:
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Reframing Suicide as a Shared Social Responsibility in Korea
11/17/2025
Reframing Suicide as a Shared Social Responsibility in Korea
Recorded November 10, 2025 - The Korea Society is pleased to announce that the ninth annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Awardee is Dr. Peter Jongho Na, assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. In his lecture, Reframing Suicide as a Shared Social Responsibility in Korea, he casts suicide not as an individual failure or “extreme choice (극단적 선택),” but as a systemic and cultural crisis requiring a coordinated national response. Drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist, public health researcher, and mental health advocate, he examines the scale and societal costs of suicide in Korea and analyzes key structural drivers such as academic and workplace pressures, poverty and isolation among older adults, and the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness and treatment. A central theme is how stigma has sustained silence, denial, and policy inertia. Dr. Peter Jongho Na shares his efforts to challenge euphemistic language and foster open public dialogue, while proposing an interdisciplinary roadmap inspired by global models that integrate public health, education, and social welfare reforms. Further, he highlights the Korean diaspora’s potential role in breaking taboos and advancing cultural and policy change, underscoring that suicide prevention must be embraced as a collective, societal responsibility. Note: This presentation includes discussion of suicide and mental health topics that may be distressing to some individuals. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Interview with Bank of Korea Governor Rhee, Chang Yong
11/04/2025
Interview with Bank of Korea Governor Rhee, Chang Yong
Released November 4, 2025 - Please join us for a timely conversation with Dr. Rhee, Chang Yong, Governor of the Bank of Korea, as he discusses key issues shaping global and domestic economic policy. Governor Rhee sat down with Thomas Byrne, President & CEO of The Korea Society, during his visit to D.C. to attend IMF/WBG Annual Meetings and the G20 Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors Meeting. In this interview, Governor Rhee shares his views on a wide-range of topics - ranging from global and Korea’s economic outlook, local and global governance of the stablecoins, and to the fiscal challenges and investment negotiations between the US and Korea. This program was recorded at the Korea Inter-Parliamentary Exchange Center (KIPEC) in Washington D.C. on October 16, 2025. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Rapid Reaction: APEC South Korea 2025
11/03/2025
Rapid Reaction: APEC South Korea 2025
November 3, 2025 - Join us for a rapid reaction analysis of The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) 2025 summit, held in Gyeongju, South Korea from October 31 to November 1. Our discussion examines all the most significant outcomes in terms of trade and geopolitics, with special emphasis on the US, Korea, and the US-Korea relationship. The priorities for this year’s forum are: “Connect, Innovate, Prosper.” In a preparatory meeting, senior officials from APEC members “strategies for digital economy integration, public health cooperation, and strengthening APEC’s role as an incubator of practical, consensus-driven solutions.” As host nation, Korea’s initiatives include: “addressing demographic change and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology.” We are joined by Kate Kalutkiewicz, Senior Managing Director of the Trade Practice & McLarty Inbound at McLarty Associates, Professor Jaemin Lee, Professor of Law at Seoul National University and Dean of the School of Law, and Scott Jacobs, Head of Global Public Policy at Coupang. The conversation will be moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado and policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. APEC originated as a ministerial meeting of 12 Asian Pacific countries in 1989. The idea for the forum was proposed by Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke during a trip to Seoul in January 1989. A leaders’ summit was introduced in 1993 and a series of expansions increased the number of members to 21. South Korea previously hosted the ministerial meeting in Seoul 1991 and the leaders’ meeting in Busan 2005. APEC’s is to “support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.” This program is co-hosted by The APEC Study Center at Columbia University. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Revisiting the Jones Act: From Protectionism to Partnership
10/28/2025
Revisiting the Jones Act: From Protectionism to Partnership
October 8, 2025 - The United States and Korea are entering a pivotal phase of maritime cooperation. Since the start of the Trump 2.0 administration, South Korean shipbuilders have been courted as key partners in reviving the U.S. shipbuilding industry, with Seoul pledging $150 billion under the “Make America Shipbuilding Great Again” initiative to modernize naval capacity, expand commercial shipyards, and strengthen allied supply chains. Join us for a timely conversation with Colin Grabow (Cato Institute) as we explore how to steer this new bilateral framework toward mutual maritime and economic prosperity. At the heart of the discussion is the Jones Act, the 1920 law mandating domestically built and owned vessels for U.S. coastal trade. Together, we will consider whether reforms to the Act—or innovative partnership models—can unlock the full potential of U.S.–Korea maritime collaboration. This conversation will be moderated by Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society. For more information, please visit the link below:
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What to Expect: The 2025 APEC Summit in South Korea
10/24/2025
What to Expect: The 2025 APEC Summit in South Korea
October 23, 2025 - Join us for a scene setter that explores the stakes and the storylines for The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) 2025 summit, held in Gyeongju, South Korea from October 31 to November 1, 2025. This discussion, held one week prior to the summit, unpacks the most significant agenda items including trade, investment, and geopolitics, with special emphasis on the US, Korea, and the US-Korea relationship. The discussion features senior experts with firsthand experience, including: Ambassador (Ret.) Philip Goldberg, former US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea 2022-2025, and Kate Kalutkiewicz, Senior Managing Director of the Trade Practice at McLarty Associates and former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Trade at the National Economic Council. The moderator is Tom Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society, adjunct professor at Columbia University’s SIPA, and former Senior Vice President for Moody’s Investor Services. The priorities for this year’s forum are: “Connect, Innovate, Prosper.” In a preparatory meeting, senior officials from APEC members “strategies for digital economy integration, public health cooperation, and strengthening APEC’s role as an incubator of practical, consensus-driven solutions.” As host nation, Korea’s initiatives include: “addressing demographic change and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology.” APEC originated as a ministerial meeting of 12 Asian Pacific countries in 1989. The idea for the forum was proposed by Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke during a trip to Seoul in January 1989. A leaders’ summit was introduced in 1993 and a series of expansions increased the number of members to 21. South Korea previously hosted the ministerial meeting in Seoul 1991 and the leaders’ meeting in Busan 2005. APEC’s mission is to “support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.” This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate Members, Columbia University's Weatherhead East Asian Institute, and the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Misook Doolittle with Ambassador Kathleen Stephens
10/24/2025
Misook Doolittle with Ambassador Kathleen Stephens
October 22, 2025 - The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Misook Doolittle, a fashion pioneer and philanthropist, in a conversation with Ambassador Kathleen Stephens. With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values. This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Nicholas Harkness | Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation Series on Ethics & Common Values
10/20/2025
Nicholas Harkness | Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation Series on Ethics & Common Values
October 17, 2025 - With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society presents a Series on Ethics and Common Values. This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society. The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Nicholas Harkness on the importance of global and regional studies in higher learning in relation to Korean Studies in the United States. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Meet Advocacy Fellows from Liberty in North Korea
10/16/2025
Meet Advocacy Fellows from Liberty in North Korea
October 16, 2025 - Join us for a discussion with Liberty in North Korea (LiNK) Advocacy Fellows to hear firsthand about the realities of life in North Korea, the decision and process of leaving, the adjustment to a new life in South Korea, and the discovery of new meaning and motivation. This discussion features two advocacy fellows: Rose Jang, a graduate from Hongik University Department of Architecture, and Hannah Oh, a fourth year student at Hongik University studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering, as well as Hannah Song, CEO of LiNK, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Korea's Compressed Modernity and Its Risks
10/08/2025
Korea's Compressed Modernity and Its Risks
October 8, 2025 - Join us for our second conversation with Seoul National University sociology Professor Chang Kyung-Sup who will discuss various challenges posed by South Korea’s “compressed modernity.” He writes that the same strategies and conditions that enabled explosive development and modernization in South Korea and other Asian societies also produced “existentially hazardous consequences in virtually all areas of public and private life, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to sustained advances in the future.” And he argues that South Korea's dynamism flows from the methods that it utilizes to overcome such challenges. This program is a collaboration with the Society’s Policy Department and the Education Department. Professor Chang is joined in conversation with education senior advisor Linda Tobash, policy director Jonathan Corrado, and policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. Paperback copies of Professor Chang’s newest book, The Risk of Compressed Modernity, are available for at a 20% discount using the code 20KSC. You can view our first discussion with Professor Chang in 2023. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. Promotional support for this program is provided by The Institute of Social Sciences at Seoul National University (SNU ISS). For more information, please visit the link below:
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K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less with Judy Joo
09/24/2025
K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less with Judy Joo
September 23, 2025 - Chef, restaurateur, writer, and connoisseur of Korean fried chicken, Judy Joo has gained widespread acclaim for her vibrant approach to Korean cuisine. Now, she presents her latest collection of fresh, exciting recipes in K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less. K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less focuses on recipes that blend creative flair with accessibility, ensuring every mealtime is a success. Showcasing a variety of quick-to-prepare dishes alongside a selection of traditional recipes, K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less offers a solution for the adventurous foodie who’s strapped for time, ensuring that there’s truly a dish for every mood. Each recipe features clear, time-specific instructions, and Judy Joo will guide you through the process as you create delicious Korean treats in under 30 minutes. With K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less, it’s never been this easy to bring the essence of Korean cuisine into your home. In her conversation with Juju Chang, an Emmy® Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline,” Judy Joo will discuss her career and the latest book. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Soju Party with Irene Yoo
09/22/2025
Soju Party with Irene Yoo
September 18, 2025 - Drinking is an essential part of Korean culture, one that’s guided by a complex web of unspoken rules, deep tradition, and lots and lots of food. With Soju Party, food writer, chef, and co-owner of Brooklyn’s Orion Bar Irene Yoo has written the book on drinking like a Korean. She introduces the classic Korean alcohols and how Koreans typically like to drink them and serves up unique cocktail recipes featuring Korean-inspired riffs and nostalgic twists. Of course, you can’t drink without eating, and there are plenty of recipes for tasty anju (drinking foods). In addition to recipes, Yoo explores the history of Korean drinking, with illustrations explaining proper serving and drinking etiquette, drinking games, food pairings, and more. A book that promises late nights (don’t worry, there’s a section on hangovers!), this is a party on the page. In her conversation with Christina Chaey, Irene Yoo discusses her career and the first book. For more information, please visit the link below:
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The Unseen Resilience of North Korean Female Defectors
09/19/2025
The Unseen Resilience of North Korean Female Defectors
September 18, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the unseen resilience of North Korean female defectors. Kim Seonghui and Na Min-Hee provide powerful personal testimony, describing their life and experiences in North Korea, their escape, and their new life in South Korea. Human rights advocate and expert Kwon EunKyoung joins the discussion, which is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Ed Park: An Oral History of Atlantis with Mira Jacob
09/05/2025
Ed Park: An Oral History of Atlantis with Mira Jacob
September 4, 2025 - A deadpan, wildly imaginative collection of stories that slices clean through the mundanity and absurdity of modern life, An Oral History of Atlantis is the newest collection of short stories from Ed Park, the author of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize–winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Same Bed Different Dreams. In this utterly original collection, characters question the fleetingness of youth and art, reckon with the consequences of the everyday, and find solace in the absurd, the beautiful, and the sublime. Throughout, Ed Park deploys his trademark wit to create a world both strikingly recognizable and delightfully other. All together, these fifteen stories have much to say about the meaning—and transitory nature—of our lives. And they are proof positive that Ed Park is one of the most insightful and imaginative writers working today. In this conversation with Mira Jacob, presented in collaboration with Yu & Me Books, Ed Park discusses his latest book. For more information, please visit the link below:
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Riding the Momentum: How VCs Navigate Hype and Sustainable Growth
09/05/2025
Riding the Momentum: How VCs Navigate Hype and Sustainable Growth
September 3, 2025 - This edition of Startup Scene will explore one of venture capital’s most elusive forces: momentum. As the landscape rapidly shifts—from the rise and retreat of web3 and blockchain to today’s explosive AI wave—both founders and investors face a critical question: how do you tell the difference between short-lived hype and the kind of transformative momentum that drives lasting impact? Join us for an exclusive presentation featuring three distinguished investors – Bryan Kim (Andreessen Horowitz), Mike Kim (Third Prime), and Karen Moon (Node Innovation Ventures) – as they each share their distinct investment philosophies and portfolio strategies. Together, their talk will offer a wide range of views into today’s ever-evolving startup landscape: from AI emerging technologies, to cross-border investments, and to innovations in consumer platforms. The conversation will be moderated by Danny Crichton (Lux Capital). This program is supported by For more information, please visit the link below:
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[YPN] Rooted in Giving: Leading Korean Voices in Philanthropy
08/28/2025
[YPN] Rooted in Giving: Leading Korean Voices in Philanthropy
August 27, 2025 - The Korea Society and the Korean American Community Foundation’s (KACF) Associate Board are pleased to present Rooted in Giving: Leading Korean Voices in Philanthropy, a panel discussion featuring three Korean leaders working at the forefront of non-profit and philanthropy: Jeannie Park, Sue Kim, and Abraham Kim. Together, they will share their experiences and insights on what it means to lead with purpose, build strong communities, and drive meaningful change through service, advocacy, and giving. This panel will be moderated by Emil Kang, the Agnes Gund Visiting Professor of the Practice of Arts at Brown University and Former Program Director for Arts and Cultural Heritage at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The KACF Associate Board (AB) is a group of community-minded young professionals based in the New York Metro area who serve as ambassadors of KACF’s mission, helping to build awareness of issues of economic security and shape the next generation of Korean American philanthropy. KACF funds community-based non-profit organizations working to improve lives and transform communities in the Korean and Asian American communities in the greater New York area. KACF transforms and empowers communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and inter-community bridge building. For more information, please visit the link below:
/episode/index/show/koreasociety/id/38004605
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Rapid Reaction: The First Trump-Lee Summit
08/26/2025
Rapid Reaction: The First Trump-Lee Summit
August 26, 2025 - Join us for a timely discussion on the highly anticipated first meeting between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Taking place after the agreement of a new trade framework on July 30, this meeting may address such diverse topics as: Korean investments into the US, Alliance cost sharing and modernization efforts, trilateral US-Korea-Japan collaboration, and coordination on North Korea. Expert panelists unpack summit expectations, outcomes, and implications. This discussion features Dr. Katrin Katz, The Korea Society's inaugural Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow, and Josh Smith, Korea Bureau Chief for Reuters News Agency, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado and program officer Chelsie Alexandre. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below:
/episode/index/show/koreasociety/id/37960710
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North Korea’s Evolving Cyber Strategy
08/13/2025
North Korea’s Evolving Cyber Strategy
August 13, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the rising scale and sophistication of North Korea’s cyber operations with Mitch Haszard, senior threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, and Scott Kardas, geopolitical threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future. How does North Korea’s cyber activities fit into the Kim regime’s larger goals? How can the U.S., South Korea, and the broader international community respond to this threat? This program will follow the evolution and growing magnitude of the regime’s cyber operations and its attacks. The conversation will be moderated by policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. The Korea Society thanks our corporate sponsors and individual members and the Korea Foundation for their generous support, which has made this program possible. For more information, please visit the link below:
/episode/index/show/koreasociety/id/37804155
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Remembering The Korean War
07/25/2025
Remembering The Korean War
July 25, 2025 - Join us for a conversation on the enduring legacy and impact of The Korean War and the U.S.-Korea Alliance. The Korean War Armistice Agreement, which remains in effect today, was signed 72 years ago on July 27, 1953. The program opens with prerecorded remarks from Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne filmed at the base of the Korean War Memorial in Kissena Corridor Park in Flushing, Queens titled: Remembering ‘The Forgotten War.’ Introductory remarks are provided by Consul Choong-geon Lee from the Republic of Korea New York Consulate, Korean War Veteran Mr. Jack Foley, and Brigadier General (Ret.) Chris Stockel, NYC Metro Area chapter president of the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA). This program is produced in collaboration with KDVA. Following the introductions, author Dr. Michael Devine discusses his book, The Korean War Remembered: Contested Memories of an Unended Conflict ( at 40% discount with the code 6AS23), which explores how conflicting “theaters of memory” in the United States, South Korea, North Korea, and China “have evolved over decades and how they continue to shape the domestic and foreign policies of the countries still involved in this unresolved struggle...” The moderator is policy program director Jonathan Corrado. This program is also a collaboration with The Korea Society education department and is attended by participants from The Korea-America Student Conference (KASC18), consisting of 24 student members from undergraduate and graduate universities in both the United States and South Korea. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below:
/episode/index/show/koreasociety/id/37550170