The Korea Society

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 Cen

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 mor

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 Sco

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 Pa

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 in

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: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2076-interview-with-bank-of-korea-governor-rhee-chang-yong

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 discussed "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, a

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, pleas

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 t

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: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/2049-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-misook-doolittle

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: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/2050-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-nicholas-harkn

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: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2055-meet-advocacy-fellows-from-liberty-in-north-korea

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 purchase onli

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

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: ht

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: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2040-the-unseen-resilience-of-north-korean-female-defectors

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

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 Hanwha Life For more information, please visit the

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

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: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/2048