December 11, 2024 - Join us for a program that explores recent political events in South Korea, including a brief history of martial law in Korea, the events leading up to the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s decision to invoke Martial Law, the National Assembly’s counter-action, and the long term consequences of the episode. How will this affect Korea’s domestic politics, the U.S.-ROK Alliance relationship, and inter-Korean relations? The expert panel includes Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Tokyo bureau chief for The Washington Post, covering Japan and the Koreas, and Aram Hur, the Kim Koo Chair in Korean Studies and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Fletcher School, Tufts University, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado and policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. The Korea Society thanks our corporate sponsors and individual members for their generous support, which has made this program possible. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1942-martial-law-implications-for-south-korea-and-the-u-s-korea-relationship

December 5, 2024 - Join us for an inspiring and heartwarming story timed for the holiday season about the largest wartime humanitarian evacuation in history. During The Korean War, naval and merchant ships from America and its allies rescued almost 100,000 North Korean refugees. Among these ships was a humble freighter, the SS Meredith Victory. Although it was built to accommodate only a few passengers and crew, a staggering 14,000 refugees were crammed on board, filling five cargo holds and the entire main deck. The ship carried them all to safety despite lacking food, mine detection equipment, doctors, interpreters, sanitation facilities, and heat or lights in the cargo holds. The 75th Anniversary of this incredible event in 2025 will be marked by a major long-term exhibition at the American Merchant Marine Museum (AMMM), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, alongside exhibitions in Korea. Speakers include Burley Smith, who was just 21 when he took part in the rescue as Junior Third Mate fresh out of Kings Point. Today, aged 95, he is the last surviving crew member. Joining Burley is Dr. Joshua Smith, Director of the American Merchant Marine Museum, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1896-the-hungnam-rescue

December 4, 2024 - With a vibrant population of over 10 million, Seoul ranks as a top global destination on many travel lists. We invite you to an immersive book that offers a unique exploration of Seoul through the lens of a smart city. Join authors, Kristi Shalla and Sungjin Park, as they discuss their book Seoul: Tale of a Smart City with Anne-Sophie Mahle and explore Seoul’s transformation from a bustling, chaotic metropolis to a global model for sustainable urban development. From the revitalization of the Cheonggye Stream to the renewal and beautification of Seoul’s urban landscape, these ingenious initiatives shaped Seoul into a model smart city of advancement and innovation. Many areas in east and central Asia and Latin America have taken inspiration from Seoul’s smart city projects, widening the potential implications for international cities like NYC. Don’t miss the chance to learn how Seoul’s leading practices set the standard for smart city innovations worldwide! For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1880-seoul-tale-of-a-smart-city

November 22, 2024 - The Van Fleet Signature Policy Conference is The Korea Society’s landmark policy event. Held in the District Ballroom of The Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., the conference provides insights on the fast evolving threats and opportunities impacting the dynamic U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) relationship, including a panel on security, a panel on diplomacy, and a keynote address. The keynote speaker is Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah P. Royal. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1882-u-s-rok-indispensable-partnership-amid-increasing-geopolitical-competition

November 22, 2024 - The Van Fleet Signature Policy Conference is The Korea Society’s landmark policy event. Held in the District Ballroom of The Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., the conference provides insights on the fast evolving threats and opportunities impacting the dynamic U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) relationship, including a panel on security, a panel on diplomacy, and a keynote address. The diplomacy panel, “A Broadening U.S.-ROK Relationship in a Changing Regional and Global Landscape,” is moderated by Amb (Ret.) Kathleen Stephens and features former ROK Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, Dr. Victor Cha, and Dr. Katrin Katz. Policy director Jonathan Corrado and Policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre are emcees. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1882-u-s-rok-indispensable-partnership-amid-increasing-geopolitical-competition

November 22, 2024 - The Van Fleet Signature Policy Conference is The Korea Society’s landmark policy event. Held in the District Ballroom of The Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., the conference provides insights on the fast evolving threats and opportunities impacting the dynamic U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) relationship, including a panel on security, a panel on diplomacy, and a keynote address. Korea Society president and CEO Thomas Byrne provides an introduction and a congratulatory message is provided by H.E. Cho Hyundong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the U.S. The security panel, “U.S.-ROK Alliance Evolving to Meet Future Challenges,” is moderated by Gen (Ret.) Walter Sharp and features former ROK Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup, Admiral (Ret.) Harry Harris, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Affairs Alexandra Bell. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1882-u-s-rok-indispensable-partnership-amid-increasing-geopolitical-competition

November 19, 2024 - The Korea Society is pleased to announce that the eighth annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Awardee is Dr. David Krolikoski, assistant professor at the University of Hawai’i. In his lecture Dr. Krolikoski examines The Silence of Love (Nim ŭi ch’immuk, 1926), the acclaimed collection of eighty-eight poems by Han Yong-un (1879-1944), a Buddhist monk and public intellectual. Although the book is commonly celebrated as a metaphor for colonial subjugation, Dr. Krolikoski complicates this established reading to argue that its artistic significance lies in Han’s paradigm-shifting use of colonial poetry as a medium of communal expression during a time of national crisis. The lecture explores how Han uses fiction and symbols to collapse the boundary between private and public address, transmuting the individual voice of his poetic speaker into a platform for a community. Dr. Krolikoski also contextualizes The Silence of Love within the history of the translation of foreign poetic forms into Korea during the 1920s, with a focus on how Han incorporated elements from the lyric and prose poem into his verse. Dr. Emily Jungmin Yoon, author of Find Me as the Creature I Am (Alfred A. Knopf, 2024) and assistant professor of Korean literature at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, will serve as moderator. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1859-sherman-family-korea-emerging-scholar-lecture-2024

November 18, 2024 - Inside a one-room apartment on the outskirts of Seoul, Oliver lives a happily quiet life, listening to jazz records and caring for his favorite plant. But what else is there to do when you’re a Helperbot 3, a robot that has long been retired and considered obsolete? When his fellow Helperbot neighbor Claire asks to borrow his charger, what starts as an awkward encounter leads to a unique friendship, a surprising adventure, and maybe even…love? Winner of the Richard Rodgers Award, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, starring Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen, is the offbeat and captivating story of two outcasts near the end of their warranty who discover that even robots can be swept off their feet. Helmed by the visionary director and Tony Award winner Michael Arden (Parade, Once on This Island), with dazzling scenic design by Dane Laffrey (A Christmas Carol) and book, music, and lyrics by the internationally acclaimed duo Will Aronson and Hue Park, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING is a fresh, original musical about the small things that make any life worth living. Join us for a conversation with the cast members Helen J. Shen and Marcus Choi of this enchanting new Broadway musical. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1881-maybe-happy-ending-a-new-broadway-musical

November 12, 2024 - Join us for a conversation with Stephen Biegun, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea. This discussion will examine past diplomatic efforts to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea, lessons learned, and future prospects. What are Mr. Biegun’s takeaways from his summitry engagement with North Korea? Is it still possible today to pursue mutually acceptable waypoints within the confines of a grand bargain or should more modest goals be pursued? How do geopolitical shifts and hardening regional rivalries undermine the U.S. and North Korean interest in improving bilateral relations? How does the public discourse create reductive dichotomies between deterrence vs. diplomacy and human rights vs. humanitarian efforts? The moderator for this program is Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.  The Korea Society thanks the Kim Koo Foundation, our corporate sponsors, and individual members for their generous support, which has made this program possible. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1873-expert-take-stephen-biegun

November 8, 2024 - Is South Korea on the verge of a nuclear breakout? Join us for a discussion about South Korea’s nuclear option with Victor Cha, the president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the distinguished university professor at Georgetown University. Much of the speculation in Washington and Seoul about South Korea’s nuclear ambitions has been informed by a handful of recent public opinion polls. This has created an echo chamber effect in Washington and Seoul where some experts have accepted South Korean nuclear ambitions as a reality. Using evidence derived from multi-question polling of South Korean strategic elites available to read here, Dr. Cha finds that concerns about a nuclear South Korea are exaggerated: 66 percent of South Korean strategic elites oppose nuclearization and confidence in the United States as a security provider remains strong. However, if the U.S. withdraws ground troops from South Korea or otherwise triggers abandonment fears, half of the strategic elites who presently oppose nuclearization would change their minds. This program is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.   This program is co-sponsored by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University and the Columbia SIPA Korea Focus student club.   The Korea Society thanks the Korea Foundation, our corporate sponsors, and individual members for their generous support, which has made this program possible.  For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1875-breaking-bad-south-koreas-nuclear-option

November 7, 2024 - Join us for an expert discussion on the impact of intensifying competition on the U.S.-Korea relationship. How can the allies evolve together to face shared threats as geopolitical rivalries intensify in Northeast Asia? What is the role of trilateral U.S.-Korea-Japan collaboration? How should North Korea’s increasing provocations and alignment with Russia and China be addressed? Featuring insights from Daniel Russel, Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI). It is moderated by policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. The Korea Society thanks the Kim Koo Foundation, our corporate sponsors, and individual members for their generous support, which has made this program possible. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1877-expert-take-u-s-korea-relations-amid-geopolitical-competition-with-daniel-russel

October 29, 2024 - This program explores the historical and contemporary relationship between North Korea and Russia. How did the Kim Regime’s relationship with the Soviet Union evolve during The Korean War, early Cold War period, and the Sino-Soviet split? How did triangular diplomacy with the People’s Republic of China play a shaping role in the relationship? How should we characterize relations from the end of the Cold War period, including South Korea’s Nordpolitik, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the emergence of the Russian Federation? Finally, how should we view recent developments, including weapons transfers, military cooperation, and policy coordination, in the context of the historical relationship? This discussion features historian Dr. Kathryn Weathersby and is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1872-expert-take-the-moscow-pyongyang-connection-then-and-now-with-dr-kathryn-weathersby

October 10, 2024 - Banchan, the shared side dishes that accompany a Korean meal, are often the real stars of the table, and it's time we celebrate them. From the kitchen of chef Caroline Choe, Banchan: 60 Korean American Recipes for Delicious, Shareable Sides offers 60 mouthwatering recipes for classic and modern banchan dishes. From namul (fresh vegetables) to buchimgae (pancakes), these tasty sides are proof that big flavor can be found in small bites. In this conversation with Marja Vongerichten, Choe discusses her first cookbook that shares her experiences, the global emergence and evolution of Korean American cuisine, and the importance of women's contributions to this movement. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1857-banchan-with-caroline-choe

October 4, 2024 - Join us for a special conference on U.S.-Korea relations produced in partnership with the East Asia Foundation (EAF) and the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP). This forum provides a venue for expert discussion on the security, diplomatic and economic dimensions of the U.S.-Republic of Korea relationship, and includes a bipartisan coalition from Korea’s National Assembly.  The program commences with welcoming remarks from former South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne, and NCAFP president and CEO Ambassador (Ret.) Susan M. Elliott.  The security and diplomacy panel features critical insights from the National Assembly Member Kim Young-bae, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the PPP Ambassador Kim Gunn, Vice Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Dean of Sogang University’s Graduate School of International Studies Kim Jae-chun, and Director of the Korea Program at The Stimson Center Jenny Town. This session is moderated by Director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at NCAFP Susan Thornton, who retired from the State Department after a 28-year diplomatic career focused primarily on East and Central Asia.  The economics and trade panel features National Assembly Member Choi Hyung-du, Vice Chair of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, former ROK Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, and Albright Stonebridge Group Senior Counselor in the East Asia & Pacific practice Tami Overby. This session will be led by Korea Society President and CEO Tom Byrne. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1866-next-steps-for-us-korea-relations-key-diplomatic-and-economic-developments

October 2, 2024 - Join us for an engaging discussion with Peter Kahng, an expert on the intersection of global art markets and contemporary Korean art. As a lecturer at Stanford University specializing in "Global Art Markets in Asia," Peter Kahng will provide a unique perspective on the thriving contemporary art scene in Korea. Explore how Korean art movements, including the influential Dansaekhwa, have garnered international acclaim and how contemporary Korean artists are making significant waves on the global stage. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1860-the-rise-of-korean-contemporary-art-with-peter-kahng

October 1, 2024 - 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 - morality, ethics, personal responsibility, compassion and civility - 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 Minister Kyung-wha Kang, President and CEO of Asia Society, in a conversation with Ambassador (ret) Kathleen Stephens. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1858-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-a-conversation-with-minister-kyung-wha-kang

October 1, 2024 - How can the U.S.-Korea Alliance rise to the challenge of an increasingly complex and fraught geopolitical environment? As competing strategic triangles solidify in Northeast Asia, what new challenges and opportunities will arise for the U.S.-Korea relationship and peace and security in the region? This conversation seeks to see through the cycle to identify underlying trends, plot trajectories, and propose policy recommendations. Join us for a conversation with three thought leaders on the security and diplomacy of Northeast Asia: Seth Bailey, Director for the Office of Korean and Mongolian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Markus Garlauskas, Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, and Rachel Minyoung Lee, Senior Fellow for the Stimson Center’s Korea Program and 38 North. The discussion is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is produced in cooperation with the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1863-force-multiplier-the-u-s-korea-alliance-amid-strategic-competition

September 10, 2024 - South Korea’s film industry is producing movies and original series eagerly anticipated by the global audience, and it is now arguably considered one of the few countries outside the United States to have captivated the world’s hearts and minds through pop music, TV dramas, and film. Similarly, the exponential growth in the South Korean film industry has been mirrored by increasing interest from the press and academia all over the world. The South Korean Film Industry is the first detailed scholarly overview of the South Korean film industry, discussing topics from short films to popular television series that have engaged global audiences and exploring the major changes in South Korean film making and marketing, as well as the international popularity of South Korean films. Join us for a conversation about the South Korean film industry with three contributors to this new volume: Sangjoon Lee, Dal Yong Jin, and Jason Bechervaise. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1851-the-south-korean-film-industry-with-sangjoon-lee-dal-yong-jin-and-jason-bechervaise

September 5, 2024 - Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution is a compelling exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art about the history and transformative legacy of Korean fashion, presenting garments ranging from excavated 17th-century aristocratic garments to contemporary Korean couture by leading and emerging designers, including André Kim (1935–2010); Lie Sang Bong (b. 1954); Lee Chung Chung (b. 1978), for LIE; Lee Jean Youn (b. 1978); and Shin Kyu Yong (b. 1988) and Park Ji Sun (b. 1988), for Blindness. Through juxtaposing historical and contemporary ensembles, Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution recounts the definition of “couture” from an inclusive perspective, amplifying how tradition has empowered contemporary Korean fashion designers to invent a new artistic language. Join us for a conversation with Darnell-Jamal Lisby, who co-curated the exhibition with Sooa Im McCormick. For the video version with slides, please visit the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ5dgb1gSXE For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1853-korean-couture-generations-of-revolution-a-curator-s-perspective

July 27, 2024 - Join us at The Korea Society to honor Veterans who served in The Korean War. This ceremony marks the 71st Anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. This program will provide perspectives on the experience of a front-line soldier as told by a Korean War veteran, South Korea's wartime economy and financial situation, South Korean President Syngman Rhee's role in the Armistice and Alliance, and the state of the US-ROK Alliance today. The ceremony will feature remarks from president and CEO of The Korea Society Thomas J. Byrne, Republic of Korea New York Consul General Euy Whan Kim, President of the New York Department of the Korean War Veterans Association Salvatore Scarlato, Instructor of Economics in the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY Major Rachel Kim, and Associate Director, Center for East Asian Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison Dr. David Fields. This program is presented in collaboration between The Korea Society and The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1848-armistice-day-salute-2024

July 24, 2024 - A beautifully crafted, enriching saga inspired by East Asian mythology, The Melancholy of Untold History is Minsoo Kang’s debut novel, steeped in history and lyrically exciting, interweaving four complex yet entertaining stories as they shape and create a nation’s literary narrative through the themes of love and grief. Famous for his dispelling of the national myth, a history professor understands the power of narrative. He has inspired another young professor to search for her own truths, while trying to understand the way fiction creates fact and how sometimes the past can only be understood by filling in holes with a new narrative. Which is exactly what he needs when his wife passes away to parse meaning out of a world that no longer makes sense. Together the protégé and the Historian find comfort in each other. Yet they know their time together is fleeting, as time usually is. Only the gods have an abundance of time, and yet—the two discover—even that might not be so clear cut. Part of their homeland’s myth tells of four gods who squabbled and argued and destroyed and rebuilt time and again. Or did they? Spanning 3,000 years and multiple voices—with tales within tales woven expertly together—The Melancholy of Untold History reveals people who seek to confront the hardships of life through storytelling. Mixing the East Asian mythos with a postmodern approach to standard sci-fi/fantasy narrative tropes, Minsoo Kang has created a challenging, beautiful, sad, humorous, and ultimately unforgettable novel of love, grief, and myth-making. Minsoo Kang discusses his debut novel with Ed Lin. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1845-minsoo-kang-the-melancholy-of-untold-history-with-ed-lin

July 18, 2024 - A daughter of Korean immigrants, Hyeseung Song spends her earliest years in the cane fields of Texas where her loyalties are divided between a restless father in search of Big Money, and a beautiful yet domineering mother whose resentments about her own life compromises her relationship with her daughter. With her parents at constant odds, Song learns more words in Korean for hatred than for love. When the family’s fake Gucci business lands them in bankruptcy, Song moves to a new elementary school. On her first day, a girl asks the teacher: “Can she speak English?” Neither rich nor white, Song does what is necessary to be visible: she internalizes the model minority myth as well as her beloved mother’s dreams to see her on a secure path. Song meets these expectations by attending the best Ivy League universities in the country. But when she wavers, in search of an artistic life on her own terms, her mother warns, “Happiness is what unexceptional people tell themselves when they don’t have the talent and drive to go after real success.” Years of self-erasure take a toll and Song experiences recurring episodes of depression and mania. So begins her sweeping journey to heal herself by losing everything. In her extraordinary debut memoir Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl, Song expertly weaves together the beauty and complexity of her experience. It is an immigrant story, but also a mother-daughter story, a mental health story, and ultimately a redemption story. Poetic and unflinching, Docile is a lesson in the power of love and legacy to shape us and finding the bravery to be our authentic selves in spite of the expectations we carry. In a conversation with Emma Eun-joo Choi, Song discusses her memoir. Docile: Memoirs of a Not-So-Perfect Asian Girl will be available for purchase. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1844-hyeseung-song-docile-with-emma-eun-joo-choi

June 28, 2024 - Join us for a bipartisan pair of Former Members of Congress to hear a forecast unpacking how America’s 2024 presidential and congressional elections will impact U.S. domestic politics, U.S. foreign policy, and America’s dynamic relationship with South Korea. The conversation features former Representative Bart Gordon, Former Senator Tim Hutchinson, and Chicago Council on Global Affairs senior fellow Dina Smeltz, with opening remarks by the Republic of Korea Consul General Euy Whan Kim, Former Members of Congress (FMC) Chief Operating Officer Sabine Schleidt, and Korea Society President and CEO Thomas Byrne. The conversation will be moderated by American University professor Leonard Steinhorn. This program is presented in collaboration between The Korea Society and FMC’s Congressional Study Group on Korea. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1842-the-2024-u-s-presidential-election-what-they-could-mean-at-home-and-abroad

June 25, 2024 - Join us for a conversation with Dr. Peter Banseok Kwon, Assistant Professor of Korean Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York, on his newly released book: Cornerstone of the Nation: The Defense Industry and the Building of Modern Korea under Park Chung Hee. Newly released by Harvard University Press, this book is the first historical account of the complex alliance of military and civilian forces that catapulted South Korea’s conjoined militarization and industrialization under Park Chung Hee. Kwon reveals how Park’s secret program to build an independent defense industry spurred a total mobilization of business, science, labor, and citizenry, all of which converged in military-civilian forces that propelled an unprecedented model of modernization in Korea. Kwon joins President and CEO Tom Byrne in conversation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1830-cornerstone-of-the-nation-the-defense-industry-and-the-building-of-modern-korea-under-park-chung-hee

Recorded June 20, 2024 - The Korea Society is pleased to invite you to a fireside chat with Co-founder and CEO of Rael, Yanghee Paik. In 2017, Yanghee joined forces with two other Korean-American women to revolutionize the stagnant American feminine-care product market by introducing clean, high-performing holistic feminine care products. Their innovative approach excited millions of Amazon customers with a single product-organic cotton cover pads- leveraging cutting-edge South Korean manufacturing technology. Under Yanghee’s leadership, Rael quickly became the best-selling pad on Amazon and expanded into major retailers such as Target and Walmart, offering a wide range of holistic care products for women, from feminine products to acne-treatment beauty patches. Join us to hear the trailblazing journey of Yanghee, who transitioned from a successful career as a Disney executive to leading a consumer-goods startup. You will learn the insights into how Rael could break through the global feminine product market, traditionally dominated by giant incumbents, by employing advanced South Korean manufacturing and beauty technology to empower global women with a better treatment of themselves. Moderated by Celina Lee - a globally recognized executive and career coach, lawyer, award-winning writer, and podcast host. This program is supported by Hanwha Life The Korea Society is excited to present this Startup Scene program in partnership with the OKTA-NY (World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations, New York). For more information, please visit the link below:  https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1832-empowering-women-with-holistic-care-a-conversation-with-raels-co-founder-and-ceo-yanghee-paik

June 18, 2024 - Is the short story a fiction writer’s laboratory where you can experiment with characters, plots, and ideas? or is it an art form of its own, telling a complete story in just a few words? What does a short story need to have in order to be successful that is different from a novel? And what makes the writers return to this form of writing again and again? Join us for a conversation between Gina Chung (Green Frog, Sea Change) and Yun Ko-eun (Table for One, The Disaster Tourist) about the art of short story writing in English and Korean. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1827-writing-short-stories-with-gina-chung-and-yun-ko-eun

May 30, 2024 - Join us for the launch of the Korean translation of The Power of Money: How Governments and Banks Create Money and Help Us All Prosper by economist and bestselling author Paul Sheard. Money issues dominate the news, but economic jargon and the complexity of it all can be bamboozling. Leading economist Paul Sheard is known for his ability to see the forest and the trees and demystify complex economic phenomena. With The Power of Money, Sheard empowers readers to become better-informed economic citizens by providing context for some of the biggest questions surrounding money, including how money comes into existence and whether cryptocurrencies are going to upend the money system as we know it. Sheard will tackle these topics and more in conversation with Chief Executive of MCC Productions and CNBC Contributor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1828-the-power-of-money-how-governments-and-banks-create-money-and-help-us-all-prosper

May 16, 2024 - Today, South Korea is a cultural superpower—a global trendsetter producing award-winning films like Parasite, riveting dramas like Squid Game, and chart-topping music by K-pop groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK. But behind the country’s meteoric rise to the world stage, a phenomenon known as the Korean Wave, or hallyu, is the story of remarkable resilience and innovation. Just a century ago, Korea was in search of a new national identity, following its occupation by Japan and the Korean War. Harnessing cutting-edge technology, the country has rapidly transformed its economy and international reputation. At the same time, its creative outputs are deeply rooted in its past, with many contemporary artists, filmmakers, musicians, and fashion designers paying tribute to traditional values and art forms dating back to Korea’s dynastic kingdom days. Hallyu! The Korean Wave features approximately 250 objects—costumes, props, photographs, videos, pop culture ephemera, and contemporary works—providing an immersive and multisensory journey through a fascinating history, and a celebration of a vibrant creative force that bridges cultural, societal, and linguistic divides and continues to reach new heights today.  First presented at Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the exhibition is currently at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and will travel to Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. Three curators—Rosalie Kim, Victoria and Albert Museum; Christina Yu Yu, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Yoon-Jee Choi, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco—discuss this captivating exhibition and South Korea's rise as a cultural superpower. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1826-hallyu-the-korean-wave-the-exhibition

May 13, 2024 - To save her sister, a teen girl becomes entangled in a political conspiracy with an enigmatic prince in this fiery new YA novel. June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, returns with a devastating and pulse-pounding tale based on a true story from Korean history. A Crane Among Wolves is set in 1506 Joseon, where people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings. Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom’s turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king’s latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king’s power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death. Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When Iseul's and Daehyun's fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul’s family connections and Daehyun’s royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever seen. In her conversation with Ellen Oh, June Hur discusses her new novel and writing YA novels based on lives and stories from Korean history. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1824-june-hur-a-crane-among-wolves-with-ellen-oh

May 8, 2024 - 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 - morality, ethics, personal responsibility, compassion and civility - 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 Min Jin Lee in a conversation with Kyung B. Yoon. Min Jin Lee is the author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, a finalist for the National Book Award. Lee is the recipient of the 2022 Manhae Grand Prize for Literature, the Bucheon Diaspora Literary Award, and the Samsung Happiness for Tomorrow Award for Creativity. She has received fellowships in Fiction from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Lee has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for the New York Foundation for the Arts, New York State Writers, and the Bronx High School of Science. She has been honored by the Columbia University Weatherhead East Asian Institute, the Asian American Journalists Association, the Korean American Community Foundation, the Council of Korean Americans, the Queens Public Library, and the Korean Community Center. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, The Chosun Ilbo, Vogue, and Food & Wine. She has introduced the Penguin Classics edition of The Great Gatsby. In 2023, Lee served as the Editor of the The Best American Shorts Stories. She is at work on her third novel, American Hagwon and a nonfiction work, Name Recognition. She is a Writer-in-Residence at Amherst College and serves as a trustee of PEN America and a director of the Authors Guild. Lee lives in Harlem with her family. Kyung B. Yoon is the President and CEO (as well as co-founder) of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF), the first and largest philanthropic organization in the U.S. dedicated to strengthening Korean American communities. Her career in poverty alleviation, development economics, and media encompasses her roles as the Executive Producer of Television at the World Bank Institute and a correspondent for WNYW-Fox Channel 5 where she made history as the first Korean American broadcast reporter in NYC. Kyung is currently a contributing reporter to CUNY-TV’s Asian American Life, which is broadcast nationally on PBS stations and for which she received an Emmy nomination. She has previously served as the board chair of Philanthropy New York and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, as a trustee of the New York Foundation, and as a board member of the United Way of New York City. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1817-y-t-hwang-family-foundation-series-on-ethics-common-values-a-conversation-with-min-jin-lee

May 2, 2024 - Given heightened tensions and strategic competition in the Indo Pacific, how is South Korea navigating its diplomatic, economic, and security relationships with the US, China, and Taiwan? In a 2023 Joint Statement, US President Joseph Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol “reiterated the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait [and] strongly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific…” thereby underscoring an uptick in Korean interest and attention to the Taiwan question. Join us for this conversation with Dr. Dean Chen, Professor of Political Science at Ramapo College of New Jersey, and Sean King, Senior Vice President of Park Strategies, moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1819-quick-take-changes-in-us-korea-china-taiwan-relations-with-dr-seong-hyon-lee-sean-king-and-dr-dean-chen

April 25, 2024 - In 2024, North Korea’s leadership has made a number of striking changes to its foreign policy, including abandoning its goal of unification and declaring South Korea its “principal enemy.” Pyongyang has also doubled down on its relationship with Moscow, shipping artillery and missiles off to Russia for use on the battlefields of Ukraine. Speculation has also risen that Kim Jong Un may have made the strategic decision to go to war, or to engage in provocations against the US-ROK Alliance. What is motivating these policies and what does the future hold? Join us for an analytic perspective from Dr. Soo Kim, Principal Technical Advisor at LMI Consulting and formerly the Central Intelligence Agency and RAND Corporation, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1815-quick-take-north-korea-s-new-posture-with-dr-soo-kim

April 19, 2024 - This program examines shifts in South Korea’s foreign policy posture, featuring insights and analysis from Dr. Kuyoun Chung, Assistant professor of the Department of Political Science at the Kangwon National University. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration aims to transform Korea into a “Global Pivotal State.” How has Seoul pursued this objective despite complex geopolitical and economic challenges? How does Korea navigate diplomatic relations in a tense region that is increasingly impacted by strategic competition between autocracies and democracies? Using survey data, Dr. Chung reveals how the South Korean public understands their country’s place in the world, including its allies, threats, and opportunities, in conversation with policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1811-quick-take-south-korea-s-new-foreign-policy-and-public-opinion-with-dr-kuyoun-chung

April 18, 2024 - Join us for a book talk with authors Professor Victor Cha and Professor Ramon Pacheco Pardo, who discuss their new book, Korea: A New History of South and North with policy director Jonathan Corrado. The Korea Society is proud to be a stop on the famous pink book tour! This important new work of history draws on “decades of research to explore the history of modern Korea, from the late nineteenth century, Japanese occupation, and Cold War division to the present day. This comprehensive history sheds light on the evolving identities of the two Koreas, explaining the sharp differences between North and South, and prospects for unification." You can purchase the book here.  For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1761-korea-new-history-of-south-and-north-with-victor-cha-and-ramon-pacheco-pardo

April 11, 2024 - Join us for a rapid reaction analysis of the Republic of Korea’s high stakes 2024 legislative election, held in South Korea one day prior on April 10. This election could shift the control of power in the National Assembly, resulting in an emboldened electoral mandate for President Yoon Suk Yeol, or else creating a new challenge for his administration’s agenda. In this conversation with Korea Society policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre, Stanford University’s Professor Dr. Gi-Wook Shin explores the implications of the election for: Korea’s political, economic, and social policy; its relations with its Alliance partner the United States, and regional states, such as North Korea, China, and Japan.  For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1772-rapid-reaction-unpacking-the-korean-election

April 9, 2024 - Join us for a conversation about recovering lost ground in the international effort to address North Korea’s human rights violations, featuring: Ambassador Julie Turner, U.S. Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues, James Heenan, UN Human Rights Office representative in Seoul, Dr. Katrin Katz, Korea Society Van Fleet Senior Fellow, and Sean Chung, CEO of HanVoice, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. The United Nations Human Rights Council published its landmark report of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ten years ago. That report documented “systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights” in North Korea. But the international effort to ensure accountability, involving U.S. coordination with allies such as the Republic of Korea and through the United Nations, is only just beginning. The U.S. State Department describes credible reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings by the government, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, total state control of expression and media through censorship, severe restrictions on political participation, gender-based violence, and the worst forms of child labor. A Korean American adoptee with twenty years of diplomatic experience, Ambassador Julie Turner said, “The human rights situation in the DPRK is one of the most protracted human rights crises in the world,” in her testimony to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. This discussion explores issues impacting refugees, information distribution, separated family reunions, pathways to practical progress, North Korean human rights success stories, the connection between the regime’s human rights abuses and its weapons programs, and the nexus of humanitarian assistance and human rights. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1813-recapturing-lost-ground-on-north-korean-human-rights-with-ambassador-julie-turner

April 3, 2024 - Darye–"etiquette for tea" or "tea rite"– has been an integral part of Korean history and culture for over a thousand years. Donghyun Kim, a Korean heritage curator, discusses the history of tea practices and aesthetics in Korea and the landscape of contemporary Korean tea culture. YouTube version with images can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sRVfQpAmJg For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1797-the-philosophy-of-korean-tea

April 2, 2024 - Join us for a discussion with the Senior Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg News Saleha Mohsin on her newly released book Paper Soldiers: How the Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order, in cooperation with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP). As the global order continues to evolve, it seems that the dollar’s dominance may find itself waning for the first time in 70 years. In a world dividing into two camps, one led by China and the other by the U.S, Mohsin investigates America's strong dollar policy and how it has shaped the world order, the effects of America's heavy-handed sanctions on its adversaries, and how American allies like South Korea view the dollar in today's global financial system. The conversation will be moderated by former CBS White House Correspondent and NCAFP Board Member, Jacqueline Adams. Purchase the book here For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1810-paper-soldiers-how-the-weaponization-of-the-dollar-changed-the-world-order

March 27, 2024 - In her intimate and touching debut, Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History, journalist Margaret Juhae Lee uncovers her family’s lost history that had been buried in the darkness of Korea’s colonial decades. Growing up in Houston, Margaret Juhae Lee was never told about her grandfather, Lee Chul Ha. His memory was submerged in 1936 Korea, when Lee Chul Ha died a disgraced communist rebel, leaving Margaret's grandmother widowed with their two young sons. To his surviving family Lee Chul Ha was a criminal. As an act of unearthing her own identity, Margaret needed to understand why. Margaret began investigating the truth of her grandfather’s story. After many trips to Korea, she located her grandfather’s interrogation records, and began a series of long-form interviews with her grandmother. Through her research, Margaret discovered an extraordinary young man, Lee Chul Ha – a student revolutionary imprisoned in 1929 for protesting the Japanese government’s colonization of Korea. Lee Chul Ha was a hero and eventually honored as a Patriot of South Korea almost 60 years after his death. With this new knowledge came Margaret’s realization that her grandmother had old wounds she needed to heal. Starry Field weaves together Margaret’s family story against the backdrop of Korea’s tumultuous modern history, with a powerful question at its heart. Can we ever separate ourselves from our family’s past—and if the answer is yes, should we? In her conversation with Grace M. Cho, Margaret Juhae Lee discusses her memoir. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1784-starry-field-with-margaret-juhae-lee-and-grace-m-cho

March 25, 2024 - The Korea Society is delighted to present Colloquy: Translating Korean Poetry, featuring five poets and translators –Stine An, Eunice Lee, Seo Jung Hak, Megan Sungyoon, and Soje– for an evening of poetry reading and conversation. Colloquy: Translators in Conversation is an event series presented by World Poetry Books in collaboration with Montez Press Radio and a partnering New York City institution. Since 2022, Colloquy event series provides a forum for translators to engage with live audiences in an exploration of the art of translation. Each Colloquy event presents a group of two to four translators of recently published works (or works-in-progress) for short readings and moderated conversations, followed by Q&A’s with the audience. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1794-colloquy-translating-korean-poetry

March 20, 2024 - Explore insights into the dynamics of the U.S.-ROK economic relations and the critical issues impacting trade and investment between the two nations in our inaugural program, “The Dynamic U.S.-ROK Trade and Investment Relationship: Current Issues and Prospects” kicking off the new series, U.S.-ROK New Economic Paradigm. Join a distinguished panel of experts consisting of the Hon. Diane Farrell, Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade at the United States Department of Commerce, Mr. Frank Ahrens, Principal of BGR Group, and Dr. Hyun-jung Je, President & Chief Representative of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Washington DC Office, in conversation with The Korea Society’s President & CEO Tom Byrne. Each speaker brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the discussion, offering insightful perspectives on foreign investment in the U.S., investment-friendly U.S. states, and how U.S.-Korea economic relations might be shaped by the upcoming US Presidential election. This program will be recorded at The Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1809-the-dynamic-u-s-rok-trade-and-investment-relationship-current-issues-and-prospects

March 15, 2024 - Please join us for a timely discussion on the Republic of Korea’s membership in the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term, featuring the ROK Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Joonkook HWANG, in conversation with Korea Society President and CEO Thomas Byrne. The Republic of Korea, which has a special history and bond with the United Nations, aims to actively contribute to world peace and security and fulfill the expectations of the international community during its tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. This event will offer a valuable opportunity for the audience to gain insights into Ambassador Hwang’s perspective on the ROK’s vision for its Security Council activities, highlighting its interests and priorities among more than 60 regional and thematic agenda items on the Council. Moreover, Ambassador Hwang is anticipated to address the current status and future prospects of the Korean Peninsula, including recent changes and implications of North Korea’s nuclear and inter-Korean policies. This event will also serve as a platform for shedding light on new Security Council dynamics in recent years amidst ongoing global geopolitical changes, in particular the enhanced roles of non-permanent Council members, referred to as the Elected 10. This event is co-hosted by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) and features introductory remarks by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jeffrey R. Shafer.  For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1807-the-republic-of-korea-and-the-un-security-council-with-rok-permanent-representative-to-the-united-nations-ambassador-joonkook-hwang

March 13, 2024 - Like the foundational role of butter in French cooking or olive oil in Italian cuisine, jangs stand as the cornerstone of Korean cooking, infusing every dish with a symphony of flavors and complexity. Chef Mingoo Kang, often referred to as South Korea’s best chef, invites readers on a gastronomic journey in Jang: The Soul of Korean Cooking to discover the deceptively simple, yet utterly unique and complex Korean sauces that have been near secret ingredients until now. Chef Kang is celebrated for his dedication to the exploration of jangs at his two-Michelin star restaurant, Mingles, in South Korea. In his new book, he demystifies the art of cooking with these soulful sauces through 60 home-cook-friendly recipes that showcase the versatility and depth of the umami-rich flavors in both Korean and Western preparations. In addition to providing delicious preparations and flavor notes customized for home kitchens, Jang delves into the history and methods behind the three jangs—ganjang, doenjang, and gochujang. Jang is not merely a cookbook but a timeless addition to every culinary enthusiast's collection, bridging cultures through the universal language of exquisite flavor. Chef Kang and his two co-authors, Joshua David Stein and Nadia Cho, discuss jang, Korean food, and their new cookbook with moderator Juliana Sohn. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1804-jang-the-soul-of-korean-cooking

March 11, 2024 - In this program of our Young Professionals’ Network series, The Korea Society, in partnership with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), hosted a panel discussion focused on the pursuit of a career in law. Our panel comprises four experienced legal professionals: Karen Kim, Senior Counsel at QBE North America and President of AABANY; Judge Judy Kim, Acting Justice of the Supreme Court in the New York State Supreme Court; and Brian Song, Litigation Partner at BakerHostetler. The conversation will be moderated by Dami Park, Director of Business & Legal Affairs at Concord Music Group. Join us to gain valuable insights into the diverse paths of success in the legal profession from our accomplished panel. Through engaging narratives and an opportunity for networking, uncover inspiration and practical guidance to navigate your path to success in law. This discussion will be held in-person at The Korea Society on March 7th at 6:30 PM. Light refreshments will be available for those in attendance. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1793-legal-career-insights-a-panel-discussion

March 6, 2024 - Join us for this conversation about prospects for Korean Unification with Jeongmin Kim, Lead Correspondent at NK News / Editorial Director at Korea Pro, Dr. Lee Sang-shin, director of the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy at Korea Institute of National Unification (KINU), and Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, the Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. This panel will explore recent policy shifts towards unification in South Korea under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and in North Korea announced by Chairman Kim Jong Un at the ninth plenary meeting of the eighth central committee of the ruling Workers' Party. What are the consequences of Kim’s announcement that North Korea’s long standing policy goal of unification (one nation, two systems) will be dropped? The expert panel will also discuss changing public opinion in South Korea, including demographic and ideological splits in policy preferences for the future of the Korean Peninsula. Plus, in addition to discussing the well-understood challenges and obstacles to practically embarking on a process of unification, the panel will cover some of the potential benefits of Unification, including demographic, sociocultural, geopolitical, and economic factors. The promotional partner for this program is Columbia University’s APEC Study Center. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1780-korean-unification-a-fading-prospect

March 4, 2024 - Snowglobe by Soyoung Park, the first book in a powerful young adult dystopian duology, is a groundbreaking exploration of personal identity, and the future of the world as we know it. The winner of the Changbi X Kakaopage Young Adult Novel Award, the novel has been translated into English by Joungmin Lee Comfort, introducing a new readership to this cutting-edge commentary on climate change, socioeconomic inequality, and personal identity. Set in a frozen world, only the residents of Snowglobe have it all: fame, fortune, and, above all, safety from the bitter cold. Outside the domed city, citizens must face the –50-degree Fahrenheit temperatures to produce the energy that Snowglobe needs to run. Their only solace comes in the form of television programming developed from the 24/7 filming of those who live in Snowglobe. When Snowglobe’s biggest star and newly-minted weather announcer, Haeri, is found dead, look-alike Chobahm must take her place, getting the opportunity of a lifetime to join the residents inside. But she soon discovers that the society she’s idolized is hiding a frozen and dangerous heart. Snowglobe is a powerful and layered thrill ride containing a myriad of plot twists and a shocking ending that will keep readers eagerly awaiting its sequel. Join us for a conversation with the author and translator, moderated by Kat Cho, as they discuss the English publication of Snowglobe. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1782-snowglobe-with-soyoung-park-and-joungmin-lee-comfort

February 28, 2024 - Navigating the uncertainties of quitting an established career to venture into entrepreneurship is a common challenge for many aspiring startup founders. The question of when to take that leap adds another layer of complexity to the journey. To shed light on these dilemmas, we invite you to join our conversation with Curtis Lee, a seasoned startup founder, currently serving as the VP of Global Payments and Cash at Microsoft. Curtis embarked on his entrepreneurial path by founding Luxe, a premium valet and auto-concierge system, in 2013. After Luxe’s successful acquisition to Volvo Group, Curtis returned to the entrepreneurial arena with the launch of Pinwheel, a fintech specializing in payroll API, in 2021. During this discussion, Curtis will share the intricacies of how he charted his entrepreneurial path, strategically navigating tech giants, startups, and investment firms, to fulfill his aspirations. Additionally, Curtis will impart how his firsthand founding experience has transformed him into a more emphatic investor, particularly for early-stage startups in their foundational phases. Moderated by CeFaan Kim, correspondent for ABC News. This program is supported by Hanwha Life For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1781-charting-entrepreneurial-paths-curtis-lee-from-luxe-to-pinwheel-and-beyond

February 22, 2024 - Join us for a discussion on deterrence and North Korea with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, United States Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Together in conversation with US Air Force Reserve Major Jessica Taylor and Korea Society Policy Director Jonathan Corrado, Ambassador Jenkins will discuss the US-ROK Alliance and the growing threats posed by Pyongyang's evolving nuclear, missile, and space capabilities as well as its proliferation and procurement activities, including its growing ties and trade with Russia.   For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1770-deterring-north-korea-a-conversation-with-ambassador-bonnie-jenkins

January 31, 2024 - Recent events have heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula—North Korea’s successful launch of a military satellite resulting in Seoul’s decision to partially suspend the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), and followed by Pyongyang’s deployment of additional forces near its border with South Korea—increasing the chances of conflict on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea's advancements in its nuclear weapons and missile programs, coupled with the diminishing enforcement of sanctions and renewed support from Russia, have sparked debates among the South Korean public and security experts about the possibility of Seoul pursuing an indigenous nuclear deterrent. Join us for a program co-hosted by The Korea Society and the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) on the future of Korean Peninsula security and suggestions for de-escalation and preventive diplomacy, featuring Professor Moon Chung-In, James Laney Professor at Yonsei University and Vice Chair for the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament. Following Professor Moon’s initial remarks, he will be joined by NCAFP director for Asia Susan A. Thornton and Director of the new Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Markus Garlauskas for a conversation moderated by Korea Society president & CEO Tom Byrne. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1764-rumbles-of-thunder-and-endangered-peace-on-the-korean-peninsula