The Korea Society

May 16, 2025 - Join us for a discussion with Dr. Joan E. Cho, Associate Professor of East Asian Studies at Wesleyan University on her 2024 book Seeds of Mobilization: The Authoritarian Roots of South Korea's Democracy, which explores the nonlinear nature of South Korea’s democratization. Using oral interviews, original protest datasets, and publications by student and labor activists, Cho illustrates how modernization structures such as industrial complexes and tertiary education initially bolstered authoritarian regimes before facilitating protests by various social movement groups, which ultimately succeeded in ushering in the country’s democratization. During the discussion, Cho also describes how this historical legacy continues to impact Korean politics, including the generational divide and the recent Martial Law and impeachment episodes. This program is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado.  This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate mem

May 15, 2025 - There are many Korean American voices within food media nowadays, and many more women on editorial mastheads. But, what is it like to navigate this system of reporting and contributing to food culture as a Korean-American woman? What are the challenges, and what difference do they make in the industry? Chef and writer Caroline Choe sits down with three women with longstanding careers in the food editorial and media landscape–Christina Chaey, Myo Quinn, and Caroline Shin–to discuss the importance of diverse voices in food media, sharing their own experiences in their work, and what they hope will be the best way forward to allow for more voices and stories to be heard. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1990-women-in-food-media

April 30, 2025 - Join us for a conversation with Ankit Panda, Stanton Senior Fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, on his newly published book: The New Nuclear Age: At the Precipice of Armageddon. The book describes how “nuclear weapons are returning to the fore of international statecraft in ways unseen since the Cold War… The prospect of nuclear escalation is again shaping how political decision-makers and military establishments around the world think and act.” The book includes a passage on North Korea’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, the subject of Panda’s first book, and the debate over South Korea acquiring an indigenous deterrent. This program is moderated by Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is produced in collaboration with Temple University Japan and 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.ko

April 30, 2025 - Join us for a discussion co-hosted by The Korea Society and Temple University Japan with Ambassador Raymond Burghardt, who served for many years as one of the leading Asian specialists in the U.S. Foreign Service. He was formerly Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) from 2006 to 2016. Previously, he was Ambassador to Vietnam (2001-2004), AIT Director in Taipei (1999-2001), Consul General in Shanghai (1997-1999), Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassies in Manila (1993-1996) and Seoul (1990-1993) and Political Counselor in Beijing (1987-1989). Ambassador Burghardt joins in conversation with Temple University Japan Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies Co-Director Robert Dujarric, senior vice president at Park Strategies Sean King, and Korea Society 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 belo

April 23, 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 - 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 Ilyon Woo in a conversation with Ed Park. Ilyon Woo is the New York Times best-selling author of Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom, which won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Biography. Time Magazine called Master

April 16, 2025 - Join us for a conversation on acting and activism with actress and North Korean human rights activist Minnie Mills and Korea Society policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. Exploring the origin and development of her professional acting career, Minnie discusses roles on “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “Obliterated,” and future projects. She then describes her passion for supporting North Korean refugees through volunteering for the nongovernmental organization Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). How does she balance work with school and volunteering? What has she learned from North Korean refugees? An introduction is provided by Dr. Victor Cha, Distinguished University Professor, Georgetown University, and President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department, CSIS. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1987-acting-and-activism-with-minnie-mi

April 10, 2025 - Sarah Ahn’s viral food videos featuring her mother Nam Soon Ahn have captivated millions of viewers with their behind-the-scenes look at Korean cooking and multigenerational home life. Their latest collaboration is a must-have cookbook Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes, which captures the flavors, traditions, and stories of Korean cooking. The recipes are framed by mother-daughter conversations that are funny, profound, and universally relatable—plus all the food is backed by the recipe-testing power of America’s Test Kitchen. In a conversation with Eric Kim of the New York Times, Sarah and Nam Soon Ahn discuss their debut cookbook. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1965-umma-a-korean-mom-s-kitchen-wisdom-and-100-family-recipes

April 8, 2025 - Join us for a discussion about the legacy, implications, and a modern application of the theories from Gregory Henderson’s 1968 seminal text Korea: The Politics of the Vortex, with Edward J. Baker, advisor to the Harvard University Korea Institute, and Dr. Ingu Hwang, Associate Professor of the Practice at Boston College. The discussion will also address Hwang’s 2022 book, Human Rights and Transnational Democracy in South Korea, which examines the role of South Korean pro-democracy actors in (re)shaping the global history of human rights activism and politics in the 1970s. The moderator for this program is Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne.  This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation.    For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1977-korea-s-politics-of-the-vortex-2025

April 4, 2025 - Join us for this rapid reaction program held soon after the ruling of South Korea’s Constitutional Court on the impeachment trial of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. If the impeachment motion is upheld, the country will have 60 days to hold a presidential election. How will the outcome of the case affect Korea’s democracy and society, U.S.-Korea relations, inter-Korean relations, and Korea’s regional relations with countries such as Japan, China, and Russia? Join us for a discussion with Ambassador (Ret.) Philip Goldberg, former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, and Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Tokyo bureau chief for The Washington Post, covering Japan and the Koreas. Korea Society President and CEO Thomas Byrne will provide introductory remarks. The discussion is 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. For more information, please

April 3, 2025 - This spring, from director Andrew Ahn comes The Wedding Banquet, a joyful comedy of errors about a chosen family navigating the disasters and delights of family expectations, queerness, and cultural identity. With a pitch-perfect cast of multigenerational talent that includes Bowen Yang, Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-Chan, Joan Chen, and Academy Award winner Youn Yuh-Jung, this fresh reimagining of Ang Lee’s beloved, award-winning rom-com teems with humor and heart in a poignant reminder that being part of a family means learning to both accept and forgive. Join us for a conversation with Andrew Ahn about his latest film and his career. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1989-andrew-ahn-a-director-s-talk

April 1, 2025 - Korea’s thriving tech industry—driven by global brands and cutting-edge innovation—continues to attract substantial foreign investment, even as the regulatory landscape evolves. Korea's recent proposed online platform regulations have drawn significant attention for its impacts on major tech companies and the broader competitive landscape in the country's technologically advanced market. To tackle these developments and their implications for US-Korea’s tech investment relations, this program will convene a panel with experts across both U.S. and Korean tech industries that will share their valuable firsthand insights and perspectives on critical matters such as key factors and challenges of investing within Korea’s regulatory framework, as well as policy measures and incentives that could further strengthen Korea’s strengths as a premier destination for U.S. investment. Speakers: Scott Jacobs, Head of Public Policy, Global Government Affairs, Coupang Ji Hyun Lee, Economic Research Lead, AWS

March 26, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the current status and future pathways for U.S.-Korea-Japan trilateral relations, with Dr. Joshua Walker, President and CEO of Japan Society, and Emma Chanlett-Avery, Deputy Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute's Washington DC office and the Director for Political-Security Affairs. The moderator for this program is Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Kim Koo Foundation.    For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1978-charting-future-pathways-for-u-s-korea-japan-trilateral-relations

March 17, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the latest developments in Korea, including domestic politics north and south of the 38th parallel, inter-Korean relations, US-North Korea developments, Russia’s role, and more, featuring team members from NK News, including Chad O'Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of Korea Risk Group, Jeongmin Kim, Lead Correspondent at NK News and Editorial Director at Korea Pro, Colin Zwirko, Senior Analytic Correspondent for NK News, and Shreyas Reddy, Lead Correspondent at NK News. This program is moderated by The Korea Society 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/item/1966-korean-peninsula-update-with-the-nk-news-team

March 6, 2025 - As the food and hospitality industry continues to evolve and grow, the Asian faces in it have also become more visible. Despite the progress, there are still long-standing obstacles that women face both in and out of kitchen and business culture. Meet Korean-American women running their own successful food and hospitality business and contributing their perspective and approaches to proactively change the industry. In this conversation, chef and writer Caroline Choe speaks with 4 brand and establishment owners and proprietors based in the NYC / NJ area on their experiences: Hannah Bae of Noona's Ice Cream, Julia Choi-Rodriguez of Vesta Chocolate, Alice Jun of Hana Makgeolli, Jee Kim of 8282. Also joining will be hospitality lawyer Vivian Chen, who represents many businesses and brands throughout New York City. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1968-women-in-food-business

March 5, 2025 - When it comes to building a successful SaaS (Software as a Service) business, many assume that exceptional coding skills are the key to success. However, our next Startup Scene offers a different perspective- one that highlights the power of storytelling and strong investment relationships. Please join us for an insightful session with John Sung Kim, a serial SaaS founder of Five9 (NASDAQ: FIVN), DoctorBase, and Jetbridge. He will share his expertise on launching SaaS startups, emphasizing how compelling storytelling can drive investor engagement, team-building and business growth. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn firsthand from John's entrepreneurial journey and discover the strategies that turn great ideas into thriving companies. This program is supported by Hanwha Life For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1971-scaling-saas-the-art-of-storytelling-investor-strategy

February 19, 2025 - Join us for a program on deterrence and readiness with Major General Jason R. Armagost, who is the Commander of Eighth Air Force and the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. "The Mighty Eighth" is responsible for the service’s bomber force and airborne nuclear command and control assets, encompassing approximately 24,000 Airmen across six installations, and proudly operating more than 150 E-4, B-1, B-2, B-52 and T-38 aircraft.  Major General Armagost will discuss deterrence and readiness amid escalating threats including challenges posed by North Korea, China, and Iran as well as how the U.S.’s bomber force operates across the globe.  This program is moderated by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) president and CEO Susan Elliott and produced in collaboration with the NCAFP.  For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1961-nuclear-deterrence-and-readiness-a

February 13, 2025 - Join us for a discussion about fallout from the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s Martial Law declaration, his subsequent impeachment and the presidential transition in Seoul, challenges to South Korea’s democracy, and implications for the U.S.-Korea relationship and Korea’s foreign relations, with Kelly Kasulis Cho, Washington Post Breaking News Reporter, Andrew Yeo, senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair at the Brookings Institution's Center for Asia Policy Studies, and Daniel Sneider, lecturer in East Asian Studies at Stanford. This program is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado and program officer Chelsie Alexandre. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1953-challenges-for-korea-s-democracy

February 4, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the newly launched book: Korea-US-China Trilateral Relations in the Xi Jinping Era. The authors, CHUNG Duck Koo, Korea’s former Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Energy, and YUN Byung-se, Korea’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, examine Korea-US-China trilateral relations through a strategic triangular lens. The book moves beyond conventional discussions of bilateral ties to provide an in-depth analysis of the complexity, conflict, and economic interdependence characterizing the relationships among these three nations. In the discussion, Minister Chung and Minister Yun also address the new US administration and shifts in Korean politics, offering timely insights to shed light on unfolding events. The moderator for the program is Korea Society president and CEO Thomas Byrne. The book is available for purchase here. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1955-korea-us-china-trilateral-

January 28, 2025 - Join us for an exclusive conversation with Hyungseok Dino Ha (hereinafter Dino), Co-Founder and CEO of MBX (formerly Memebox), a visionary multi-brand beauty and personal care company leading the convergence of technology, culture, and K-beauty. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei, MBX has established itself as a global leader in the beauty industry, backed by $200 million in venture capital funding. By seamlessly blending data-driven technology with cultural insight, MBX is redefining how K-beauty influences the global beauty landscape. In this program, Dino will reveal the key moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey — from his early career at TMON and Tom Ford to his transformative experience in top accelerator programs like Y Combinator and SparkLabs. Learn how he harnessed the global rise of K-beauty and used technology to create a next-generation beauty powerhouse. This conversation offers essential lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs, beauty

January 24, 2025 - Join us for a discussion on the Trump Administration’s economic security policy towards Asia with Navin Girishankar, president of the Economic Security and Technology Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and former Counselor to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Yeo Han-koo, former trade minister of the Republic of Korea and senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The moderator for the program is Korea Society president and CEO Tom Byrne. The discussion will cover US-China economic competition and its impact on Northeast Asian countries like Korea and Japan, plus: tariffs, international trade, and the impact on critical next generation technologies including semiconductors, EVs, and batteries.  For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1949-what-to-expect-the-trump-administration-economic-security-policy-on-asia