The Korea Society

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-amid-escalating-threats-with-usaf-major-general-jason-r-armagost

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-relations-looking-back-and-looking-forward

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 industry enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the dynamic intersection of tech, culture, and K-beauty in building groundbreaking business opportunities. This program is moderated by ShoYoung Shin (Sho), Director of Platform at Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA). This program is supported by Hanwha Life For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1944-tech-culture-and-k-beauty-dino-s-playbook-for-building-mbx

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

January 24, 2025 - Embark on a captivating musical journey weaving three compelling stories from Hawai‘i’s Korean diaspora with performances by remarkable musicians, including the Grammy Award-winning violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, the world renowned violinists Chee-Yun and Ignace Jang, and Keola Beamer. Songs of Love from Hawai‘i weaves together three stories from the long history of Korean diaspora in Hawai‘i, blending historical narratives with soul-stirring musical performances. From the fascinating tapestry of Korean immigrant history in Hawai‘i to a poignant life of Lim Ok Soon, a young Korean woman who came to Hawai‘i in 1912 as a picture bride, to a heartfelt musical tribute to the souls who found their resting place in Molokai's Kalaupapa, the film weaves a powerful elegy amidst the islands' natural beauty. After premiering at the 43rd Hawaii International Film Festival and airing on PBS Hawai‘i, the film had a successful nationwide theatrical run in Korea in 2024. On Korean American Day, join us for a conversation with filmmaker Jinyoung Lee. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1943-songs-of-love-from-hawai-i-screening-and-a-director-s-talk