The Korea Society

April 22, 2021 - Samul nori, the South Korean percussion genre with powerful rhythmic forms, has reached international popularity. First created in Seoul in 1978 by a quartet of musicians, samul nori (which translates simply into "four things play") is a neo-traditional musical repertory that has been performed on many international stages by professional ensembles and amateur musical enthusiasts around the world. Professor Katherine In-Young Lee explores the history and development of samul nori and its importance as a sonic and cultural symbol of South Korea. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1483-samul-nori-dynamic-rhythms-from-korea

April 21, 2021 - U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) joins The Korea Society to share her journey in becoming one of the first Korean American women elected to Congress in its 230-year history. As an immigrant, small business owner, and previous California State 65th district Assemblywoman, we will explore how Congresswoman Kim pursued the American dream to become a successful Korean American leader and politician. The conversation will be moderated by Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. Ambassador to Korea and Korea Society Board Chair. Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society will deliver a special welcoming remarks at the event. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1490-women-in-congress-a-conversation-with-u-s-representative-young-kim

April 16, 2021 - Join us for a discussion on regional roles in building inter-Korean peace and unification with Columbia University adjunct professor Katrin Fraser Katz, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior research analyst Kathryn Botto, and Columbia University adjunct professor, Weatherhead East Asian Institute research scholar and Society senior director Stephen Noerper. Policy director Jonathan Corrado moderates the discussion, which enjoys the support of the UniKorea Foundation. Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR) partners for this exciting discussion. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1476-role-of-regional-players-in-inter-korean-peace-and-unification

April 8, 2021 - Once considered a dubious cuisine relegated to the "ethnic food" category, Korean food is now hotter than ever in the United States and beyond. Ingredients like gochugaru and gochujang show up on menus of American fast food chains and local grocery aisles, while Korean cooking shows and meokbang videos have become a genre of their own on streaming platforms and social media, such as Netflix and YouTube. Today, KFC also stands for Korean Fried Chicken and the noodle dish jjapaguri from the Oscar-winning movie Parasite has its own Wikipedia entry. Professor Robert Ji-Song Ku explores the rising popularity, appreciation, and appropriation of Korean food around the world and particularly in the United States, and its relationship to the global proliferation of Korean popular culture, a phenomenon commonly known as hallyu, the Korean Wave. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1480-hot-hot-hot-korean-food-in-the-age-of-kpop

April 1, 2021 - Stimson Center senior fellow and China Program director Yun Sun and Asia Society Arthur Ross director of the Center for US-China Relations Orville Schell join senior director Stephen Noerper to discuss where Korea sits relative to China and US priorities. They explore China policy in the new US administration, alliances and expectations, and prospects for improvements or further deterioration in Sino-US ties. This program is made possible thanks to the support of the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1477-korea-and-sino-us-relations

March 26, 2021 - Yul Kwon, Google Senior Director of Product Management and the first Asian American winner of the CBS reality show Survivor, will join the Society to share his diverse career trajectories in product management, technology, law, and media. Yul has worked with major government agencies and private companies including Google, Facebook, the Federal Communications Commission, the US Senate, McKinsey, and PBS. As the first Asian American winner of the CBS reality TV show ‘Survivor’, he will also discuss how he used that platform to voice what it means to be a Korean American in today's age. Moderated by TV Journalist & Storyteller Julie Chang. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1479-surviving-the-professional-world-advice-from-yul-kwon

March 25, 2021 - There is a long and illustrious history of fermentation in Korean cuisine. Different types of fermented food - doenjang, ganjang, gochujang, and kimchi to name just a few - are integral and essential to the Korean way of eating and cooking. Join Irene Yoo as she provides an overview of Korean art of fermentation and tips on how to incorporate Korean fermented food in your everyday cooking. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1475-the-korean-art-of-fermentation

March 18, 2021 - Michael D. Shin, a Fellow of Robinson College, Cambridge, looks at the late Joseon period and the Japanese colonial period to examine the historical causes of Korean division and investigate their impact on inter-Korean reconciliation in this program supported by the UniKorea Foundation. Understanding the deep historical causes of Korean division sheds light on the persistence of the division after the end of the Cold War. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1465-the-historical-causes-of-korea-s-division-and-challenges-to-reconciliation

March 11, 2021 - The saga of King Sukjong, Queen Inhyeon, and Concubine Jang Hui-bin is one of the most famous episodes in the 500-year-long history of Joseon dynasty. Filled with palace intrigues and passionate love affairs, the story of the 19th king of Joseon, his virtuous queen, and one of the most infamous women in the history of Joseon dominates the popular culture and imagination even today. But what was the real story behind the legend? Professor Minsoo Kang, who recently published a translation of Record of the Virtue of Queen Inhyeon, Lady Min, speaks about the importance of this story, the historical myth that has built around the characters, and its place in modern Korean society. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1474-the-king-the-virtuous-queen-and-his-wicked-consort

March 4, 2021 - Join us as Nelson Chai, Chief Financial Officer of Uber, shares "lessons learned" from more than a decade of experience in senior positions at some of the world's leading publicly traded companies, including Uber, CIT Group, Merrill Lynch, and NYSE Euronext, among others. Members and friends of The Korea Society and Korea Finance Society are invited to the discussion, moderated by Korea Finance Society Co-Chairman Mike Joo and Sandor Hau. The Korea Society is excited to present this Young Professionals’ Night webcast in partnership with the Korea Finance Society (KFS). KFS seeks to build a community to promote the advancement of Korean and Korean-American financial professionals in the United States through networking, education, and mentorship. We are dedicated to providing a platform for sharing expertise among Korean financial professionals, as well as educational and career programs for young Korean financial professionals and college students to maximize their opportunities for career success. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1469-lessons-learned-with-nelson-chai