The Korea Society

Explore the journey of Saeju Jeong, co-founder of Noom, as he disrupts the weight loss industry with a mission-driven approach. Learn about the strategic pivots, leadership, and cultural impact at Noom, along with the speaker's personal journey from curiosity to a mission-driven entrepreneur. Discover the importance of having a clear mission in entrepreneurship and the challenges immigrant entrepreneurs face in New York City. Join the conversation on healthcare entrepreneurship, vision, and building confidence in the startup world.

Exploring topics like Korea's declining birth rates, mental health challenges, and cultural influences, the podcast delves into societal issues and solutions. Dr. Jim Yong Kim's journey in global health advocacy is highlighted, along with the fascination with Korean pop culture worldwide. The discussion includes collective efforts in Korean society, challenges of reunification with North Korea, and the need for addressing societal issues collectively.

The podcast explores the challenges faced by the U.S.-South Korea alliance, including the impact of nationalist leaders, domestic political polarization, and North Korea's influence. It discusses hypothetical scenarios, strategies for strengthening the alliance, and the complexities of trilateral relationships with Japan. The conversation delves into Korean autonomy, territorial disputes, nuclear concerns, and the importance of public education.

The podcast delves into the gripping stories of North Korean refugees risking their lives to escape oppression. It highlights the challenges faced by refugees integrating into society, the power of filmmaking to raise awareness, and the need for global action to address human rights violations. The Q&A session with producers and a North Korean defector sheds light on the importance of supporting those affected by humanitarian crises.

December 14, 2023 - How does the US public view America’s place in the world? How strong are the bonds between the US and Korea? Conversely, how does the Korean public view the United States as a partner and an ally? How are these views changing and what are the implications for global geopolitics, the US-Korea Alliance, and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula? The expert panel includes: Troy Stangarone, Senior Director and Fellow at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI) and an author of KEI’s “2023 Report on American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula,” Dina Smeltz, Senior Fellow, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and author of the survey report, “Americans Continue to See Benefits from US Alliances,” and Dr. Woo Chang Kang, associate professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Korea University, who will explore the implications for Korea of these recent surveys, as well as the equivalent surveys in Korea. The conversation is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1747-is-sentiment-shifting-on-foreign-policy-alliances-and-the-us-korea-relationship

December 8, 2023 - The world is captivated by Korean culture. This fascination and popular interest, once focused on K-drama and K-pop, have now extended into fashion, food, fine art, classical and various genres of music. So much so that various institutions are pondering the question: what is the secret of Korea’s cultural success? To answer this question, Korea’s Ambassador for Cultural Cooperation Sohn Jie-ae, a former CNN Seoul correspondent, explores the basic values and thoughts that lie behind the strength of Korea’s cultural wave in her conversation with Vivian Lee. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1754-the-korean-wave-where-did-it-come-from-and-where-is-it-going

2023 Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture December 6, 2023 - The Korea Society is pleased to announce that the winner of the 7th Annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture Competition is Dr. Munseob Lee, Assistant Professor at the University of California San Diego. Dr. Lee will address The Return of Industrial Policy: Lessons from Korea. Industrial policy is making a comeback. Signs of government intervention in support of industry are visible not only in China, but in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Drawing lessons learned from Korea’s experience, Lee provides important insights for today’s policy-makers. A notable case to be discussed is the Korean government's implementation of the heavy and chemical industry drive in 1973. While that policy yielded positive outcomes for the targeted industries, it also resulted in a higher concentration within those sectors. Lee emphasizes the intricate nature of industrial policy and stresses the need for a thorough evaluation of its costs and benefits before implementation, especially now given the current bipartisan support for substantial bills in the U.S. aimed at revitalizing industrial policy. As one reviewer stated, “At this critical time Lee revisits the effectiveness of Korean industrial policy during a high development phase to glean useful insights for Korea, U.S., and beyond.” The Lecture is moderated by Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society. The intent of the annual Sherman Family Lecture Award is to grow U.S. thought leadership on Korea for a new generation. The award is presented across disciplines and to emerging thought leaders, from doctoral candidates to junior professors and respective research or non-profit professionals. The award is made possible through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Sherman and family. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1706-sherman-family-korea-emerging-scholar-lecture-2023

Recorded October 6, 2023 In October of 2023, the NCAFP’s Forum on Asia-Pacific Security reconvened its 2021 and 2022 cohorts of Emerging Leaders in NYC for two days of conferences and meetings with think tanks and experts on Korean Peninsula and Asia-Pacific security issues. The NCAFP partnered with the Korea Society to record a roundtable discussion on North Korea policy. In this conversation moderated by NCAFP Emerging Leader (2021) and the Korea Society’s Policy Director, Jonathan Corrado, Shaquille James (U.S. Air Force, 2021), Nazanin Zadeh-Cummings (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 2022), and Marialaura De Angelis (Track2Asia, 2022) discussed a new framing of the North Korean challenge, new approaches to engaging with North Korea, and transitional justice and contingency scenarios.

Recorded November 30, 2023 Kakao Mobility Corp, a mobility subsidiary of South Korea's tech giant Kakao Corp, is a one of a kind mobility platform company. It operates the Kakao T app, a super app that provides an all-in-one mobility experience, with an industry-defining and market-leading “No. 1” product portfolio comprised of taxi-hailing, designated driver, turn-by-turn navigation, smart parking, micro-mobility, flight/train/shuttle, as well as future mobility such as autonomous driving, robotics, HD Maps, and Urban Air Mobility. On November 30th, our Young Professionals’ Network invites Dr. Christopher Chang (장성욱), the Senior Vice President of Kakao Mobility Corp, to discuss his significant contributions to mobility technology innovation. Join this conversation, moderated by Frank Bi, Director of Tools and Technology at The Star Tribune, to learn more about Dr. Chang’s fascinating personal journey to his current position and to hear his distinctive insights into Kakao Mobility’s business model. This discussion will be held in-person at The Korea Society and will be followed by a brief networking session with the guest speaker. Light refreshments will be available for those in attendance. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1740-ypn-a-conversation-with-christopher-chang

The podcast discusses the documentary 'Chosen' following Korean American congressional candidates in 2020. It explores Korean American identity through historic events like the LA riots and challenges in representation. The director shares insights on humanizing characters in filmmaking and navigating dual identities. The episode also highlights the influence of Korean-Americans in advocating for peace in Korea and the audience perceptions of Korean-American stories.