The Korea Society

May 3, 2023 - Join us for the latest episode of our Leadership Interview Series with FILA Holdings Corporation & Acushnet Holdings Corporation Chairman Gene Yoon, moderated by The Korea Society’s President & CEO Tom Byrne. Chairman Gene Yoon has a legendary story of success as a self-made businessman. His early career in business was a stepping stone that paved the way to his leveraged buyout of the global FILA brand in 2007. He brought the storied Italian-born brand back to life after taking the company public in Korea in 2010. Chairman Yoon will share inspiring lessons and insights learned from his remarkable career, guided by his entrepreneurial spirit. Chairman Yoon will recount his career milestones and how he achieved business successes against formidable odds. He currently serves as the Chairman of both FILA Holdings Corporation and Acushnet Holdings Corporation, which hold the trademarks for FILA as well as Titleist and FootJoy respectively. Under his leadership, he has propelled both firms to

Recorded April 27, 2023 - Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives. However, the possible consequences of AI are bifold. While it has enabled dramatic improvements by achieving quick and efficient results, it also raises fears of the unknown. Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking YPN interview with Professor Jeongki Lim, a leading expert in transdisciplinary design. In this interactive program with Professor Lim, he walks through his career journey on how he landed on his current position and shares invaluable insights gained through his years of experience and research in the creative technology and design industry. Prof. Lim also explores how AI technologies have impacted creative industries and beyond, as well as the challenges and opportunities they have posed in shaping the future. This discussion is moderated by Tae Young Woo, Co-Founder and CEO of Finestra. For more information, please visit the link below: https://kor

April 28, 2023 - Join us for this conversation on the major diplomatic, security, and economic takeaways from the US-Korea Summit between US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Korea Society is joined by former ROK Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo, Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow Dr. Katrin Katz and The Washington Post Seoul Bureau Chief Michelle Ye Hee Lee, in conversation with Korea Society President and CEO Tom Byrne. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1671-us-korea-summit-analysis

April 27, 2023 - Join us for a discussion that aims to cultivate fresh ideas on America’s policy toward North Korea and coordination with ally South Korea by mobilizing a nuanced understanding of past lessons. The discussion includes consideration of developments to the approach addressed in the summit meeting between US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The program features Professor Jeong-Ho Roh, Director of the Center for Korean Legal Studies, Jenny Town, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center and the Director of Stimson's 38 North Program, and Keith Luse, Executive Director of the National Committee on North Korea (NCNK), in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1669-north-korea-lessons-learned-and-creative-thinking

April 13, 2023 - An instant bestseller in Korea and the follow up to the international bestseller, Please Look After Mom, I Went to See My Father by Kyung-Sook Shin centers on a woman’s efforts to reconnect with her aging father, uncovering long-held family secrets. More than just the portrait of a single man, I Went to See My Father opens a window onto humankind, family, loss, and war. With this long-awaited follow-up to Please Look After Mom—flawlessly rendered by award-winning translator Anton Hur—Kyung-Sook Shin has crafted an ambitious, global, epic, and lasting novel. In a rare personal appearance in the U.S., Kyung-Sook Shin will be joined by Jenny Wang Medina to discuss her latest novel. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1666-kyung-sook-shin-with-jenny-wang-medina

April 13, 2023 - Join us for a discussion about North Korea’s cyber threat, with Jean Lee, co-host of the BBC’s Lazarus Heist podcast and public policy fellow with the Wilson Center, and cybersecurity expert Michael Barnhart, who is currently with the threat intelligence firm Mandiant and was formerly Cyber Team Lead at the US Senate and signals intelligence collector in the intelligence community. The discussion is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1662-the-north-korean-cyber-threat

April 11, 2023 - A novel about a woman tossed overboard by heartbreak and loss, who has to find her way back to stable shores with the help of a giant Pacific octopus. Sea Change is an "absolutely stunning debut" novel —Frances Cha, author of If I Had Your Face—by Gina Chung. Ro is stuck. She’s just entered her thirties, she’s estranged from her mother, and her boyfriend has just left her to join a mission to Mars. Her days are spent dragging herself to her menial job at a mall aquarium, and her nights are spent drinking sharktinis (Mountain Dew and copious amounts of gin, plus a hint of jalapeno). With her best friend pulling away to focus on her upcoming wedding, Ro’s only companion is Dolores, a giant Pacific octopus who also happens to be Ro's last remaining link to her father, a marine biologist who disappeared while on an expedition when Ro was a teenager. When Dolores is sold to a wealthy investor intent on moving her to a private aquarium, Ro finds herself on the precipice of self-destruction. Wading

Recorded March 3, 2023 - Join us for a conversation with Dr. John Delury, Professor of Chinese Studies at Yonsei University, on his new book, Agents of Subversion: The Fate of John T. Downey and the CIA's Covert War in China. This roundtable and pre-recorded video explores a Korean War era mission in China that went wrong, resulting in the 20-year imprisonment of an American operative named John T. Downey. "Agents of Subversion is an innovative work of transnational history, and it demonstrates both how the Chinese Communist regime used the fear of special agents to tighten its grip on society and why intellectuals in Cold War America presciently worried that subversion abroad could lead to repression at home." This program is moderated by Korea Society president & CEO Thomas Byrne. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1656-agents-of-subversion-with-professor-john-delury

February 16, 2023 - Join this discussion with Dr. Henry W. Brands, Professor and Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin, about his book The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War. The book explores the tensions between President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur as the Korean War escalates, threatening to boil over into another World War. This discussion is part of a collection of programs that mark the 70th anniversary of The Korean War Armistice Agreement and the signing of the U.S.-ROK Alliance. Professor Brands joins policy director Jonathan Corrado in conversation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1651-the-general-vs-the-president-macarthur-and-truman-at-the-brink-of-nuclear-war

February 9, 2023 - Join our discussion about the consequences of Korea’s rapid economic development on the family unit and society at large, featuring Seoul National University sociology Professor Chang Kyung-Sup. This program is a collaboration with the Policy Department and the Education Department. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1631-consequences-of-korea-s-compressed-modernity

February 7, 2023 - Twenty-five years in the making, Heinz Insu Fenkl's ambitious, darkly funny, sweeping novel SKULL WATER is a haunting inter-generational coming-of-age story that grapples with identity and displacement in South Korea in the 1950s and 1970s, and reveals a history both countries would prefer to conceal. Born in South Korea to a German father and a Korean mother, Fenkl grew up in Korea, Germany, and the U.S., and his own experience informs this deeply autobiographical novel. SKULL WATER is the story of Insu, the son of a Korean mother and a GI father in the U.S. Army, and the intertwined tale of his Korean Big Uncle, who has been exiled to a mountain cave near the family village to die from a gangrenous foot. Growing up near the army base in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Insu and his two best friends, also "half and halfs," spend their days skipping school, selling scavenged Western goods on the black market, and testing the boundaries between childhood and adulthood. When Insu hears an ol

January 24, 2023 - Introduce children to Asian cuisine and the #VERYASIAN movement! Written by Michelle Li, A Very Asian Guide to Korean Food introduces young readers to classic and modern Korean dishes and provides fun facts about the foods and culture of Korea. Michelle Li is an award-winning, veteran journalist and co-founder of the Very Asian Foundation. She started a global movement of unity with the viral hashtag #veryasian after she received a racist voicemail in response to her sharing on-air the Korean foods she eats. She is a vocal advocate for the Asian American community and brings this same pride and energy for her culture to her debut children’s book. The book is the first in the Very Asian Guide series, a children’s book series that celebrates various Asian cuisines, and is published by Gloo Books, a new children’s book publishing company making books for a more inclusive, just and compassionate future. Join us for a conversation with Michelle Li. For more information, please visit the link bel

January 17, 2023 - Bong Joon Ho: Dissident Cinema by culture writer and screenwriter Karen Han is the first definitive critical and visual survey of the Academy Award–winning South Korean writer/director who has been making critically acclaimed feature films for more than two decades. Brilliantly illustrated and designed by the London-based film magazine Little White Lies, this lush monograph surveys Bong’s full body of work, including his short films and music videos. The accompanying text by Karen Han, interviews with Bong’s key collaborators, and foreword by David Lowery (The Green Knight) flesh out the stories behind Bong’s films and explore his rise in the cultural eye of the West. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1642-bong-joon-ho-dissident-cinema-with-karen-han

January 12, 2023 - Join us for a discussion on the causes and consequences of South Korea’s shrinking birth rate, including its impact on social and civic relations, the economy, and the military, as well as an exploration of efforts to reverse the trend. This discussion features Washington Post reporter Min Joo Kim, Wall Street Journal reporter Dasl Yoon, University of Missouri Assistant Professor Dr. Aram Hur, and Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1636-south-korea-s-demographic-challenge

Recorded December 7, 2022 - Did you know that leading tech companies, namely Apple, Google, and Microsoft, started their journey with venture capital funding? As many success stories suggest, venture capital is a key financial resource for startups’ emergence and growth. Join us for our upcoming YPN series featuring two leaders in venture capital – Bernard Moon, Co-founder & Partner at SparkLabs Group, and John Nahm, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Strong Ventures. Bernard and John have a lively discussion on topics helpful to aspiring entrepreneurs seeking timely advice, including their career highlights, their supervisory roles at the company, and how they managed to seek robust business growth. Moreover, they shed light on the current market trends and prospects for venture capital. Moderating this session is another leading venture capital specialist, Eddie Lee, a Partner at White Star Capital. This program is made possible by the support from Yang Won Sun Foundation. For more information, please

December 19, 2022 - Join us as Lucy Park, Sejong Cultural Society Executive Director, and Elizabeth Jorgensen, writer and educator at Arrowhead High School in Wisconsin, share their insights into and passion for the ancient Korean poetry form, Sijo. Part of the Society’s Spotlight on Korean Studies in K-12 Schooling series, this talk will inspire individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Sijo: Korea’s Poetry Form not only provides tips, techniques and sample lesson plans for teaching and writing Sijo, it also explores the history and beauty of the form. The authors ask, “With only three lines, and 46 syllables, how much can a poet fit within its confines?”, and answer, “a world of story and emotion!” In their talk they demonstrate the power of the form by showcasing award-winning modern sijos and accompanying illustrations by Wonsook Kim. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/education/item/1638-sijo-korea-s-poetry-form

2022 Korea Society Van Fleet Policy Signature Event - In Partnership with FMC Recorded December 8, 2022 - Join The Korea Society and Former Members of Congress (FMC) & the Congressional Study Groups for a dialogue with a bipartisan pair of Former Members of Congress to hear insights on the consequences of America’s midterm elections on the country at large and its dynamic relationship with South Korea. This conversation features former Representative Russ Carnahan (D-MO, 2005-2013) and former Representative Ted Yoho (R-FL, 2013-2021), and is moderated by Korea Society President and CEO Thomas Byrne. The roundtable dialogue features input from policy and corporate professionals and is released as a pre-recorded video and podcast. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1632-the-impact-of-the-u-s-midterms-and-the-u-s-korea-alliance

November 28, 2022 - Join us for the Sixth Annual Sherman Family Korea Emerging Scholar Lecture! Eunbin Chung, Assistant Professor at the University of Utah and the 2022 Sherman Family Korea Scholar Lecture awardee, will address National Identity Affirmation and Trust in Korea, Japan, and China from a unique perspective. Legacies of conflict and distrust have made it difficult for East Asian countries to form regional institutions and overcome security dilemmas. Chung's research questions two conventional wisdoms related to these regional dynamics: 1) that distrust among states can be overcome through cultural convergence and appealing to a shared identity (such as the "European" identity developed through the creation of the EU) and 2) that strong, inward-focused national identities exacerbate inter-state distrust and conflict. Chung asks, Is this true? Do distinct national identities really impede international trust? Chung’s research advances the concept that trust not only can be built among nations when e

December 6, 2022 - Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize and the winner of a PEN/Heim Grant, Cursed Bunny is the wildly original debut story collection from Bora Chung, a rising star of Korean literature. Published in the US for the very first time and translated by the acclaimed Anton Hur, Chung’s stories are modern fables for the internet age, offering biting critiques on the patriarchy, capitalism, politics, and the reign of big tech. Blending elements of horror, fantasy, surrealism and sci-fi, Chung creates an absurd, chilling universe that illuminates the ills of contemporary society. Mirroring the simple style of the fairy tales and legends of storytellers like The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christen Anderson, the ten stories of Cursed Bunny are imaginative, thought-provoking and deeply unsettling, destined to haunt readers for weeks after reading. In this episode of Author Talks, Bora Chung discusses her career in Korea and her English debut. For more information, please visit the link below: htt

December 6, 2022 - A discussion on the most likely scenarios for the future of the Korean Peninsula, featuring: Korea Risk Group CEO Chad O’Carroll, NK News Director and Professor at Kookmin University Andrei Lankov, NK News Lead Correspondent Jeongmin Kim, and NK News Senior Analytic Correspondent Colin Zwirko, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. Utilizing forecasts that rely on the trajectory of current conditions, the experts debate the best possible case, the worst possible case, and the most likely scenario. The experts also opine on how to avoid the most dangerous contingencies and create conditions for positive developments. Join us for this discussion informed by a rich tapestry of journalistic and academic inquiry. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1630-three-futures-north-korea-and-the-korean-peninsula