The Korea Society

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 suc

March 4, 2021 - Since the pandemic started, restaurant and food service businesses had to combine flexibility and ingenuity in order to survive. Constantly dealing with ever-changing regulations and restrictions, restaurateurs had to quickly pivot and develop new business models, including outdoor dining and shipping nationwide. Join us for a roundtable conversation with three Korean American restaurateurs in New York - Christina Jang of New Wonjo; Simon Kim of Cote; and Ray Park of Red Poke - as they discuss the challenges they face during the pandemic and the future of restaurants. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1470-restaurants-in-the-covid-19-era-a-roundtable

March 4, 2021 - Woodrow Wilson Center director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy Jean Lee converses with senior director Stephen Noerper on ROK-DPRK relations. They address impasse and opportunity between North Korea and South Korea and offer recommendations for US and other policy makers on peninsular realities and possibilities. This program is made possible thanks to support from the Korea Foundation. The Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR) is a promotional partner for this program. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1464-new-developments-in-inter-korean-relations

February 26, 2021 - In the second episode of our Women’s Leadership series, we are pleased to welcome South Korean Minister for Trade Yoo Myung-hee for a conversation on her 25-year career in shaping the international trade infrastructure. As Deputy Minister for FTA Negotiations, and later Director-General for Bureau of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Yoo Myung-hee has been at the forefront of numerous high-profile trade agreements, including the 2018 US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) and the 2019 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, Minister Yoo has been integral in reforming Korea’s trade policy to respond to the current crisis as well as providing an outlook on the future of multilateral trade after COVID-19. The first female trade minister for the Republic of Korea, Minister Yoo will speak on her accomplishments and challenges in the field of international trade and cooperation as well as remark on her candidacy for Director-Ge

February 23, 2021 - Covid-19 increased online education platforms, replacing classrooms with computer screens all across the globe. This has left many teachers, students, and parents at the mercy of education and consumer technology. Susan Kim, CEO of Edmodo, an education technology company with over 100 million users worldwide, joins The Korea Society to discuss consumer technology, online education, and start ups in the modern age. Based on her multiple leadership roles including Google, eBay, and EatWith, she will give insights on business, start-ups, and the edtech industry and how it will shape the future. The discussion will be led by a moderator Sang Lee, President of Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE) and President and CEO of DarcMatter and Konstellation. The Korea Society is excited to present this Young Professionals’ Night webcast in partnership with the Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE) and Council of Korean Americans (CKA). KSE is a nonprofit organization seeking to cultivate and d

February 18, 2021 - Join us for a discussion about scenarios for North Korean development and inter-Korean economic integration. Seoul National University economics Professor Byung-Yeon Kim, former World Bank economist and a consultant on Asian affairs Brad Babson, and NK Pro analyst Peter Ward join Korea Society President Tom Byrne in conversation. Together, they investigate what domestic reforms will be necessary to empower development and forecast potential roles for South Korea, the U.S. and the international community. Korea Society Policy Director Jonathan Corrado moderates audience questions. This program is supported by a grant from the UniKorea Foundation. This event is co-sponsored by the Columbia University’s APEC Study Center. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1456-pathways-to-a-brighter-future-for-north-korea-s-economy

February 4, 2021 - The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) executive director Greg Scarlatoiu and Bush Institute senior fellow Victor Cha join senior director Stephen Noerper for a discussion of human rights in North Korea and its placement on the Biden administration’s new policy agenda. The event marks the anniversary of the historic UN Commission of Inquiry report release. This program is made possible thanks to support from the Korea Foundation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1463-human-rights-and-north-korea-honoring-the-anniversary-of-the-un-commission-of-inquiry-report

January 28, 2021 - In our inaugural episode of The Korea Society's Women in Leadership series, we are pleased to welcome Ambassador Kathleen Stephens for a conversation on her distinguished career. Having extensive experience in international relations, Amb. Stephens, a decorated former U.S. diplomat, will share her special and deep connections to Korea. She will also highlight her involvement in promoting the U.S-Korea relationship as a former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Peace Corps volunteer, and current President of Korea Economic Institute and Chair of The Korea Society. Please join our inspiring interview with Amb. Stephens as she remarks on her challenges and progress in her glass ceiling shattering career, as well as her efforts to support and amplify women’s voices. The discussion will be led by a moderator, Vivian Lee, Emmy-winning TV journalist. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/women-s-leadership-in-the-u-s-korea-relationshi

January 26, 2021 - North Korea senior analysts Robert Carlin and Glyn Ford speak about the political and economic implications of the party congress with senior director Stephen Noerper. Stanford University’s Carlin and Track2Asia’s Ford provide critical insight on possibilities for change, impasse and next steps in this timely, newsmaker event. This program is made possible thanks to support from the Korea Foundation. The Columbia University's Center for Korean Research (CKR) is a promotional partner for this program. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1460-north-korea-s-eighth-party-congress

January 24, 2021 - 14-year-old Eun-hee moves through life like a hummingbird searching for a taste of sweetness wherever she may find it. Ignored by her parents and abused by her brother, she finds her escape by roaming the neighborhood with her best friend, going on adventures, exploring young love and experiencing everything that comes with growing up in a country on the brink of enormous change. Written and directed by Bora Kim and starring the extraordinary young actress Ji-Hu Park, House of Hummingbird delicately captures a turning point in a young woman's life. Bora Kim, writer-director of House of Hummingbird, joins the Korea Society for a director's talk. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1459-house-of-hummingbird-streaming-and-a-director-s-talk

January 13, 2021 - The Magical Language of Others is a powerful and aching memoir, a tale of deep bonds to family, place, and language. After living in America for over a decade, Eun Ji Koh’s parents return to South Korea for work, leaving fifteen-year-old Eun Ji and her brother behind in California. Overnight, Eun Ji finds herself abandoned and adrift in a world made strange by her mother’s absence. Her mother writes letters, in Korean, over the years seeking forgiveness and love―letters Eun Ji cannot fully understand until she finds them years later hidden in a box. In this incandescent memoir, E. J. Koh fearlessly grapples with forgiveness, reconciliation, legacy, and intergenerational trauma. Join us for an in-depth conversation with E. J. Koh about her memoir, poetry, and translation. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1455-the-magical-language-of-others-with-e-j-koh

December 16, 2020 - Six years ago, the founders of the online dating service Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) sat down with The Korea Society to share their stories on starting a new business. (Click Here) Today, we rejoin CMB to discuss how they have reached and managed their success to become one of the major online dating services globally. A Korean American entrepreneur Dawoon Kang, Co-founder and Chief Dating Officer of CMB, will share her knowledge on starting new business, marketing insights, and practical advice to young professionals interested in establishing their own business. We will also explore the art of online dating while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion will be led by a moderator Sang Lee, President of Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE) and CEO of Darc Matter, followed by a Q&A session. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1453-getting-together-with-coffee-meets-bagel

A joint program with NCNK Featuring: Gen (ret.) Vincent Brooks Suzanne DiMaggio Amb. Jeffrey Feltman in conversation with Keith Luse and Stephen Noerper To learn more, visit www.ncnk.org and www.koreasociety.org

December 10, 2020 - In K-pop Confidential, the YA novel from journalist Stephan Lee, a Korean-American girl plunges into the complex world of an idol factory and K-pop trainees in South Korea while staying true to herself in the process. Join us for a lively conversation with Stephan Lee about his debut novel and everything K-pop, including its ever-increasing popularity in the U.S., the challenges the K-pop trainees face, and the issues Korean Americans grapple with as they find their own heritage. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1452-k-pop-confidential-with-stephan-lee

December 10, 2020 - In this podcast interview, Andray Abrahamian offers insights from his new book, Being in North Korea, an exploration of North Korean society from the inside, citing personal experiences gained by the author over 30 trips to the DPRK. In conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado, Abrahamian discusses interactions from his time working at a nonprofit that teaches North Koreans about entrepreneurship and economic policy. Abrahamian is a senior adjunct fellow at Pacific Forum. Sign up below to ensure that you receive a link to the podcast interview when it's released on December 10. Published by Stanford University APARC and distributed by Brookings University, the book is available for sale here. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1440-being-in-north-korea-a-special-podcast-interview-with-andray-abrahamian

December 3, 2020 - South Korea in the 1950s was home to a burgeoning film culture, one of the many “Golden Age cinemas” that flourished in Asia during the postwar years. One of the most important filmmakers of the time was Han Hyung-Mo, director of the era’s most glamorous and popular women’s pictures including the blockbuster Madame Freedom (1956). Christina Klein provides an illuminating analysis of Han's career and films with careful attention to key issues of modernity—such as feminism, cosmopolitanism, and consumerism. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1451-cold-war-cosmopolitan-han-hyung-mo-korean-cinema-of-the-1950s

December 3, 2020 - Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy Scott Snyder joins Senior Director Stephen Noerper to discuss next steps on denuclearization and dialogue with North Korea post-US Presidential election. Snyder, author of South Korea at the Crossroads, weighs the likelihood of a North Korean test or other attention-grabber pre or post-inauguration, the dispositions of Washington, Seoul and Pyongyang, and the possibility of renewed talks. For more information, please visit the link below: https://koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1446-next-steps-with-north-korea

November 19. 2020 - The global recognition of K-pop, K-drama, and K-movies has brought with it much interest in Korean translation. Recently, Sharon Choi, a freelance translator for Bong Joon Ho, the Oscar-winning Director of ‘Parasite’, received much international attention for her excellent translation work. If you are bilingual in Korean and English, seeking a career in the translation industry, or even interested in Korean language, this YPN program is the perfect chance to learn more about this exciting profession. Join us for a discussion with Wansoo Suh, a NYC-based, renowned freelance interpreter, on her professional experiences throughout her 25 year career. Learn about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the translation world with our moderator Janet Cushey, a young professional who is in her early career in the media and translation industry. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1450-the-korean-wave-and-translation-a-conversation-with-wans