The Korea Society

January 30, 2024 - The author and translator of Cursed Bunny, a National Book Award and International Booker Prize Finalist, are back with a new collection of short stories. A rising star of Korean literature, Bora Chung burst onto the American literary scene last year with the publication of her astounding debut, Cursed Bunny: Stories, translated by Anton Hur. Met with universal praise, these surreal, chilling fables that take on patriarchy, capitalism, and the reign of big tech were a National Book Award Finalist for Translated Literature and shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. Chung and Hur returns with her striking sophomore collection, Your Utopia: Stories. Filled with Chung’s inimitable blend of horror, absurdity, and dark humor, and set in near and distant futures that reflect our deepest fears and desires, the stories in Your Utopia take place in different, off-kilter yet sometimes uncannily familiar settings. With Your Utopia, Chung hopes to provide readers with “a collection of stories t

January 24, 2024 - Join us for our inaugural program of Startup Scene: Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, featuring Saeju Jeong, the Co-Founder and former CEO, and now serving as Executive Chair of Noom. Noom, established in 2008 with Saeju’s friend, Artem Pekatov, introduced a pioneering weight loss app in 2017, integrating behavioral psychology with an empathetic human approach. Since then, Noom has disrupted the weight loss industry, achieving a valuation of $3.7 billion, and benefited over 50 million people with their health and diet. Saeju’s unwavering, mission-driven leadership has been behind the remarkable success of Noom. As the visionary behind Noom, Saeju guided the company through the many strategic pivots that ultimately led to the discovery of Noom’s unique business model. We invite you to explore Saeju’s compelling entrepreneurial journey, marked with soulful tenacity toward a healthier-choice platform for consumers. This conversation took place on January 24 at 6:00 pm at the premise of The Korea Soci

January 10, 2024 - With the ever-growing need to understand ourselves and humanity as a whole, it is necessary to examine the concepts of morality, ethics and universal values as guiding principles of the human condition. With generous support from Y.T. Hwang Family Foundation, The Korea Society is launching a new lecture and conversation series titled Series on Ethics and Common Values. This series promotes the understanding of central themes of our human existence - morality, ethics, personal responsibility, compassion and civility - through a series of lectures by distinguished speakers and conversation with extraordinary individuals who exemplify the universal values in line with the mission of Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation and The Korea Society. The Korea Society and Y. T. Hwang Family Foundation is proud to present Dr. Jim Yong Kim, who will deliver the inaugural lecture of the new series. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1767-y-t-hwang-fa

January 9, 2024 - Join us for a book talk with the Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy Scott Snyder. This new work provides an authoritative overview of the internal and external pressures on the U.S.–South Korea alliance and explores its future prospects. He argues that exclusive-nationalist leaders’ accession to power and domestic political polarization in the United States and South Korea could put past successes at risk and endanger the national security objectives of both countries. In the United States, “America First” nationalism favors self-interest over cooperation and portrays allies as burdens or even free riders. “Korea first” sentiments, in both progressive and conservative forms, present the U.S. military presence in South Korea as an obstacle to inter-Korean reconciliation or a shackle on South Korea’s freedom of action. Snyder also examines North Korea’s attempts to influence South Korean domestic politics and how China’

Recorded January 4, 2024 Join us for a screening of the documentary film BEYOND UTOPIA, winner of the Audience Award for US Documentary Features at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. BEYOND UTOPIA is a suspenseful look at the lengths people will go to gain freedom. It follows various individuals as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on earth. At the film’s core are a mother desperate to reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind; a family of five - including small children and an elderly grandmother - embarking on a treacherous journey across the Yalu River and into the hostine mountains of China; and a man of God on a mission to help these desperate souls. Gripping, visceral, and urgent, Madeleine Gavin’s film embers the viewers with these family members as they attempt their perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes. After the film, stay for a Q&A with Producers Sue Mi Terry and Rachel Cohen as well as human rights advocate and North Korean defect

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 modera

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 be

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 discu

Recorded November 2, 2023 - Join us to watch Chosen, a documentary that follows five Korean Americans of vastly diverse backgrounds with competing political views as they run for US Congress in 2020. David Kim is the only underdog with limited resources vying to be the first Korean American representative in Koreatown. Director Joseph Juhn joins for an intimate Q&A session after the film in conversation with policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre, providing opportunities for audience members to ask questions. Video version including trailer available at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZrELJtlLwM For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1717-chosen-film-screening-and-director-q-a

November 16, 2023 - The Korea Society welcomes Sang A Im, fashion designer and former South Korean actress/singer, to the Young Professionals’ Network for a conversation about her unique journey to success in the cutthroat New York City design world. At Genesis House, a beautiful modern oasis influenced by Korean culture, Sang A Im met with Vivian Lee, Emmy Award-winning TV Journalist & Correspondent at Asian American Life, for a discussion about leaving the Korean entertainment industry behind, starting a business in an unfamiliar country, becoming a self-made entrepreneur, the inspiration behind her designs, and more. This program was recorded at Genesis House on Monday, October 16th in New York City, NY. For the video version of this interview, please visit the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O1o_MaHcTU For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1744-beyond-boundaries-a-conversation-with-sang-a-im

November 13, 2023 - Acclaimed two-Michelin-starred chef Junghyun (JP) Park invites you to discover the delicious and joyful world of Korean cuisine known as Hansik. Together with Jungyoon Choi, globally renowned expert on Korean food, Chef Park presents an expansive and scholarly exploration of Korean cooking and proves that there is much more to celebrate about Korean fare than just barbecue. Following 10 years of in-depth research – and 20 years of friendship – Park and Choi have meticulously crafted the most comprehensive collection of Korean recipes in print today. The Korean Cookbook published by Phaidon features more than 350 authentic recipes, originating from the high rises of Seoul to the volcanic beaches of Jeju Island. An incredible variety of deeply-researched dishes are carefully documented in this collection that spans 500 pages and includes 110 commissioned photographs shot in Korea by photographer Jinju Kang, an artist who works primarily on Hansik and Korean Art Cultures. Designed by Associat

November 9, 2023 - Join us for a program exploring the opportunities and limits for US-Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation. US President Joe Biden met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a landmark trilateral summit at Camp David in August. This program aims to critically assess the progress made since then, with an emphasis on big picture strategic issues. How can the three countries tackle shared challenges and promote mutual security and prosperity? How well can they cooperate to manage relations with North Korea, China, Russia, Southeast Asia, and the wider global community? Are the new institutional pathways for cooperation initiated by the Camp David summit being implemented effectively? An expert panel, composed of specialists from each of the three nations, will investigate these questions and more in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado. Panelists include: Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow Dr. Katrin Fraser Katz, Kangwon

November 8, 2023 - At the height of the military dictatorship in South Korea, Insuk and Sungho are arranged to be married. The couple soon moves to San Jose, California, with an infant and Sungho’s overbearing mother-in-law. Adrift in a new country, Insuk grieves the loss of her past and her divided homeland, finding herself drawn into an illicit relationship that sets into motion a dramatic saga and echoes for generations to come. Extraordinarily beautiful and deeply moving, The Liberators by E. J. Koh is an elegantly wrought family saga of memory, trauma, and empathy, and a stunning testament to the consequences and fortunes of inheritance. From the Gwangju Massacre to the 1988 Olympics, flashbacks to Korean repatriation after Japanese surrender, and the Sewol ferry accident, Koh’s exquisitely drawn portraits and symphonic testimony from guards, prisoners, perpetrators, and liberators spans continents and four generations of two Korean families forever changed by fateful past decisions made in love and war.

November 7, 2023 - An “antic, madcap noir with flair" (Wired) and “fast-paced cyberpunk story” (The New York Times Book Review) from one of South Korea's most revered science fiction writers, whose identity remains unknown, Djuna's Counterweight is an absorbing tale of corporate intrigue, political unrest, unsolved mysteries, and the havoc wreaked by one company’s monomaniacal endeavor to build the world’s first space elevator. Originally conceived by Djuna as a low-budget science fiction film, with literary references as wide-ranging as Joseph Conrad and the Marquis de Sade, Counterweight is part cyberpunk, part hard-boiled detective fiction, and part parable of South Korea’s neocolonial ambition and its rippling effects. Djuna is a novelist and film critic, and a former chair of the Korean Science Fiction Writers Union. For more than twenty years they have published as a faceless writer, refusing to reveal personal details regarding age, gender, or legal name. Widely considered to be one of South Korea’s mo

November 6, 2023 - Join us and explore with Prof. Mark Peterson the ideas advanced in his most recent book, Views of Korean History by a Frog Outside the Well. Written in a conversational style for the general public, in this book Dr. Peterson offers a unique take on Korean history that differs from the standard history taught in Korea since liberation from Japan. It is a point of view that his Korean audience appreciates for its radical departure from orthodox history and finds “refreshing,” “positive” and “uplifting.” In a recent article for the Korea Times, Dr. Peterson writes that he offers a new approach to facts already well known… but looks at in an entirely new way and a way that many young scholars are starting to look at as well. The discussion will be moderated by Linda Tobash, Senior Advisor for Education at the Society. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/education/item/1743-a-look-at-korea-as-a-frog-outside-the-well-an-outsider-s-perspective-on-korean-

Recorded October 4, 2023 Signed on Oct. 1, 1953, in the wake of the armistice, the U.S.-South Korea alliance has matured into a dynamic partnership, deterring conflict and fostering cooperation with respect to trade, technology and people-to-people ties. This expert panel reflected on the legacy and future of the alliance. This program was jointly hosted by The Korea Society, the Korea Defense Veterans Association and the Korea-Pacific Program at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. About the Speakers: Thomas J. Byrne joined The Korea Society as its President in August of 2015 following a distinguished career that included Senior Vice President of Moody's Investor Services and Senior Economist of the Asia Department at the Institute of International Finance. Byrne has an M.A. degree in International Relations with an emphasis on economics from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Before doing graduate work at SAIS, he served in South Korea for three years as a U

October 18, 2023 - Join us for an in-person program with former Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Energy of the Republic of Korea Duck Koo Chung, also the Founder and Chairman of the NEAR Foundation (North-East Asia Research Foundation), as he recounts his time as a Deputy Minister of Finance during the 1997 IMF Crisis. Chung played a crucial part in Korea’s impressively rapid economic recovery as chief negotiator representing the Korean government with the IMF. This program will feature Chung’s reflections on Korea’s development in the 25 years since the crisis, and insights into the trajectory of Korean society and economy as the country navigates trade tensions between the U.S. and China. This conversation will be moderated by Korea Society President and CEO Tom Byrne. For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1730-the-korean-economy-beyond-the-crisis-korea-us-china-economic-interdependence-and-competition

October 13, 2023 - Join us for this book talk with Dr. Aram Hur, who discusses Narratives of Civic Duty: How National Stories Shape Democracy in Asia. At a time when nationalism appears to be stoking regional conflicts and democratic backsliding in Asia and beyond, Dr. Hur's book argues for the positive capacity of nationalism. The book received the 2023 Robert A. Dahl Award from the American Political Science Association for "scholarship of the highest quality on the subject of democracy" by an untenured scholar. Dr. Hur is the Kim Koo Chair in Korean Studies and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. She was the recipient of The Korea Society's Sherman Family Emerging Scholar Lecture Award in 2021. This program is a collaboration between The Korea Society's Policy Department and the Education Department, and is moderated by Linda Tobash, Senior Advisor for Education. The discussant is Dr. Darcie Draudt, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the P