Korea Foundation President Dr. Yu Hyun-seok launched an engaging dialogue with the ambassadors to celebrate 60 years of the United States – South Korea alliance. Source: Marie DuMond, CSIS Korea Chair.
On October 17, CSIS and Korea Foundation hosted a series of events to commemorate 60 years of the ROK-U.S. alliance, culminating in a public Dialogue with the Ambassadors to a standing room only audience at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul. Former U.S. and Korean ambassadors spoke of their first encounters with Korea and their most memorable moments as ambassadors. Discussion moved to policy issues such as relations with China, the North Korean nuclear problem, KORUS FTA, TPP, unification, and bilateral alliance issues. There was also memorable discussion about the former presidents of the U.S. and Korea and their interactions with one another. ROK Speaker of the National Assembly Kang Chan-hee delivered the keynote address. The U.S. Embassy of Korea was kind enough to pull together a concise highlight video of the event which you can watch here:
Highlights from the afternoon public session included a commemorative video produced by CSIS titled The ROK-US Alliance: 60 years and Beyond and a White House congratulatory video from Vice President Joseph Biden. Former National Assemblyman Park Jin moderated the rich and wide ranging discussion as each of the ambassadors shared the memories and insights on the alliance.
The morning session featured a private breakfast with twelve living U.S. and ROK ambassadors.
The twelve ambassadors from the morning discussion included from left to right: Christopher Hill, CHOI Young-jin, HONG Seok-hyun, Kathleen Stephens, HAN Sung-joo, Han Seung-soo, Sung Kim, Thomas Hubbard, LEE Hong-koo, HYUN Hong-choo, Donald Gregg, Alexander Vershbow. Source: Korea Foundation.
Ambassador Han Sung-joo providing opening remarks at the morning session, followed by ambassador Thomas Hubbard. Source: Korea Foundation.
CSIS and the Korea Foundation also hosted a lunch event with the ambassadors, corporate sponsors, policy-makers, and experts. ROK Minister for Six Party Talks Cho Tae-yong gave the keynote address for the luncheon.
Ambassador Donald Gregg and Ambassador Han Seung-soo talk with guests over lunch. Source: Marie DuMond, CSIS Korea Chair.
Former ambassador Kathleen Stephens addresses the audience on stage during the afternoon Dialogue event with other ambassadors. Source: Marie DuMond, CSIS Korea Chair.
The evening concluded with a traditional Korean style dinner hosted by CSIS and the Korea Foundation at the Samcheonggak Restaurant. U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Sung Kim gave a toast to all of the participants.
To learn more watch the full public event video and visit the CSIS Korea Chair’s website.
Victor Cha
Dr. Victor Cha is senior adviser and Korea Chair at CSIS. He is also a professor of government at Georgetown University.
