The Korea Society

June 19, 2020 - Early on in his life, Kyungmoon Kim discovered that he had an exceptional palate. As he immersed himself in the world of wine, he leveraged his palate and his natural aptitude for memorization to build an extensive base of wine knowledge. In 2016, Kyungmoon Kim won the Master Sommelier Certification and joined the Court of Master Sommeliers; currently, there are only 247 Master Sommeliers worldwide.

Now Kyungmoon Kim is expanding the horizon in the beverage world and taking on the mission to bring exciting artisanal soju from Korea to the U.S.

Listen to the Master Sommelier’s unique story and his exploration of the world of wine, traditional Korean liquors, and cocktails. He will also offer a few tips on creating delicious cocktails at home.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1398-from-wine-to-soju-stories-from-the-master-sommelier

June 15, 2020 - Over the months journalists have worked tirelessly to provide reliable and up to date information on COVID-19. Timothy Martin, Korea bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, is among these journalists. His reporting has shed light on the outbreak in South Korea, giving U.S. readers an in-depth account of the situation in the country and the actions taken to stem the spread of the virus. In this webcast, Timothy speaks with AAJA - NY chapter president, Frank Bi, on his experience covering the coronavirus pandemic in South Korea. He also gives us a look into his career in journalism, and shares his advice for journalists entering the field.

The Korea Society is excited to present this Young Professionals’ Night webcast in partnership with the Asian American Journalists Association’s New York chapter. AAJA's New York chapter is the largest chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association with more than 770 members in New York and the surrounding region. Its mission is to advance the representation of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in newsrooms as well as in the fair and accurate coverage of AAPI issues.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/special-events/item/1409-young-professionals-night-with-timothy-martin

June 11, 2020 - Harvard University visiting fellow and Sophia University professor Sandra Fahy joins senior director Stephen Noerper for a discussion of her latest work, Dying for Rights. Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy professor Sung-yoon Lee, who reviews the book in Korean Studies, joins the discussion.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1386-north-korean-human-rights

June 11, 2020 - South Korea’s impressive, timely and comprehensive strategy in controlling the spread of the coronavirus has earned praise from the director general of the WHO. In this webcast moderated by Korea Society President Thomas Byrne, Mr. Dae Joong Lee, Director of Development, Finance Division at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in South Korea, discusses how the country coordinated among ministries, agencies and the private sector in its response to the pandemic. The conversation will also examine the government’s fiscal measures taken to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1400-korea-s-campaign-against-the-coronavirus-pandemic-a-view-from-the-ministry-of-economy-and-finance

June 4, 2020 - “Banchan” is often translated as “side dishes” and understood as “appetizers” at Korean BBQ restaurants. But that is not the whole story! Learn the real story of banchan, a category unto themselves and the ubiquitous feature of Korean home cooking.

Shin Kim, a chef and culinary entrepreneur, will lead the viewers to explore the delectable world of banchan in its many forms and share some of her recipes that can be easily prepared at any home.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1397-banchan-story-korean-home-cooking

June 3, 2020 - Korean War Veterans area commander and Long Island chapter head Sal Scarlato shares reflections on the Korean War years in conversation with senior director Stephen Noerper. Scarlato, a Marine veteran, offers insights on the sacrifice of those who served and efforts to raise awareness of the service and valor of Korean War veterans.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1374-korean-war-veteran-tales

May 28, 2020 - A riveting tale of four women navigating contemporary Korea, If I Had Your Face is a debut novel from Frances Cha, a former travel and culture editor for CNN in Seoul. This utterly compelling novel follows the interconnected lives of four young women balancing on the edge of survival in contemporary Seoul, a world of strict social hierarchies, extreme plastic surgery and K-pop fan mania. Cha will discuss her debut novel and career as a journalist, always having a foot in both Korea and the US and writing about contemporary Korea in English.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1390-frances-cha-if-i-had-your-face

May 21, 2020 - Korean War veterans advocate Hannah Y. Kim joins policy director Jonathan Corrado for a conversation on her global journey to meet Korean War veterans. Kim, founder of Remember 727 and former chief of staff to Congressman Charles Rangel, highlights the discussion with photos from her travels.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1385-korean-war-at-70-honoring-korean-war-veterans-from-around-the-world

May 20, 2020 - What impact is the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic crisis having now and going forward on the relationships between the U.S., South Korea, and India? How does it impact their respective visions for the future of regional institutions and relationships in the Indo-Pacific? What is the prognosis for U.S. and Chinese leadership -- and rivalry -- and how does this impact the region? Is a regional economic or security architecture more or less possible, or desirable, post-pandemic?

Join us for a conversation with Representative Ami Bera (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Study Group on Korea, Deputy Chief of Mission for the South Korean Embassy in Washington Moon Seoung-hyun, and President of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum Mukesh Aghi, moderated by Korea Society Board Chair Ambassador Kathleen Stephens. With vibrant economic ties and a common commitment to democracy, how can Washington, Seoul, and New Delhi work together to respond to transnational threats and a rising China?

This program is produced in proud collaboration between the Korea Society and the Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC). FMC’s Congressional Study Group on Korea is a non-partisan, non-advocacy legislative exchange program that provides educational opportunities for Members of Congress and congressional staff on critical issues related to U.S.-ROK bilateral partnership.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1396-indo-pacific-relations-in-the-time-of-covid19

May 19, 2020 - South Korean literature in translation has been experiencing a global efflorescence in recent years. There are at least 6 Korean novels being released in the United States in the first half of 2020, with more to follow. Professor Jae Won Chung will discuss the commercial and critical success of Korean novels in the United States, the types of Korean novels that appear to be popular in the international market, and the range of new styles, genres, and voices that soon-to-be published titles will offer English-language readers.

For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/arts-culture/item/1380-reading-in-translation-korean-novels-in-the-u-s