On March 29, 2011, the U.S.-Korea Institute and SAIS and Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress cohosted a seminar entitled, “Leadership Matters: The U.S.-ROK Alliance in the Lead Up to 2012.” The Honorable Lee Jae-oh, South Korea’s Minister of Special Affairs and 4 time National Assemblyman delivered the keynote speech for this event, entitled “Global Leadership: A New Vision for the U.S.-ROK Alliance,” highlighting such key issues the KORUS FTA, coordination on North Korea policy, and his vision for creating a Northeast Asian Community of Peace and Prosperity.

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USKI and the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) co-sponsored a conference on July 1, 2010, titled “Trust Building and Cooperation in Korean-American Relations: Changing Contexts and Actors.” Bringing in two teams of scholars from the U.S. and South Korea, the panelists discussed findings from their three years of personal research, as well as offered commentary and opinions on the works of their colleagues.

The first panel, “Trust, Mistrust, and Bilateral Relations” featured Byoung Kwon Sohn (Chung-Ang University) as the moderator, and panelists Youngshik Bong (School of International Service, American University), Joon-Hyung Kim (Handong Global University), Seonjou Kang (Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security), and Abraham Kim (Vice President, KEI).

The second panel, “Domestic Determinants of Trust Building and Cooperation” was moderated by Dr. Geun Lee (Korea Institute for Future Strategies) and discussed by Taeku Lee (University of California, Berkeley), Thomas Kim (Executive Director, Korea Policy Institute and Scripps University), Dr. Yoonhee Kang (Kookmin University), and Katharine Moon (Wellesley College)

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Transcript | “Trust Building and Cooperation in Korean-American Relations: Changing Contexts and Actors” (July 1, 2010)

On May 24, 2010, Lee Jae Oh, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) covered several imminent challenges South Korea faces today, including the Cheonan incident, the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and the anti-corruption activities under the Lee administration.

Chairman Lee presented official comments on the Cheonan incident, denouncing North Korea’s attack on the Cheonan as an intolerable act of aggression. He explained that the South Korean government would act in consultation with the international community and seek global cooperation to safeguard world peace and prevent future aggressions by North Korea.

Lee encouraged the U.S. Congress to promptly ratify the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), suggesting that the ratification of the KORUS FTA would further the current U.S.-Korea alliance and friendship. Despite disparities in the two countries’ economic interests, a prompt ratification of KORUS FTA would close that gap and promote mutual benefits.

Finally, Chairman Lee presented the anti-corruption policy under the Lee administration. South Korea has emerged as a highly industrialized and democratic country and has achieved enormous economic success, despite its lack of resources and land, and its relatively small population. However, to become an advanced nation and raise national competitiveness, the South Korean government is implementing anti-corruption policies through the ACRC to eradicate corruption, a problem which has become rooted in Korean culture. The South Korean government is implementing various anti-corruption policies such as integrity assessments on publicly funded institutions and projects. Furthermore, the ACRC seeks to create a new norm where strong integrity is the core value in all public administrations. Chairman Lee also suggested that the South Korean government is seeking to share its experiences with other countries and to learn from Western countries as well.

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Transcript | “Anti-Corruption and Transparency: South Korea’s Pathway to Preeminence in the Asia-Pacific” (May 24, 2010)

The U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS annouces the release of the fourth edition of the SAIS U.S. -Korea Yearbook.

Each fall semester at SAIS, the Korea Studies Program offers the course, “The Two Koreas: Contemporary Research and Record,” where students prepare an in-depth report on an issue of importance to Korean affairs in that year. As part of their research, students make a one-week research trip to Seoul to test their ideas with experts and officials. The SAIS U.S.-Korea Yearbook is a compilation of these student papers.

Student authors include: Tze Chin “Alvin” Wong, Paul Elliott, Sogaku Miyamoto, Ian Howard, Kee Hoon Chung, Jason Park, Momoko Sato, Neil K. Shenai, Nick Borst, Naoko Aoki, Zander Lanfried, and Sarah Yun.

Download the 2009 SAIS U.S.-Korea Yearbook.

In this Working Paper, Joel S. Wit, USKI Visiting Scholar and former State Department official, assesses North Korea’s nuclear future by discussing the four most probable scenarios.

Each scenario is analyzed according to a number of factors including the implications for: 1) U.S. political, security and other interests in the region; 2) the same interests for Japan and the Republic of Korea; 3) North Korea, particularly its security relations with the international community and domestic situation; 4) other key surrounding countries, particularly China; 5) peace and stability in Northeast Asia; and 6) the international non-proliferation regime.

Working Paper Series: Four Scenarios for a Nuclear North Korea

On October 1, 2009, the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS hosted a discussion between Joel Wit and Robert Carlin strategies for successful dialogue and reengagement with North Korea. Wit and Carlin drew on their personal and professional experiences with the North Korean regime, as well as on Wit’s latest report, “U.S. Strategy Towards North Korea: Rebuilding Dialogue and Engagement,” a joint U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS and Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University joint publication, to offer the Obama adminstration a comprehensive action plan for improving U.S.-DPRK relations. read more …

USKI Director, Jae Ku, was featured on Fox 5 Morning News regarding the pardon and release of U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. Watch the video here

Dr. Ku was also quoted in a KCBS interview and in the Malaysian Times.