RECENT EVENTS

Research Luncheon: Myanmar/Burma and the Koreas

Bridget Welsh, Ph.D. On Thursday, April 30, Dr. Bridget Welsh, Associate Professor of Southeast Asian Studies at SAIS, discussed findings from her forthcoming USKI Working Paper, "Strategic Ties and Tensions: Myanmar/Burma and the Koreas."

Research Luncheon: Post-Unification Korean National Identity

Jee Sun Lee, Ph.D. On Thursday, April 23, Dr. Jee Sun Lee discussed the findings of her research on the future of Korean national identity. Dr. Lee addressed the looming questions of what will be the core identity of a unified North and South Korea, and what form Korean national consciousness will take.

Download Dr. Lee's paper: Post-Unification Korean National Identity.

Search other Working Papers here.

The Future of Northeast Asia's Peace and Security: The Obama Administration's Emerging Korea Policy

Han Duk-soo, ROK Ambassador to the U.S. On April 6, 2009, USKI and the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) hosted an expert panel to discuss the recommended priorities for the Obama Administration's emerging Korea policy.

Opening the event, were remarks by USKI Chairman Don Oberdorfer, ROK Ambassador to the U.S. Han Duk-soo, NUAC Vice Chairman Lee Ki-Taek, and NUAC President - Washington Chapter Lee Yong-Jin.

Panelists featured included: Jared Genser, Freedom Now President; Ambassador Charles "Jack" Pritchard, Korea Economic Institute President; Alan Romberg, Stimson Center Distinguished Fellow; and Joel Wit, USKI Visiting Scholar.

Audio, transcripts and CSPAN coverage available here.

Report Release: New Beginnings

New Beginnings Panel The "New Beginnings" policy study group released its recommendations to the Obama administration for strengthening U.S.-South Korean relations. Panelists included former Under Secretary of State Michael H. Armacost, former Ambassador to Korea Thomas Hubbard, Korea Society President Evans J. R. Revere, Shorenstein APARC Director Gi-Wook Shin, Korea Economic Institute President Charles "Jack" L. Pritchard, and U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS Chairman Don Oberdorfer.

The Korea Society and Stanford University's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center established the New Beginnings project last year to support an updating and expansion of the alliance based on the election of new leaderships in both countries.

Listen to audio of the vent or download a copy of the report here.

Film Screening: Crossing

On Monday, March 23, USKI hosted a LiNK presentation of the film Crossing. Crossing is a heart-wrenching story of a separated North Korean family, and one father's attempt to keep his promise of return to his young son. Taken from a number of true stories from North Korean refugees, Crossing is the first film to accurately depict the trials and hardships faced every day by the North Korean people.

Find more information about Crossing here.

Korea: An Important Part of India's "Look East" Policy

Following the Cold War, India and Korea’s convergence of interests has been based primarily in terms of economic trade and partnership. A realization of a strategic partnership between the two rising powers, however, is in order - particularly by means of a sea lane defense partnership in securing imported energy from the Persian Gulf. This added security dimension will bring the two democracies closer together in the near future, in turn fortifying the existing institutional mechanisms for an increase in trade, investment, and joint development.

Based on his USKI Working Paper, on March 10, 2009, Dr. Walter Andersen, Associate Director of the South Asia Studies Program at SAIS, discussed Korea's role within India's greater "Look East" foreign policy.

Listen to audio or download transcripts here.

Turning Back the Clock: Attempts to Reclaim Control in North Korea after 2004

On February 11, 2009, the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS and Brookings CNAPS will host a lecture by Andrei Lankov, noted Korean historian and Associate Professor at Kookmin University in Seoul. Dr. Lankov will address the North Korean government's attempts to re-establish control over society and reverse the changes that transpired in the decade after Kim Il Sung's death.

Audio and transcript available.

The Changing Nature of Foreign Direct Investment in Korea: Challenges to Economic Policy

On February 9, 2009, Dr. Arthur J. Alexander, former President of the Japan Economic Institute and the Mitsui adjunct professor on Japan at Georgetown University and professional lecturer at Johns Hopkins SAIS, presented findings form his year-long study on how the changing nature of Foreign Direct Investment into South Korea may affect future economic outcomes in ways that may differ from past influences. (Audio available)