Two former U.S. ambassadors to Korea take stock. Ambassadors Philip Goldberg (2022–2025) and Kathleen Stephens (2008–2011) join KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder to assess where the alliance stands as President Donald Trump faces a crucial midterm election and his Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung wraps up his first year in office.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

On May 27, 2026, the Korea Economic Institute of America hosted Bark to discuss these and other topics. He lays out a new external economic development strategy for Korea in which exports and outward foreign direct investment are not substitutes but complements: with intermediate goods now exceeding 70 percent of Korean exports, and overseas investment by Korean firms increasingly pulls demand for the high-value-added materials, components, and equipment that Korea supplies.

His prescription positions Korea as a global hub for advanced intermediate goods, a core region for future-oriented research and development, and a stronger competitive base for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Joining him is Jeffrey Schott, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, as discussant. Schott specializes in international trade policy and economic sanctions, work informed by his years as a U.S. Treasury official and his service on the U.S. delegation that negotiated the GATT Subsidies Code during the Tokyo Round. He is the author or editor of numerous books on trade.

Taeho Bark served as Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea from 2011 to 2013 and was Korea’s candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organization in 2013. He is President of the Seoul Forum for International Affairs and Professor Emeritus at the Graduate School of International Studies at Seoul National University, where he previously served as professor and dean.

Bark’s research will be featured in the upcoming edition of Korea Policy, KEI's flagship journal.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

An examination of the Iran war and its associated impact on global energy trade raises prominent questions for Korea and Northeast Asia watchers, including:

• How much of Korea’s energy comes from the Middle East?

• What will be the impact of the Iran war on energy prices and supply chains in both the short and long term?

• How are Seoul and other energy-import-dependent governments adjusting their strategies to mitigate their impacts?

Join KEI to discuss the main energy considerations for Korea in the wake of the Middle East crisis and what the global landscape for these resources will look like heading forward.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

The Washington Policy Briefings are a joint KEI–KAI initiative to inform the Korean American community on the federal policy debates that most directly affect them and to promote civic engagement.

Speakers:

Sang H. Lee, Council President of the Borough of Palisades Park, NJ

Martin Kim, Advancing Justice | AAJC

Harold Kim, KPMG LLP

Hyun Jung "Jessie" Je, KEI

Moderated by Nils Wollesen Osterberg, KEI

Learn more about KEI's work on U.S.-Korea relations at keia.org. Check out KAI and learn how to get involved at ka.institute.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

This first session focused on the political and security dimensions of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, including extended deterrence, North Korea, trilateral coordination with Japan, and the alliance's evolving role under the Trump administration.

Speakers:

Victor Cha, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Troy Stangarone, KEI

Andrew Yeo, Brookings Institution

Moderated by MJ Lee, CNN

Learn more about KEI's work on U.S.-Korea relations at keia.org. Check out KAI and learn how to get involved at ka.institute.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

The Lee Jae Myung administration plans to construct additional reactors at home and abroad, and its forthcoming cybersecurity strategy is expected to reaffirm the country's ambitions as an "AI powerhouse" in the cyber domain and tighten regulations on the private sector. Potential misalignment on scope and policy direction risks slowing momentum and creating new points of contention.

Join KEI for a discussion on opportunities and challenges facing growing nuclear and cyber cooperation between the United States and South Korea. The research presented here will appear in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Korea Policy, KEI's flagship academic journal.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Join the Korea Economic Institute of America and the Atlantic Council for a conversation with China bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal Jonathan Cheng on his landmark new book, Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea's Personality Cult.

Cheng traces the surprising American origins of the Kim dynasty's personality cult and asks what understanding those origins can tell us about the nature of the regime Washington and Seoul face today.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Dr. Bechtol argues that Iran is North Korea's most important Middle Eastern partner. The two have maintained a strategic relationship for decades, forged on mutual animosity toward the United States and sustained largely through military and weapons sales.

As both regimes deepen their ties to Russia and China, that partnership is introducing new dimensions to an already dangerous proliferation threat to U.S. allies and partners in both the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

But what will it take to turn commitment into real capability, given legal, industrial, and political constraints?

Join KEI on April 28 at 10:00 a.m. ET for a discussion on defense-industrial cooperation and nuclear-powered attack submarines in the U.S.–ROK alliance.

Featuring insights from former Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration Eunho Kang and moderated by KEI’s Ellen Kim.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

In this virtual event for KEI’s upcoming Korea Policy journal, KEI Senior Fellow and Director of Academic Programs Ellen Kim hosts Korea Institute for Defense Analyses’ Jihoon Yu to assess where U.S.-South Korea nuclear submarine cooperation stands after the May 11 meeting between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back.

Jihoon Yu is Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. He served twenty-seven years in the South Korean Navy as a submarine officer and strategic planner, was a member of the Navy's task force on the CVX light aircraft carrier, and is the principal author of "Vision 2045." He holds an MA in national security affairs from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a PhD in political science from Syracuse University.

Read more in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Korea Policy, KEI's flagship journal, which will be released in June.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Can the two sides structure that conversation before political momentum outpaces institutional preparation? Dr. In-yo Seol of Korea National Defense University argues they can, and that alliance modernization need not mean a contraction of the U.S. commitment to South Korean security. Rather, it can be understood as a redistribution of roles built on converging military interests—a foundation more durable than the transactional logic of burden-sharing alone.

Join KEI for a discussion with Dr. Seol on the strategic logic underlying alliance modernization and its implications for both countries. His analysis appears in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Korea Policy, KEI’s flagship journal.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

A clear shift from previous administrations, the Trump administration’s pivot toward “critical but limited support” from U.S. forces in the region holds military, political, and strategic implications for allies and partners facing growing threats from North Korea and China.

Join KEI and the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security (IIPS) to discuss the evolution of U.S. defense priorities in the region and the implications of the newest defense strategy on South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.

Agenda

10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. | Fireside Chat with Randall Schriver and Scott Snyder

10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. | Panel Discussion moderated by Jennifer Hong

Participants

Randall Schriver, Chairman of the Board at The Institute for Indo-Pacific Security

Scott Snyder, President and CEO, Korea Economic Institute of America

Ellen Kim, Director of Academic Affairs, Korea Economic Institute of America

Michael Mazza, Senior Director for Research, Institute for Indo-Pacific Security

Yuki Tatsumi, Senior Director, Institute for Indo-Pacific Security

Jennifer Hong (Moderator), Senior Director, Institute for Indo-Pacific Security

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine has added another dimension to the threat. North Korean troops have learned how to fight and deploy drones, small-unit tactics, and electronic warfare on a live battlefield. With North Korea’s recent pledge of unconditional support for Russia, along with China’s ongoing economic and political backing, this axis of upheaval is poised to continue.

Join the Korea Economic Institute of America and assess what North Korea’s weapons modernization means for the U.S.-South Korea alliance that has underpinned peninsula security for over seven decades. How does a credible first-use doctrine reshape the deterrence calculus? What new capabilities are the United States and South Korea developing to tackle more advanced conventional threats from the North? What do the Trump administration’s newly released national security and defense strategies, which notably deprioritize North Korea in favor of China, mean for burden-sharing and force posture?

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

While the decision strikes down the tariffs imposed under the April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement, the administration's underlying trade ambitions remain. Tariffs levied through IEEPA have been a cornerstone of the administration’s policies to reshore U.S. manufacturing, raise government revenue, and bilateral trade- and investment deal negotiations, including with Korea. What are some trade policy tools available to administration to achieve its objectives, following the Supreme Court ruling? How could this ruling impact investments made in the United States under the reciprocal tariff regime? What is the outlook for the trade deals negotiated between the United States and some of its major trading partners including Korea, Japan, and the EU? What emphasis might this now place on existing tariffs under Section 232 and other available provisions?

Join the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) for a reactive discussion on what lies ahead for U.S. national economic policy after the Supreme Court ruling and how it affects U.S. trading and investment relationships with some of Washington’s largest economic partners.

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Session I: Global Perspectives on AI Demand and Energy Needs

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is reshaping global energy demand, infrastructure planning, and national competitiveness. As AI applications scale across data centers, cloud computing, advanced manufacturing, and defense-related systems, countries face a shared challenge: delivering large volumes of reliable, affordable, and secure electricity while maintaining grid stability and meeting broader economic and strategic objectives.

This session examines AI-driven energy demand through an international lens, highlighting how governments and industry are forecasting AI-related load growth, adapting generation portfolios, and accelerating investment in firm, dispatchable energy resources.

Session II: AI, Energy Security, and Supply Chain Resilience

AI development depends not only on abundant electricity, but also on secure access to energy technologies, critical materials, manufacturing capacity, and cross-border infrastructure. This session explores how international energy cooperation is evolving in response to the security and supply-chain challenges created by rapidly rising AI-driven demand.

Discussion will examine allied and partner supply chains for energy generation, grid infrastructure, nuclear fuel, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing; vulnerabilities exposed by geopolitical competition and regulatory fragmentation; and how bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks can reduce risk and accelerate deployment of AI-enabling energy infrastructure.

As the United States and South Korea deepen cooperation in advanced technologies, semiconductor manufacturing, and electric-vehicle battery production, Arizona has emerged as a critical hub in the evolving industrial partnership. This program explored how both countries are working to strengthen secure, resilient supply chains that support economic security, technological innovation, and long-term strategic competitiveness.

The discussion brought together experts to assess the opportunities and challenges facing the semiconductor and EV battery sectors—including export controls, global competition, research collaboration, and the future of U.S.–Korea technological cooperation. The event highlighted how Korean investment and bilateral coordination are shaping the next generation of advanced manufacturing and innovation in the American Southwest.

Panel:

Lee Sung-hwan, Director-General for Diplomatic Strategy and Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lee Hyo-young, Associate Professor, Korean National Diplomatic Academy

Rodrigo Balbontín, Associate Director of Trade, IP, and Digital Technology Governance, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation

ASU Faculty Speaker: Sungik Yang, School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Arizona State University

Moderated by: Güneş Murat Tezcür, Director, School of Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University

Social Links:

Website: https://keia.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

Ambassador Kang and Dr. Greitens discuss the implementation of the recent $350 billion Korean government-led investment in the United States, focusing on seven key sectors including shipbuilding, semiconductors, and nuclear energy. The discussion addresses the challenges of workforce training and visa policy following recent immigration enforcement actions in Georgia.

The conversation also covers the shifting geopolitical landscape, specifically the implications of deepened military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Finally, the ambassador outlines priorities for modernizing the alliance, including the transfer of wartime operational control and cooperation on nuclear fuel cycles and nuclear-powered submarines.

Academic Session:

Following the fireside chat with Ambassador Kang, the program continued with an academic panel examining U.S.–ROK cooperation across security, technology, and economic policy.

Moderator:

Robert Oppenheim, Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin

Panelists:

Lee Sung-hwan, Director-General for Diplomatic Strategy and Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lee Hyo-young, Associate Professor, Korea National Diplomatic Academy

Michael Roberts, Senior Fellow, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute

Jaedo Choi, Assistant Professor of Economics, The University of Texas at Austin

This event was supported by the Asia Policy Program at The University of Texas at Austin, the Clements Center for National Security, the Strauss Center for International Security and Law, the LBJ School of Public Affairs, and the Korea Economic Institute of America.

Social Links:

Website: https://keia.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

Why Georgia Matters for South Korea: Georgia is home to some of the largest Korean investments in the United States, including Hyundai Motor Group’s $7.6 billion Metaplant–the biggest economic development project in state history–and significant supply-chain growth across the state.

South Korea is now one of Georgia’s top foreign partners in manufacturing, job creation, and workforce development. Korean companies are strengthening the state’s capabilities in advanced production, technology, clean energy, and training programs that support U.S. competitiveness and economic security.

This public program brought together senior policymakers, industry experts, and academic leaders to examine the intersection of economic security, innovation, technology competition, and the United States’ evolving partnership with South Korea. Ambassador Kyung-wha Kang delivered opening remarks, followed by an academic session featuring experts on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, supply-chain resilience, and the future of U.S.-Korea technological cooperation. The conversation came at a pivotal moment as both countries invest heavily in advanced technologies and seek to strengthen secure, resilient supply chains.

Participants:

Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha

Panel:

Lee Sung-hwan, Director-General for Diplomatic Strategy and Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lee Hyo-young, Associate Professor, Korean National Diplomatic Academy

Ryan Fedasiuk, Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Minjai Cho, Vice President of Absolics Business Innovation Division, SKC

Jae Kim, President, Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce

Moderated by: Jenny Jun, Assistant Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs

Social Links:

Website: https://keia.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

But big ambitions face real-world challenges. From skilled-labor shortages to rising material costs and uncertain long-term demand, what will it take for the U.S. and Korea to turn MASGA’s promise into a sustainable partnership?

Join KEI for an engaging discussion on the opportunities and obstacles ahead for U.S.–Korea maritime cooperation—and what success could mean for both economies.

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]