Each week, we'll share a variety of videos, articles, webcasts, and more from around the web — all curated by Asia Society Texas Center staff to reflect the broad interests and goals of our mission. On Mondays, explore Business and Policy topics through a selection of videos, podcasts, and articles.

Webcast: Ahead of the Curve: Korea's Use of Technology in Fighting COVID-19

ASIA SOCIETY SWITZERLAND, May 15, 2020 — Digital technologies, data-gathering, and analytics are becoming central in coronavirus strategies adopted by governments all over the world. South Korea, among the first countries to bring COVID-19 under control, has relied heavily on technology and its digitalized society. An important part of Korea's strategy has been widespread testing. On top, Korea has made use of cellular broadcasting services, contact-tracing applications, and mobile apps for the handling of inbound travelers to limit the spread of the virus. In little time, it has built up a data system open to the public, app developers, and scientists, and plans further measures to employ its "smart city" database.

A conversation with leading Korean experts, Ms. Minkyeong Kim, Deputy Director of the Multilateral Cooperation Division, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea, and Professor Tai Myoung Chung, faculty member of the College of Computing at Sungkyunkwan University.

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Video: Sanctions and Pathogens: How is COVID-19 Affecting North Korea

ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTE, May 7, 2020 — The rulers of the "Hermit Kingdom" have fiercely resisted foreign influence, vigorously guarded North Korea's territory, and ruthlessly controlled its populace. They have endured sanctions, deflected international pressures, and defied the world's strongest countries. Have they defied the novel coronavirus too? North Korean leader Kim Jong Un took quick action to ban foreign visitors and impose long quarantines, recognizing the risk of an epidemic. With a weak public health system, even North Korean officials acknowledged that a major outbreak would spell disaster for the country. But with a porous, 900-mile border with China replete with smugglers, have there really been zero cases of COVID-19 as official statements have claimed?

A discussion of the humanitarian, economic, and geopolitical impact of COVID-19 on North Korea with Harvard Medical School scholar Dr. Kee B. Park, who leads an effort to assist doctors in North Korea, and Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Dr. Jung H. Pak, the author of a book published this month: Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Analyst's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator.

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Video: Meet the Directors: PBS and WETA's Asian Americans

ASIA SOCIETY NEW YORK, May 8, 2020 — A special Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month conversation with Geet Gandbhir and Grace Lee, two of the directors/producers behind PBS and WETA's five-hour groundbreaking documentary Asian Americans, chronicling the contributions and challenges of Asian Americans, the fastest-growing ethnic group in the U.S. Personal histories and new academic research cast a fresh light on U.S. history and the role Asian Americans have played in shaping it. As Asian Americans have become the target of prejudice due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the series serves as a reminder of not only the contributions of Asian Americans to the social fabric of the U.S., but also that they are very much a part of it.

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Video: CNN's Van Jones: Defeating COVID-19 Demands Racial Unity

ASIA SOCIETY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, May 3, 2020 — Van Jones, a CNN political contributor and host of the Van Jones Show and The Redemption Project, delivers a powerful appeal to racial unity in the fight against the coronavirus. Jones appeared on a panel discussion on the pernicious effects of anti-Asian racism in the wake of the virus.

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Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, United Airlines, and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearts Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

About Asia Society at Home

Though Asia Society is temporarily closed, we are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.