2008 Programs
ASKC Advisory Board Meeting
June 3, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
On June 3, Jamie Metzl, Executive Vice President of Global Asia Society, visited Seoul and met with the Asia Society Korea Center’s Advisory Board to discuss the strategic plan and program development for the Center.
South Korea’s Multilateral Diplomacy
June 17, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Ambassador Oh Joon, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral, Global, and Legal Affairs for the Republic of Korea, presented his views on Multilateral Diplomacy at the Korea Center’s first monthly luncheon series at the Lotte Hotel. During his presentation, Joon focused on South Korea’s foreign policy position regarding human rights issues in North Korea, economic relations with China, and South Korea’s support for the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. Oh also commented that South Korea is no longer a small nation but one that is rapidly attaining both economic success and political presence worldwide, and thus has even more responsibilities and commitments to the international arena.
Special Film Screening: Crossing
June 24, 2008
Pony Chung Memorial Hall, Hyundai Development Company
The Asia Society Korea Center sponsored a special film screening of the movie Crossing at the Pony Chung Memorial Hall on June 24. Kim Tae-Kyun, the director of the film, also attended the screening. Crossing is a South Korean film based on true accounts of North Korean defectors, and depicts the daunting challenges those defectors continue to face. I was also chosen as the official Korean entry for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
Chicago Children’s Choir
June 27, 2008
Pony Chung Memorial Hall, Hyundai Development Company
The Asia Society Korea Center and the United States Embassy Seoul jointly hosted the Chicago Children’s Choir performance at the Hyundai Development Company’s Pony Chung Memorial Hall. The cultural event proved to be an excellent way to promote American culture to various sectors of the Korean society. Founded in 1956, the Chicago Children’s Choir (CCC) is a multiracial, multicultural choral music education organization. The Choir currently serves 2,600 children ages 8 to 18 through choirs in 46 schools. Under their Artistic Director Josephine Lee, who is Korean-American, the Choir has undertaken many highly successful international tours. This was the Choir’s first tour to Korea and 55 selected singers performed a repertoire reflecting the breadth of the Concert Choir’s artistry, ranging from classical to world music, including traditional Korean songs in Korean.
Internationalizing Korean Global Firms: Perspectives from a Global Securities Group
July 22, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
John Walker, Chairman of the Macquarie Group of Companies in Korea, presented his views on internationalizing Korean financial firms at the Korea Center’s July luncheon event. Walker pointed out the differences in between local and international financial firms and gave his perspective on how to develop and lead local firms that aspire to become more global. Walker emphasized the importance of local and global cooperation for increasing healthy business competition, and also suggested that a shift from a "rules-based" approach to a "principles-based" approach should occur within Korea firms in order for them to become even more effective at home and abroad.
Raising Korea’s Global Profile: The Media Perspective
August 26, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Evan Ramstad of the Wall Street Journal and Jie-ae Sohn of CNN in Korea were both invited to speak on "raising Korea’s profile from a media perspective," during the Korea Center’s August luncheon event, in which they outlined the key differences in between Korean and Western media firms. Ramstad and Sohn highlighted recent international events that were influenced by Korean media, and stressed the importance of initiative, integrity, and individual excellence as the pillars of responsible journalism.
The Songdo Reconstruction Project: Global Urban Development in South Korea
September 22, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
James Tyrrell, Executive Director of Jones Lang & LaSalle in Korea, provided ASKC's luncheon audience with a PowerPoint presentation on the Songdo Reconstruction Project, which highlighted the New Songdo City Master Plan. Tyrrell elaborated on the master plan for this new city and its value as Seoul becomes more and more populated. The master plan reflects a strategy that applies state-of-the-art green practices in urban design, engineering, construction, infrastructure, and energy systems. After the presentation, Tyrrell took questions from the audience and stated that he was also planning to live in the new city as well.
Asia Society Korea Center Special Lecture: Dr. Michael Green
September 26, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Dr. Michael Green, Senior Adviser for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Associate Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University, presented to the Asia Society Korea Center’s audience at the Lotte Hotel, Seoul. Green discussed issues concerning North Korea, China, Japan, and South Korea as they relate to U.S. foreign policy. Green also elaborated on the presidential election and his thoughts about each candidate. The audience, filled with international security and foreign policy enthusiasts, were quite delighted to hear Green express his views on the northeast Asian region.
A Passion for Asia: The Rockefeller Legacy
October 23, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Vishakha Desai, President of the Asia Society, was the guest speaker for the Asia Society Korea Center’s October luncheon. Desai's presentation, "A Passion for Asia: The Rockefeller Legacy,” outlined the history of the Rockefeller family’s involvement and passion for Asian art, and how the Asia Society as an organization came to fruition. It included Desai's insights into art in Asia and the challenges in procuring major works of art for the Asia Society collection as well. Desai became President of the Asia Society global organization in 2004.
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Philippine-Korea Relations: The Role of the Asia Pacific Migrants in South Korea
November 25, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Ambassador Luis T. Ruiz, of the Philippine Embassy to Seoul, was guest speaker for the Asia Society Korea Center’s monthly luncheon series on 25 November 2008 at the Lotte Hotel Seoul. Ruiz provided the Korea Center’s audience with an informative presentation on “The Role of Asia Pacific Migrants in South Korea.” Afterwards, Ruiz answered questions concerning Filipino migrants in South Korea. The success of the November luncheon also symbolized the close ties that exist in between the Asia Society Korea Center and the Asia Society Philippine Foundation.
ASKC 2008 Holiday Luncheon
December 23, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Complete event details
June 3, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
On June 3, Jamie Metzl, Executive Vice President of Global Asia Society, visited Seoul and met with the Asia Society Korea Center’s Advisory Board to discuss the strategic plan and program development for the Center.
South Korea’s Multilateral Diplomacy
June 17, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Ambassador Oh Joon, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral, Global, and Legal Affairs for the Republic of Korea, presented his views on Multilateral Diplomacy at the Korea Center’s first monthly luncheon series at the Lotte Hotel. During his presentation, Joon focused on South Korea’s foreign policy position regarding human rights issues in North Korea, economic relations with China, and South Korea’s support for the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. Oh also commented that South Korea is no longer a small nation but one that is rapidly attaining both economic success and political presence worldwide, and thus has even more responsibilities and commitments to the international arena.
Special Film Screening: Crossing
June 24, 2008
Pony Chung Memorial Hall, Hyundai Development Company
The Asia Society Korea Center sponsored a special film screening of the movie Crossing at the Pony Chung Memorial Hall on June 24. Kim Tae-Kyun, the director of the film, also attended the screening. Crossing is a South Korean film based on true accounts of North Korean defectors, and depicts the daunting challenges those defectors continue to face. I was also chosen as the official Korean entry for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
Chicago Children’s Choir
June 27, 2008
Pony Chung Memorial Hall, Hyundai Development Company
The Asia Society Korea Center and the United States Embassy Seoul jointly hosted the Chicago Children’s Choir performance at the Hyundai Development Company’s Pony Chung Memorial Hall. The cultural event proved to be an excellent way to promote American culture to various sectors of the Korean society. Founded in 1956, the Chicago Children’s Choir (CCC) is a multiracial, multicultural choral music education organization. The Choir currently serves 2,600 children ages 8 to 18 through choirs in 46 schools. Under their Artistic Director Josephine Lee, who is Korean-American, the Choir has undertaken many highly successful international tours. This was the Choir’s first tour to Korea and 55 selected singers performed a repertoire reflecting the breadth of the Concert Choir’s artistry, ranging from classical to world music, including traditional Korean songs in Korean.
Internationalizing Korean Global Firms: Perspectives from a Global Securities Group
July 22, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
John Walker, Chairman of the Macquarie Group of Companies in Korea, presented his views on internationalizing Korean financial firms at the Korea Center’s July luncheon event. Walker pointed out the differences in between local and international financial firms and gave his perspective on how to develop and lead local firms that aspire to become more global. Walker emphasized the importance of local and global cooperation for increasing healthy business competition, and also suggested that a shift from a "rules-based" approach to a "principles-based" approach should occur within Korea firms in order for them to become even more effective at home and abroad.
Raising Korea’s Global Profile: The Media Perspective
August 26, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Evan Ramstad of the Wall Street Journal and Jie-ae Sohn of CNN in Korea were both invited to speak on "raising Korea’s profile from a media perspective," during the Korea Center’s August luncheon event, in which they outlined the key differences in between Korean and Western media firms. Ramstad and Sohn highlighted recent international events that were influenced by Korean media, and stressed the importance of initiative, integrity, and individual excellence as the pillars of responsible journalism.
The Songdo Reconstruction Project: Global Urban Development in South Korea
September 22, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
James Tyrrell, Executive Director of Jones Lang & LaSalle in Korea, provided ASKC's luncheon audience with a PowerPoint presentation on the Songdo Reconstruction Project, which highlighted the New Songdo City Master Plan. Tyrrell elaborated on the master plan for this new city and its value as Seoul becomes more and more populated. The master plan reflects a strategy that applies state-of-the-art green practices in urban design, engineering, construction, infrastructure, and energy systems. After the presentation, Tyrrell took questions from the audience and stated that he was also planning to live in the new city as well.
Asia Society Korea Center Special Lecture: Dr. Michael Green
September 26, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Dr. Michael Green, Senior Adviser for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Associate Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University, presented to the Asia Society Korea Center’s audience at the Lotte Hotel, Seoul. Green discussed issues concerning North Korea, China, Japan, and South Korea as they relate to U.S. foreign policy. Green also elaborated on the presidential election and his thoughts about each candidate. The audience, filled with international security and foreign policy enthusiasts, were quite delighted to hear Green express his views on the northeast Asian region.
A Passion for Asia: The Rockefeller Legacy
October 23, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Vishakha Desai, President of the Asia Society, was the guest speaker for the Asia Society Korea Center’s October luncheon. Desai's presentation, "A Passion for Asia: The Rockefeller Legacy,” outlined the history of the Rockefeller family’s involvement and passion for Asian art, and how the Asia Society as an organization came to fruition. It included Desai's insights into art in Asia and the challenges in procuring major works of art for the Asia Society collection as well. Desai became President of the Asia Society global organization in 2004.
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Philippine-Korea Relations: The Role of the Asia Pacific Migrants in South Korea
November 25, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Ambassador Luis T. Ruiz, of the Philippine Embassy to Seoul, was guest speaker for the Asia Society Korea Center’s monthly luncheon series on 25 November 2008 at the Lotte Hotel Seoul. Ruiz provided the Korea Center’s audience with an informative presentation on “The Role of Asia Pacific Migrants in South Korea.” Afterwards, Ruiz answered questions concerning Filipino migrants in South Korea. The success of the November luncheon also symbolized the close ties that exist in between the Asia Society Korea Center and the Asia Society Philippine Foundation.
ASKC 2008 Holiday Luncheon
December 23, 2008
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Complete event details