2014 Year in Review
2014 was a very prominent year for Asia Society Korea Center as the Center continued to grow and expand through its programs and detailed insights into N.E Asian issues. We were honored to host the annual Asia-based meeting of the Board in June, which was a huge success and look forward to hosting further global events in the future. Our membership numbers continued to grow and we strengthened our already strong links with the diplomatic community here in Seoul. Here are some of our year highlights:
Policy: Extended talks on North Korea
Asia Society Korea Center in 2014 set the tone for the year by focusing its first program on North Korean relations. For the February monthly luncheon, Ambassador H.E. Jaroslav Olsa, Jr. of the Czech Republic gave a lecture on Czechoslovak relations with North Korea in times of intensive cooperation. We hosted three further extended talks on North Korea, the first from Daniel Allen Pinkston, the Northeast Asia Deputy Project Director for the International Crisis Group, who gave a lecture called "The Risks of Intelligence Failure in the ROK and Why It Matters.” Korea analyst and author Bob Carlin was the guest speaker at the Asia Society’s July monthly luncheon and discussed the re-release of what many consider the foremost book on modern Korea, Don Oberdorfer’s “The Two Koreas”. The final talk of the year was from Dierk Stegen, a representative of the World Food Programme in Pyongyang who was in town in September to talk about “1000 days of a child in DPRK – Nutrition Challenges”. Dr. Stegen talked about malnutrition, an overview of the DPRK food and nutrition security, the critical stages of the first 1000 days, maternal health, nutrition challenges and finally windows of opportunity.
Middle East Issues
Asia Society Korea Centre hosted Mr.Saad Al-Ali, the Editor in Chief of KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) on November 7, as a first step of starting programs in Korea that will shed light on the issues pertaining to the Middle East. As an accomplished journalist and lecturer on Middle East policies, Mr. Saad Al-Ali provided insights on “Business and Investment Opportunities in Light of the Changes and its Political Stability in the Eyes of Foreign Investors.” With his extensive experience in the Middle East and beyond, Mr. Al-Ali was able to touch upon both socio- and geo-political issues in the region for Korean companies considering investing in the Middle East.
China: Expansion in 2015
In focusing on Chinese expansion in 2015, Asia Society Korea Centre held a lecture in April with guest Professor John Delury, a renowned Chinese and North Korean historian and expert, and fellow of the Asia Society’s Center for U.S.-China Relations. Professor Delury gave a talk focusing on his new book, Wealth and Power: China’s Long March to the Twenty-first Century. His presentation broke down the contents of his book expanding on the implications for China’s way forward into the future, as one of the most powerful countries and economies in the world. Dr. Delury stressed that the purpose of the book is to examine where the current China has come from through a historical context and framework about its leadership, and where it could head in the future. China’s history is investigated so that people today can understand the past, and therefore better understand what is happening with China in the present.
Ambassador Series
One of our most successful programs of the year was our “Ambassador Series” in which ambassadors talked about issues related to their home countries and Korea. Student participation at these event was high and education was the theme of the talks. Here are the details of the four fantastic lectures that we hosted:
• “Window Into 1950s North Korea: Czechoslovak-North Korean Relations in the times of intensive cooperation and how the Czechoslovaks saw the North”
H.E. Jaroslav Olša, Jr., Ambassador, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Seoul
• “Poverty Reduction in Vietnam: Success, Lessons and Role of World Community”
H.E. Pham Huu Chi, Ambassador, Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam In the Republic of Korea
• “Thailand, the Land of the Free, and its International Peacekeeping Efforts”
H.E. Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya, Ambassador, Royal Thai Embassy, Seoul
• “Education System in Nepal”
H.E. Kaman Singh Lama, Ambassador, Embassy of Nepal
Special Events: Board Meeting
A terrific group of trustees and other friends of the institution journeyed to Seoul in June for the annual Asia-based meeting of the Board. In attendance were the board Co-Chairs Henrietta Fore and Ronnie Chan, Global Trustee and Chair of the Korea Center Board Shin Dong-Bin, Trustees Warwick Smith, Charles Rockefeller, Lee Hong-koo, Lew Kaden, Lulu Wang, Sandiaga Uno, Stephen Bird, Tom McClain, Doris Ho, the just-elected Viswanathan Shankar, and Trustee Emerita Susan Lynch. Roughly 20 other members of the global family – Global Council members, Asia 21 vets, and senior staff were also present. They enjoyed a full agenda of interesting trips and programs hosted by Shin Dong-bin, who has a hugely successful business to run in Korea, but found time to lead the Asia Society group this week, and open so many interesting and important doors. Among the highlights were: a trip to Pannmunjon and the frozen-in-time Demilitarized Zone dividing North and South Korea; a high-level briefing from U.S. Military personnel at their headquarters in Seoul; a visit to the Leeum Museum in Seoul, which houses the treasures amassed by the CEO of Samsung; a tour of the Lotte Tower complex that will be a crowning achievement of the above-mentioned Shin Dong-Bin's Lotte Group; and events with the South Korean Foreign Minister, Unification Minister, and various Ambassadors in residence in Seoul. Overall, it was a great opportunity for our members of the Asia Society’s global family to experience the richness of Korea’s culture and history, and to meet the Korea Center’s members and partners.
Partnership: YÉOL
2014 marks the start of a valuable partnership between the Asia Society Korea Center and the YÉOL with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. YÉOL, the Society for Korean Cultural Heritage was created to value and protect Korea’s national cultural heritage. Like the ASKC, it is also an organization filled with people who are passionate about preserving cultural heritage and promotes wide-understanding to many people who are unfamiliar with Korean traditional culture.
Whereas the Asia Society Korea Center serves as an active gateway for engagement on issues affecting Korea by presenting programs addressing technology, policy, business, education, as well as arts and culture, YÉOL focuses more on cultural heritage and conservation. That being said, both organizations share key values, objectives and goals that will only be strengthened through this memorandum of understanding. Both ASKC and YÉOL’s are committed to working closely with one another with the sharing of ideas, resources and knowledge, with the ultimate goal of promoting and sustaining Korean cultural heritage.
Lastly, but most importantly,…
We would like to thank our corporate and individual members for their support of the Korea Center. Your membership remains vital to our success. We look forward to your continued support and hope that you will enjoy all the benefits that Asia Society has to offer.