The US-South Korea alliance at 70

The year 2023 has already proven to be critical for South Korea’s position in the Indo-Pacific and broader global stage. The year also marks the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance as well as the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at Brookings. Amid the unprecedented threat of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and rising great power competition in the region, the alliance continues to strengthen and extends beyond traditional security issues to economic security and global cooperation. What is the current state and future direction of the U.S.-South Korea alliance? What is the significance of the upcoming Biden-Yoon summit and what opportunities and challenges lie ahead as the two leaders pursue a “global strategic comprehensive alliance?” 

On April 14, the Center for East Asia Policy Studies will host a panel of former and current Brookings Korea Chair holders to discuss the U.S.-South Korea alliance and reflect on their work at Brookings in shaping policy discourse on Korea. The Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States Choon-goo Kim will provide opening remarks and the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Philip S. Goldberg will offer pre-recorded framing remarks at the beginning of the event.  

Questions will be taken from the audience at the end of the panel discussion. Online viewers can submit questions via e-mail to [email protected] or via Twitter at #USROKAlliance 

Registration is required to attend an event in person and guests at Brookings are required to attest to their state of health before attending. Visitors may not enter the building if they are feeling ill for any reason, have any symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19, or have tested positive for COVID-19 at any time in the preceding 14 days.