Asia Society 29d ago

NEW YORK, May 28, 2026 — Distinguished speakers from the United States and Korea examine how the partnership can navigate an increasingly complex global landscape shaped by intensifying great-power rivalry, volatility in energy markets, rising nuclear tensions, and accelerating competition in artificial intelligence. Speakers include Choi Jong Kun, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science and International Studies at Yonsei University; Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea; Steve Biegun, former U.S. deputy secretary of state; and Kuyoun Chung, associate professor of Political Science at Kangwon National University. David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent of the New York Times, moderates the conversation. The panel explores the future of the U.S.-ROK alliance amid rising tensions with China, North Korea’s expanding nuclear arsenal, shifting U.S. strategy under President Trump, semiconductor competition, AI supply chains, and growing trilateral cooperation between the United States, South Korea, and Japan. This event was hosted by Asia Society Policy Institute in partnership with the Korea Foundation. Listen to further discussions in the second panel here: https://youtu.be/O941N4Bru_o Listen to Consul General Sangho Kim's opening remarks here: https://youtu.be/-alur0Womms Listen to Asia Society Global President and CEO Kevin Rudd's closing remarks here: https://youtu.be/HAVZYQHIBdw Subscribe for more videos like this: http://AsiaSociety.org/YouTube --- Support Asia Society today: http://AsiaSociety.org/Donate --- Subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected: https://asiasociety.org/email-subscriptions --- Facebook: http://facebook.com/AsiaSociety Instagram: http://instagram.com/AsiaSociety Twitter: http://twitter.com/AsiaSociety LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/asia-society/ #USROKAlliance #indopacificsecurity #southkorea #geopolitics #asiasocietynewyork #asiasocietypolicyinstitute #KoreaFoundation 00:00 – Introduction 01:50 – Discussion