{"id":3211,"date":"2025-11-05T00:57:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T00:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jsis.washington.edu\/korea\/?p=3211"},"modified":"2025-12-15T22:10:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T22:10:08","slug":"at-a-crossroads-forum-examines-the-future-of-u-s-korea-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jsis.washington.edu\/korea\/news\/at-a-crossroads-forum-examines-the-future-of-u-s-korea-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"At a crossroads: Forum examines the future of U.S.\u2013Korea relationship"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Washington\u2019s <\/span>Center for Korea Studies<\/span><\/a> (CKS), in collaboration with the <\/span>Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle<\/span><\/a>, hosted the 12th annual Korean Peninsula Forum on Oct. 22, under the theme \u201cRepublic of Korea\u2013U.S. Relations at the Crossroads: Changes and Continuity under the Trump Administration.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Established in 2014, the forum provides a platform for leading experts, policymakers, and academics to exchange ideas on major issues affecting the Korean Peninsula and U.S.\u2013Korea relations. Over the past decade, discussions have ranged from North Korea\u2019s nuclear program to the policy impacts of domestic political transitions in both countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Professor<\/p>\n

Professor and Center for Korea Studies Director Yong-Chool Ha at the Oct. 22 Korean Peninsula Forum.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This year\u2019s forum, moderated by Professor and CKS Director <\/span>Yong-chool Ha<\/span><\/a>, focused on two central themes: economic security and the U.S.\u2013Korea military alliance, emphasizing how evolving regional and global dynamics are reshaping the partnership.<\/span><\/p>\n

Panel 1: Security Relations<\/b><\/h2>\n

The day\u2019s first panel examined how evolving geopolitics are redefining the U.S.\u2013Korea security alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Philo Kim of Seoul National University\u2019s Institute for Peace and Unification Studies opened with \u201cCan the Trump\u2013Lee Alliance Restart Talks with North Korea?\u201d, assessing whether shifting political conditions could reopen diplomatic channels long frozen between Washington and Pyongyang.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Committee<\/p>\n

Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Director Greg Scalatoiu at the Oct. 22 Korean Peninsula Forum.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

He was followed by Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, whose talk, \u201cThe Republic of Korea in the Age of Emergent Offensive Realism,\u201d explored how changing power dynamics are influencing South Korea\u2019s defense strategy and regional posture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bum Soo Kim of Seoul National University and Jackson School Professor <\/span>David Bachman<\/span><\/a> served as discussants, offering comparative insights into how both nations might recalibrate policy amid evolving leadership and security challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

Panel 2: U.S.\u2013Korea Economic Relations<\/b><\/h2>\n

The second panel then turned to the economic dimension of the U.S.\u2013Korea alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wanghwi Lee of Ajou University presented \u201cThe Rise and Decline of \u2018Security with the U.S., Economy with China\u2019 in Korea,\u201d highlighting the delicate balancing act Seoul faces between its top security ally and its largest trading partner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, Troy Stangarone \u2014 former director of the Wilson Center\u2019s Korea Center \u2014 discussed \u201cU.S.\u2013Korea Economic Relations After Free Trade,\u201d examining how global supply chain shifts, tariffs, and technological competition are reshaping bilateral economic cooperation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackson School Associate Professor <\/span>Daniel Bessner<\/span><\/a> and Department of Political Science Assistant Professor <\/span>James Dongjin Kim<\/span><\/a> served as discussants, offering historical and political perspectives, highlighting the interconnectedness of economic resilience and strategic alignment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Political<\/p>\n

Political Science Assistant Professor James Dongjin Kim at the Oct. 22 Korean Peninsula Forum.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Discussants <\/span>Daniel Bessner<\/span><\/a>, an associate professor at the Jackson School, and <\/span>James Kim<\/span><\/a>, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, offered historical and political perspectives linking economic resilience to broader strategic alignment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Building bridges through scholarship<\/b><\/h2>\n

Ha praised the forum\u2019s role in fostering dialogue between academia and the policy community.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe forum is a shining example of the collaboration between the Consulate General and the University of Washington,\u201d he said. \u201cIt serves the campus and the larger Korean community, which has been the most important source of support for the Center for Korea Studies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Eun-ji<\/p>\n

Eun-ji Seo, the consul general at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle, at the Oct. 22 Korean Peninsula Forum.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This year also marked the last Korea Studies Forum for Consul General Eun-ji Seo, who has served in the role for the past four years. Ha joked that instead of deputy consul, Park would join next year\u2019s forum as South Korea\u2019s ambassador to the United States.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The University of Washington\u2019s Center for Korea Studies (CKS), in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle, hosted the 12th annual Korean Peninsula Forum on Oct. 22, under the theme \u201cRepublic of Korea\u2013U.S. Relations at the Crossroads: Changes and Continuity under the Trump Administration.\u201d Established in 2014, the forum provides<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":710,"featured_media":3208,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,9],"tags":[21,39],"class_list":["post-3211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty","category-news","tag-the-korean-peninsula-forum","tag-yong-chool-ha"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAt a crossroads: Forum examines the future of U.S.\u2013Korea relationship - Center for Korea Studies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/jsis.washington.edu\/korea\/news\/at-a-crossroads-forum-examines-the-future-of-u-s-korea-relationship\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"At a crossroads: Forum examines the future of U.S.\u2013Korea relationship - 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