Lincoln Center Films: The First Wives Club

Sat, February 14, 2026 | 12:30 PM (EST) | In-person at Walter Reade Theater

Location: 165 W 65th Street, Plaza Level, New York, NY 10023

Doors Open: 12:00pm, Screening: 12:30pm–2:14pm

Bring yourself, a friend, or a loved one and spend Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day with Film at Lincoln Center! As our valued community partner, Film at Lincoln Center is thrilled to extend an exclusive invitation to members of The Korea Society for a special, free community screening of The First Wives Club, part of Looking for Ms. Keaton. Complimentary popcorn and soda will be provided.

RSVP by Wednesday, February 11 to secure your spot.

Asia Society: Lunar New Year Leo Bar Happy Hour

Thu, February 19, 2026 | 6:00 PM (EST) | In-person at Asia Society

Location: 725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), New York, NY 10021

Join our partner Asia Society for their Leo Bar Happy Hour to welcome the Year of the Horse! Celebrate with seasonal refreshments and entertainment in Asia Society’s gorgeous Garden Court. See the Year of the Fire Horse lobby exhibition, enjoy a lion dance to welcome in the new year by Bo Law Kung Fu, and enjoy complimentary Lunar Hard Seltzer with admission.

Tickets to Leo Bar include one drink and snacks, followed by a paid bar. Open to ages 21+. For members of The Korea Society, use the code LEOBARDISCOUNT for a 20% discount!

Yankees Stadium: Korean Heritage Night 2026

Sat, May 2, 2026 | 1:35 PM (EST) | In-person at Yankee Stadium

Join the New York Yankees for Korean Hat Day at Yankee Stadium at the Yankees vs. Orioles game on May 2nd. Tickets are on sale now!

Each Ticket includes:

• A New York Yankees Korean Hat
• Donation towards the NY Yankees legal scholarship foundation, the Korean American Legal Educational Fund of Greater New York (KALEFGNY).

Only members who purchase through the attached link will receive the limited-edition hat. Instructions for item pickup will be sent to buyers prior to the event.

NYCFC vs LAFC (with Son Heung Min)

Wed, May 6, 2026 | 7:30 PM (EST) | In-person at Citi Field

The Major League Soccer Team New York City Football Club (NYCFC) has scheduled its home match against Los Angeles FC for May 5th at Citi Field! The Boys in Blue look to defend home turf as Son Heung-min and LAFC visit for a marquee East vs. West matchup.

🎫 Tickets are on sale now! Only members who purchase through the attached link will receive the ticket discount.

K-pop Fandom: Performing Deokhu from the 1990s to Today with Areum Jeong

Thu, February 12, 2026 | 6:30 PM (EST) | In-person & Livestream

The K-pop fandom has both intensified and diversified over the last thirty years. Its activities have taken on new social, technological, and economic manifestations, aligning with the broader cultural and industrial dynamics of global mass entertainment.
​
In this lecture, Areum Jeong will explore the phenomenon of performing deokhu—a Korean term connoting an "avid fan"—and the cultural significance and meaning of K-pop fan practices with a nuanced examination of contemporary audience power.

YPN Lessons Learned with Karen Choi

Tue, February 24, 2026 | 6:00 PM (EST) | In-person & Recorded video

This program features Karen Choi, Partner at Capital Group, who will reflect on her professional journey and share lessons from building a long-term career at the highest levels of the global finance industry. She will offer candid perspective on leadership and the realities of sustaining a career while balancing competing priorities, with insights for young professionals as they consider the intersection of growth and purpose in their own careers.
​
The discussion is presented in partnership with the Korea Finance Society (KFS) and will be moderated by Sandra Schubert, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs.

Learn Korean Through K-Pop Workshop​

Tue, February 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM (EST) | via Zoom

Dive into the K-pop songs as authentic materials to learn Korean grammar, expressions, and culture. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we will explore love-themed songs and talk about dating culture in Korea.

Featured artists include Straykid's "좋아해서 미안해"(Sorry, I love you), Nmixx's "블루 발렌타인" (Blue Valentine), Soyou and Junggigo's "썸"(Some), Melo Mance's "사랑인가봐" (It Must Be Love), Jannabi's "사랑의 이름으로" (For the name of love)

​Beginning Korean Trial Lesson​

Wed, February 25, 2026 | 7:00 PM (EST) | via Zoom

Join us for one of our free Beginning Korean Trial Lessons! Designed for absolute beginners, these trial sessions offer a glimpse into our online Beginning Korean I course.

Following each class, there will be a short informational session on the Korean Language Program. Two trial classes will be offered with the same content focusing on practical expressions that you can immediately use in dining or even shopping contexts. Please sign up for only one session. No prior knowledge of Korean or the Korean alphabet is required to participate in these trials.

Application Period: December 15 to March 30 (11:59 PM EDT)

The “Startup Scene: Emerging Design Competition” is designed to encourage innovative thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit among Korean-American and Korean students enrolled in colleges, universities, and graduate schools across the United States.

This year, the participants are challenged to pitch an innovative startup concept that leverages emerging technologies to address pressing challenges and issues.

Prizes: The top 3 teams will receive a monetary prize (1st place: $5,000), as well as a travel stipend to attend the Startup Scene Annual Forum in NYC on May 21, 2026.

If you viewed or attended The Korea Society for a policy program last year, please help us to improve by taking the survey (<5 minutes).

As a token of our appreciation, we will randomly select three survey respondents to receive prizes. Only the first 100 respondents who fill out the survey completely and in good faith are eligible. All prizes are limited to domestic shipping in the USA.

The three prize winners will receive their choice of book from a recent policy program:

• ​The Risk of Compressed Modernity by Chang Kyung-Sup
• ​Rogue Allies: The Strategic Partnership Between Iran and North Korea by Bruce E. Bechtol and Anthony Celso
• ​Seeds of Mobilization: The Authoritarian Roots of South Korea's Democracy by Joan Cho.

Author Talks: Kim Hana & Hwang Sunwoo

The Korea Society hosted a talk on January 20nd with the authors of Two Women Living Together, the bestselling Korean memoir by Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo. Two Women Living Together is an insightful and heartwarming book that offers a fresh perspective on female friendship, chosen family, and the different ways one can make a “good” life. A sensation in South Korea, its universal themes have led to its translation into multiple languages and a feature in The New York Times that highlighted its role in amplifying women's voices and challenging traditional familial structures in South Korea.

New Year, New You! Powered by K-Health

On January 22nd, we hosted a panel discussion on Korea’s rapidly advancing medical and biotechnology industries are reshaping how people pursue healthier, longer, and more connected lives—spanning AI-enabled diagnostics, precision medicine, global clinical collaboration, and wellness tourism. This timely discussion spotlighting Korea’s health-tech startups, scale-ups, and leading institutions at the forefront of medical innovation featured guest speakers Taesoo Sean Kim (Partner and Co-Chair, Asia Pacific Group at IceMiller), William Ban (COO of Himedi), and Ken Nesmith (Group Head, Oncology at Lunit)

Startup Pathways for Students: 2026 Emerging Design Competition & More

Student team finalists from the Startup Scene: 2025 Student Ideation Competition, newly rebranded this year as the Startup Scene: 2026 Emerging Design Competition, explore various NYC-wide resources for aspiring entrepreneurs. This session, hosted at The Korea Society on January 23rd, highlighted college/university-level student startup ideas and introduced programs, mentorship, and opportunities to help students take their first steps into the startup ecosystem.

Opening Reception: Noble Blossoms, Ran Hwang

On January 27th, The Korea Society hosted the opening reception for Ran Hwang's Noble Blossoms, currently on display in The Korea Society's art gallery until mid-April. In her solo exhibition, Ran Hwang presents large-scale installations that are both intricate and poetic, delicate yet dramatic, as they explore the cyclical patterns of life and the fleeting nature of beauty. Hwang creates her art through a meticulous and repetitive process, utilizing everyday materials such as paper buttons and pins. Through her work, Hwang evokes a sense of tranquility, inviting the viewer into an experience that seeks fulfillment and peace.

South Korea’s Nuclear Submarine Strategy

A program examining the geopolitical impact of South Korea’s development of nuclear submarines was held at The Korea Society on January 28th with Dr. Sang Hyun Lee, Fellow Emeritus of the Sejong Institute, and Dr. James R. Holmes, J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College, and Minkyung Jung, Staff Reporter for The Korea Herald, in conversation with policy director Jonathan Corrado. Learn how nuclear submarines impact South Korea’s defensive capabilities and strategic posture, its contribution to and coordination with the alliance, its regional role, and its relationship with North Korea.

From Learning to Creating in Korea with Tyler and Nidhi

On January 28th at The Korea Society, we were joined by acclaimed media figures Tyler Rasch and Nidhi Agrawal—familiar faces from major Korean broadcast networks—for a reflection on their personal journeys living in Korea and learning Korean, and how those experiences led to their new venture. Tyler and Nidhi delve into how language can function as both a cultural bridge and a creative medium, and how Hangeul can travel beyond Korea through design, storytelling, and shared cultural moments in everyday settings.

2026 Annual Membership Party

The Korea Society is hosted its 2026 Annual Membership Party on Thursday, January 29th at 6:30 PM at The Korea Society. Held in celebration of the Lunar New Year, the evening expresses the Society’s deep appreciation for our members, supporters, and partners and features a variety of Korean cuisine, live performances, and engaging programs, including a raffle and auction. After remarks from NY Assembly Members Ron Kim and Grace Lee, as well as media figure Tyler Rasch, we welcomed our leadership, Dr. Abraham Kim, as the new President & CEO of The Korea Society.

Prospects for Relations with North Korea

On February 3rd, we held a discussion on the future of relations with North Korea, examining US-Republic of Korea (ROK) alliance coordination, inter-Korean relations, the impact of North Korea’s close relations with China and Russia, security concerns, and diplomatic opportunities. Our expert panel includes Keith Luse (National Committee on North Korea), Ankit Panda (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace), Rachel Minyoung Lee (Stimson Center), and Susan A. Thornton (NCAFP). The discussion is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado, produced in collaboration with the NCAFP and is co-hosted by The APEC Study Center at Columbia University.