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The Korea Society's Members' Newsletter | September 2025
Published 4 months ago • 9 min read
Members' Newsletter | September 2025
by Stephanie Hwang, Development Program Officer
WELCOME MESSAGE
As we step into the new season, South Korea observes the fall equinox with Chubun (추분), which this year falls on Tuesday, September 23 at 3:19 AM (KST). Chubun marks the moment when day and night are equal in length, reflecting a point of perfect balance in the seasonal cycle and underscoring the philosophy of yin-yang.
A common expression associated with the season is “하늘이 높다” ("the sky is high"). This phrase captures how autumn’s crisp air makes the sky appear especially clear and lofty—an image so enduring that it was preserved in a classic four-character saying. These sayings, known as 사자성어 (四字成語), distill layers of philosophical thought and cultural wisdom into just four characters. Originating in classical Chinese texts and carried into Korea through centuries of scholarship, they have become deeply embedded in Korean literature and everyday language, serving as timeless reminders of values, balance, and perspective.
Here are a few well-known examples:
천고마비 (天高馬肥) — “The sky is high, the horses are fat.” Meaning: An expression of autumn, symbolizing the season’s beauty and abundance.
동병상련 (同病相憐) — “Those who share the same illness sympathize with one another.” Meaning: Shared challenges foster compassion and solidarity.
일취월장 (日就月將) — “Daily progress and monthly growth.” Meaning: To improve steadily and achieve continuous advancement, often used to celebrate growth.
새옹지마 (塞翁之馬) — “The old man at the frontier’s horse.” Meaning: From a Chinese parable in which misfortune turns to blessing and blessing to misfortune. A reminder that fate, good or bad, is always intertwined.
As we embrace this season of clarity and balance, we invite you to enjoy the “high skies” with fellow members of The Korea Society. Join us for our upcoming members-only Happy Hour at The Korea Society’s outdoor terrace on Friday, September 12th, which will be a great way to welcome in the fall season. Throughout the month, we’ll also be hosting a rich lineup of programs on Korean culture, literature, history, policy, and business.
IMAGE OF THE MONTH
by Thomas Byrne, President and CEO of The Korea Society
Source: KED (Korea Economic Daily)
"We are thinking about …ships. They build them very well in South Korea,” President Donald Trump said during the bilateral White House press conference with President Lee Jae Myung on Monday, August 25.
The Korea Shipbuilding Industry Association (KOSHIPA) and three of its leading member companies—HD Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Hanwha Ocean Company, and Samsung Heavy Industries Co.—have formed a task force to advance the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again initiative (MAGSA). South Korea will set up a $150 billion shipbuilding fund to invest in building U.S.-based shipyards, workforce development, and expanding Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) projects. This initiative is part of the broader $350 billion investment package that Korea pledged, in exchange for lower reciprocal tariffs as part of its trade deal with the Trump administration.
However, in addition to a lack of industrial capacity, regulatory obstacles in the U.S. pose hurdles to achieving a renaissance in shipbuilding - points that I made in the “From CHIPS to Ships: The Next Step in the U.S.-ROK Alliance” article published in the National Interest in January this past year.
The geopolitical aspect of this new U.S.-Korean partnership is that the Chinese Naval fleet has become the world’s largest, threatening the U.S.’s maritime dominance and unrestricted freedom of navigation in East Asia and the South China Sea. A stronger commercial shipbuilding capacity is fundamental for strengthening the U.S. naval military industrial base.
The KOSHIPA strategy will initially focus on commercial shipbuilding and MRO. As you can see by this chart depicting the leading shipbuilding countries in 2024, the U.S. has a lot of catching up to do.
UPCOMING EVENTS | SEPTEMBER 2025
MEMBERS-ONLY
Members-Only: Guided Gallery Tour
Friday, September 12, 2025 | 3-6 PM (EDT) | In-person only
With his installations, Hong Seon Jang uses industrial objects to explore our recognizable surroundings, inviting viewers to re-examine how symbols acquire cultural and ideological significance and how their meanings transform in displacement. This gallery exhibition will be made available for viewing at The Korea Society this Fall 2025, but for members of The Korea Society only, a guided gallery tour will be provided on Friday, September 12th by Arts & Culture Program Officer Rachel Bang.
Friday, September 12, 2025 | 6-9 PM (EDT) | In-person only
Join us for The Korea Society's Fall 2025 Members-Only Happy Hour! Celebrate the new season with fellow members, partners, and friends at The Korea Society on our beautiful outdoor terrace! All attendees will receive two complimentary drink tickets, with refreshments provided by Asian- and Korean-owned small businesses.Non-members are welcome to purchase tickets here to join this event.
Join us for an exclusive presentation featuring three distinguished investors – Bryan Kim (Andreessen Horowitz), Mike Kim (Third Prime), and Karen Moon (Node Innovation Ventures) – as they each share their distinct investment philosophies and portfolio strategies. The conversation will be moderated by Danny Crichton (Lux Capital). This program is supported by Hanwha Life.
An Oral History of Atlantis is the newest collection of short stories from Ed Park, the author of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize–winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist. In this collection, characters question the fleetingness of youth and art, reckon with the consequences of the everyday, and find solace in the absurd, the beautiful, and the sublime. These fifteen stories have much to say about the meaning—and transitory nature—of our lives. In this conversation with Mira Jacob, presented in collaboration with Yu & Me Books, Ed Park discusses his latest book.
Step into the world of JeongGa (正歌), the refined vocal art once cherished by scholars and nobles of Joseon Dynasty. Join us for an evening of lyrical elegance with ALeum Lee's resonant voice, accompanied by WooSung Jung on DaeGeum (flute) and HeeJung Han on HaeGeum (string instrument). Lee will also share thoughtful reflections on the origins and evolution of GaGok, Korean lyric song cycles, offering personal and refreshing insights into the meaning of Korean traditional vocal music today.
Join us for a discussion on the unseen resilience of North Korean female defectors. Kim Seonghui and Na Min-Hee provide powerful personal testimony, describing their life and experiences in North Korea, their escape, and their new life in South Korea. Human rights advocate and expert Kwon EunKyoung joins the discussion, which is moderated by policy director Jonathan Corrado. This program is made possible by the generous support of our individual and corporate members and the Korea Foundation.
With Soju Party, food writer, chef, and co-owner of Brooklyn’s Orion Bar Irene Yoo has written the book on drinking like a Korean. In addition to recipes for unique Korean-inspired cocktail and tasty anjus, Yoo explores the history of Korean drinking, with illustrations explaining proper serving and drinking etiquette, drinking games, food pairings, and more. In her conversation with Christina Chaey, Irene Yoo discusses her career and the first book.
Chef, restaurateur, writer, and connoisseur of Korean fried chicken, Judy Joo has gained widespread acclaim for her vibrant approach to Korean cuisine. Now, she presents her latest collection of fresh, exciting recipes in K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less. In her conversation with Juju Chang, an Emmy® Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline,” Judy Joo will discuss her career and the latest book.
With his installations, Hong Seon Jang uses industrial objects to explore our recognizable surroundings, inviting viewers to re-examine how symbols acquire cultural and ideological significance and how their meanings transform in displacement. Submit the RSVP form below to join us for the opening reception on Wednesday, September 10th at 5-7pm.
To make a gallery appointment, please contact info@koreasociety.org at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled visit.
KOREAN LANGUAGE PROGRAM
FALL 2025 TERM
Registration for the Korean Language Program Fall Term will remain open until September 28. Classes begin on September 29 and run for 12 weeks.
As part of our membership benefits, we're pleased to offer a 10% discount on language classes to all members of The Korea Society (at Individual Level+). Returning students from the previous term also receive a 10% discount for the term. Click the link below for more information!
Join us at The Korea Society for one of our free Beginning Korean Trial Lessons, led by an experienced KLP instructor. Designed for beginners, this interactive session offers a glimpse into our online Beginning Korean I course. During the workshop, you'll explore the history of Hangul (the Korean alphabet), learn basic greetings and self-introductions with popular Korean food names, and even enjoy a short segment from Korean song lyrics! No prior knowledge needed. We are offering one in-person and two virtual sessions.
For members of The Korea Society, we hosted a special evening on August 7th celebrating makgeolli, Korean traditional rice wine, with tastings from some of New York’s leading makgeolli brands. Led by award-winning sommelier Paul Lee, this event introduced the basic history of makgeolli, explore its unique varieties, and guide you through a curated tasting experience.
This program was made possible thanks to the guest speakers/founders of our participating breweries: Makku, Hana Makgeolli, SWRL, and NY Makgeolli.
Author Talks: Cheon Seon-Ran
In this episode of Author Talks, Cheon Seon-Ran discusses her recently translated novel & bestseller in Korea, The Midnight Shift. When elderly patients begin dying under mysterious circumstances, Su-Yeon suspects something more sinister than suicide—especially when a vampire hunter enters the scene. The Midnight Shift is a vampire murder mystery exploring queer love and the consequences of loneliness, and it is overflowing with commentary about societal isolation, the sharp knife of grief, and the effects of marginalization.
On August 13th, The Korea Society invited Mitch Haszard, senior threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, and Scott Kardas, geopolitical threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, to discuss the rising scale and sophistication of North Korea’s cyber operations. This program followed the evolution and growing magnitude of the regime’s cyber operations and its attacks. The conversation was moderated by policy program officer Chelsie Alexandre. The Korea Society thanks the Korea Foundation for their support.
Rooted in Giving: Leading Korean Voices in Philanthropy
On August 27th, The Korea Society hosted Rooted in Giving: Leading Korean Voices in Philanthropy, a panel featuring Korean American leaders Jeannie Park, Sue Kim, and Abraham Kim. Moderated by Emil Kang, this discussion explores leadership, community building, and the impact of philanthropy. Learn how these changemakers are shaping a more inclusive and empowered future through service and advocacy. This conversation was co-hosted by the Korean American Community Foundation's Associate Board.
On August 28th, we hosted a rapid reaction in response to the highly anticipated first meeting between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Expert panelists unpack summit expectations, outcomes, and implications. This discussion features Dr. Katrin Katz, The Korea Society's inaugural Van Fleet Nonresident Senior Fellow, and Josh Smith, Korea Bureau Chief for Reuters News Agency, in conversation with Korea Society policy director Jonathan Corrado and program officer Chelsie Alexandre. This program was made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation.
Check out our past programs on The Korea Society's YouTube Channel. Subscribe today!
Thanks to our Media Program Associate Bradley Sheen, you can now see the best clips from our guest speakers on YouTube Shorts. Click on the most recent highlights shown here, or visit the page below for our full collection of shorts.
We are always looking to improve the quality of our organization's programs and content! If you have any feedback, suggestions, or ideas about how we can improve, email us at development@koreasociety.org
A nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding, and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea.
This monthly newsletter is designed to keep our community of members informed about our latest achievements, upcoming programs, and other exciting updates.
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