ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum

Now in its 10^th year, the ROK-U.S. Strategic is a partnership between the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Korea Foundation.

Each year, this premier international forum brings together senior U.S. and ROK officials, experts, policymakers and journalists to discuss issues important to the U.S.-ROK alliance, inter-Korean relations, and U.S. policy toward North Korea.

The series is supported through generous support of the Korea Foundation.

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2024

For our 9^th annual Forum, experts, scholars, and officials joined us for a timely discussion on issues critical to U.S.-Korea relations, including authoritarian convergence (China, Iran, North Korea and Russia), the U.S.-Korea-Japan trilateral partnership, and global governance (G7 reforms). Keynote speakers included Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, Cho Tae-yul, Foreign Minister of South Korea, and Rep. Ami Bera, Co-Chair of the Congressional Study Group on Korea.

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2023

For our 8th annual Forum, experts, scholars and officials joined us for a timely discussion on issues critical to U.S.-Korea relations, including the new frontiers of the alliance for the next 70 years, a new era of cooperation and strategic alignment for the U.S.-Korea-Japan trilateral relationship, and perennial challenges and future outcomes for North Korea. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State delivered a major keynote on the U.S.-Korea relationship, and Senator Chris Van Hollen delivered a luncheon keynote. 

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022

For our 7th annual Forum, experts, scholars, and officials joined us for a timely discussion on issues critical to U.S.-Korea relations, including the Biden-Yoon summit, Korea’s pivot to regional leadership, normalization of Korea-Japan relations, economic security and South Korea’s trade agenda. Keynote addresses were delivered by Wang Yunjong, Secretary to the President for Economic Security, and Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021

For our 6th annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum, experts, scholars, and officials joined us for a timely discussion on issues critical to U.S.-Korea relations, including what U.S.-China competition means for the alliance, whether there is a way forward for denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, and the future of trilateralism and the alliance in the Indo-Pacific region. Keynote speakers included Choi Jong Kun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Richard C. Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction and Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense. 

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2020

For our 5th annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum, experts, scholars, and officials gathered to discuss the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, with panels on requirements for transitioning from the armistice to a permanent peace and the opportunities for cooperation among the regional players to achieve this objective.  Keynote speakers included Cho Sei-young, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Harry Harris, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2019

For our 4th annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum, experts, scholars, and officials joined us for a timely discussion on the U.S.-ROK alliance, regional dynamics and peace building on the Korean Peninsula. The keynote speaker was Rep. Ami Bera, Co-Chair of the Congressional Study Group on Korea.

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2018

For our 3rd annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum, scholars, experts, opinion leaders, and government officials from the United States and South Korea participated in a series of panel discussions focused on the historic inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korean summit meetings, the potential for denuclearization and building a peace regime on the Korean peninsula, and regional implications of summit diplomacy for Northeast Asia.

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2017

For our 2nd annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum, scholars, experts, opinion leaders, and government officials from the United States and South Korea participated in a series of panel discussions focused on the historic inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korean summit meetings, the potential for denuclearization and building a peace regime on the Korean peninsula, and regional implications of summit diplomacy for Northeast Asia. Keynote speakers included Rep. Stephanie Murphy and Cho Hyun, the 2^nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2016

For our 1st annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum, scholars, experts, opinion leaders, and government officials from the United States and South Korea reviewed the opportunities and challenges for the U.S.-ROK alliance facing a new U.S. administration and beyond. Keynote speakers included Ahn Ho-Young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States, Mark Lippert, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and Joseph Yun, Special Representative for North Korea Policy and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan, U.S. Department of State