World Affairs

The View from Seoul: A Conversation with the Republic of Korea’s Foreign Minister

December 10, 2020  • Aspen Strategy Group

Please join us for a discussion with the Republic of Korea’s Foreign Minister, Kang Kyung-wha, and Aspen Strategy Group Executive Director Nicholas Burns about new and enduring foreign policy challenges facing Seoul.

Speaker:

Kang Kyung-wha
Foreign Minister, Republic of Korea
Kang Kyung-wha is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea since June 2017. Most recently, she was Senior Advisor on Policy to the United Nations Secretary-General. She has held several high-level positions at the United Nations and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea. She has also served in the Office of the President, Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly, and has taught at Sejong University and Cleveland State University. Kang began her career as a Producer at the English Service Division of Radio Korea, Korean Broadcasting System. She has won the Special Award at the 11th Annual Korea Women Leaders Awards in 2013, the Service Merit Medal in 2006, and the Woman of the Year Award by the Korean National Council of Women in 2006. Kang received her B.A. from Yonsei University and both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Massachusetts.

Moderator:

Nicholas Burns
Executive Director, Aspen Strategy Group
Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations, Harvard Kennedy School
Nicholas Burns is the Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is Faculty Chair of the Future of Diplomacy Project and the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship at the Belfer Center. Burns is Executive Director of the Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum, and Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group. He is Chairman of the Board of Our Generation Speaks. Burns served in the U.S. government as a career Foreign Service Officer. He was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (2005-2008), Ambassador to NATO (2001-2005), Ambassador to Greece (1997-2001) and State Department Spokesman (1995-1997). He worked on the National Security Council as Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Affairs, Special Assistant to President Clinton, and Director for Soviet Affairs. Burns served in the American Consulate General in Jerusalem and at the American embassies in Egypt and Mauritania.