We are delighted to invite you to the 2025 Annual Dinner, to be held on Thursday, October 23, at The Plaza Hotel. As The Korea Society’s flagship event, the Annual Dinner convenes leaders and supporters who share our commitment to strengthening U.S.-Korea relations. This year, The Korea Society will present its highest honor—the General James A. Van Fleet Award—to Dr. Chang, In Hwa, Chief Executive Officer of POSCO Holdings, and the Congressional Study Group on Korea (CSGK), in recognition of their outstanding contributions to advancing political and economic ties between the United States and Korea.
VAN FLEET AWARD HONOREES
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Dr. Chang, In Hwa |
Congressional Study Group on Korea |
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| Chief Executive Officer | Part of the U.S. Association of | |||
| POSCO Holdings | Former Members of Congress (FMC) | |||
GUEST SPEAKER
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GUEST SPEAKER
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PERFORMANCE
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MASTER OF CEREMONIES
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Asian American Life |
Fifth Avenue at Central Park South
New York City
Reception 6:00 PM | Dinner 7:00 PM
Black Tie, Traditional Attire
Awardees
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Accepted b
Dr. Chang, In Hwa
Chief Executive Officer
POSCO Holdings
Dr. Chang In Hwa was appointed Chief Executive Officer of POSCO Holdings in March 2024. Dr. Chang’s life career at POSCO Group began in 1988 when he joined the Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) as a researcher. After rising through the ranks at RIST, he transitioned to POSCO in 2011 to assume more prominent roles is business operations. To manage the business of steelmaking, he advanced through diverse leadership roles in business development, marketing, R&D and production. After holding key positions at POSCO, i.e., COO, CTO, he took a brief break from the frontlines in 2021 by serving as Executive Advisor. Currently, he also chairs notable external organizations, such as the Korea-Australia Business Council (KABC) and the Korea Iron & Steel Association (KOSA).
Throughout over 30 years of his professional career at POSCO Group, Dr. Chang has built robust technical expertise, wealth of business experience and deep insight into the steel industry. Interdisciplinary knowledge combined with operational leadership has helped to drive exceptional enhancements across production processes, marketing, finance and research. He is revered for his communication skills and close attention paid to staff.
Dr. Chang holds a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prior to the terminal degree, he obtained his M.S. (1979) and B.S. (1981) degrees in Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering from Seoul National University (SNU) in Korea. Despite daunting schedules, Dr. Chang keeps a regular daily exercise routine and enjoys reading non-fiction science and engineering publications. He is married with 2 grown children, a son and a daughter.
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Accepted by
Congressional Study Group on Korea
Part of the U.S. Association of
Former Members of Congress (FMC)
The Congressional Study Group on Korea (CSGK) was formed in 2018 to better showcase the economic and security partnership between the United States and the Republic of Korea. CSGK's Capitol Hill programs and Study Tours create a unique opportunity to bring the history, culture, economic realities, politics and security concerns of our ROK ally to the Congressional Family. An annual highlight of the CSGK's programming is a Study Tour to South Korea with a bipartisan delegation for Members of Congress that offers a deep dive into the key issues facing the bilateral relationship.
GUEST SPEAKERS
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H.E. Kang, Kyung-wha
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States
Her Excellency Kang, Kyung-wha was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the United States of America by President Lee, Jae Myung in October, 2025.
Prior to her appointment, Ambassador Kang served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2017-2021 under President Moon, Jae-in. Between April, 2024 and September, 2025 she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Asia Society in New York.
During her varied and distinguished career in public service, Ambassador Kang served as Secretary for International Relations in the Office of the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly and as Senior Advisor and Principal Speechwriter to the Foreign Minister and Principal Interpreter to the President of Korea.
She was also Director-General for International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea. At the United Nations, she was Deputy High Commissioner at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Chief of the Transition Team for the 9th United Nations Secretary-General-elect and later his Senior Advisor on Policy.
Earlier in her career, Ambassador Kang worked for the English Section of Radio Korea International of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), served as Assistant Professor at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio and was active in several women’s organizations in Korea. She was affiliated with Ewha Women’s University as Distinguished Professor Emeritus (Sept. 2022 - Feb. 2023) and is Honorary Professor at the Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment at Yonsei University since September, 2023.
Ambassador Kang has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Studies from Yonsei University, and both a Master’s Degree and Doctorate in International/Intercultural Communication from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
She is married with three children.
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Hon. Andy Kim
U.S. Senator for New Jersey
Andy Kim is a life-long public servant who is proud to represent the state where he grew up, and that gave his family a chance at the American Dream, in the United States Senate.
Senator Kim represented his home community in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms, representing parts of Burlington, Ocean, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties. During that time, Kim focused on strengthening America’s national security and standing up for our servicemembers, veterans, and their families as a member of the House Armed Services and House Foreign Affairs Committees. He also was an outspoken advocate for New Jersey’s entrepreneurs as a member of the House Small Business Committee. Kim also worked to address big challenges on the Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.
Before being elected to represent New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, Senator Kim worked as a career public servant under both Democrats and Republicans, having served at USAID, the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House National Security Council, and in Afghanistan as an advisor to Generals Petraeus and Allen.
In the United States Senate, Senator Kim is committed to building a better future for his two little boys and generations to come. He is focused on combating corruption and ensuring our democracy is reflective of all American voices, on building an economy where everyone can afford to provide a better future for the next generation, and in making America more secure by growing our competitiveness.
Senator Kim is a proud husband, and father to a seven and nine-year old. 2024 marks 50 years since Senator-elect Kim’s parents immigrated from South Korea. He is proud to be the first Korean American elected to the United States Senate and New Jersey’s first Asian American senator.
PERFORMANCE
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Kevin Woo
Actor, singer-songwriter, and producer
Kevin Woo is a Korean American actor, singer-songwriter, and producer recognized worldwide as the main vocalist of the renowned K-pop group U-KISS. For more than a decade, he has toured internationally and contributed to multiple chart-topping releases, earning a global fanbase. On stage, Kevin starred in the Broadway musical ‘KPOP’, and on screen, he brought his voice to Netflix’s hit animated feature ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ as a member of the Saja Boys. He will soon appear in Anderson .Paak’s anticipated directorial debut film 'K-POPS!', continuing his trailblazing role in bridging Korean and American pop culture.
Master of Ceremonies
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Vivian Lee
TV journalist & Correspondent
Asian American Life
Vivian Lee (she/her) is an Emmy-winning TV journalist, public speaker, moderator and director/producer in New York. Currently a correspondent for the magazine show Asian American Life o. CUNY-TV, Vivian garnered her third Emmy nomination this year for producing and hosting CUNY-TV’s special on the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice. She also co-hosts the podcast The 5 Of Us, which examines career and life issues affecting women at work.
Vivian anchored, reported and hosted for NY1 Spectrum News between 2008 and 2020, covering stories of national and international importance, including the pandemic, social justice protests, and the 2020 general election. She was on the ground reporting for New Yorkers on the devastation and recovery from Hurricane Sandy, and on Pope Francis’ historic election in Rome.
Vivian also hosted Spotlight New York, a weekly magazine show exploring the arts landscape of the five boroughs of NYC. She was awarded an Emmy in 2020 for her story on Manhattan’s iconic Joe’s Pub.
Vivian’s career in New York started at WNBC Newschannel 4 in 2002, where she was a general assignment reporter. Prior to that she was CityTV Toronto's parliamentary correspondent and federal affairs reporter in Ottawa, Canada.
She began reporting while completing her journalism degree at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Vivian has reported for ATV-ASN News Halifax, and A Channel Calgary, where she also co-anchored the award-winning “A Channel News@Night.”
Vivian has received numerous awards recognizing her industry and community contributions, including a Telly Award this year, the New York Women’s Foundation’s 2021 “Pillars of Courage” award, and KAFSC’s 2019 Lifetime Engagement Award.
Vivian currently serves as co-chair of KoreanAmericanStory.org and lives in New York with her husband and two daughters.
Table Sponsorship and Individual Ticket
DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM
DINNER COMMITTEE
LEADER - $150,000
• Recognition from the podium as Dinner Committee
• 10 guests for VIP reception and premium dinner seating
• 10 guests for general reception and preferred dinner seating
• Full-page acknowledgment; corporate profile with photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book
BENEFACTOR - $50,000
• Recognition from the podium as Dinner Committee
• 10 guests for VIP reception and priority dinner seating
• Full-page acknowledgment; corporate profile with photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book
PATRON - $30,000
• Recognition from the podium as Dinner Committee
• 4 guests for VIP reception; 6 guests for general reception, all with preferred dinner seating
• Full-page acknowledgment; corporate profile with photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book
TABLE SPONSORSHIP
SPONSORS - $20,000
• 2 guests for VIP reception; 8 guests for general reception, all with standard dinner seating
• Half-page acknowledgment; corporate profile with photo of corporate representative in the dinner program book
DONOR - $15,000
• 10 guests for general reception and standard dinner seating
• Half-page acknowledgment; corporate profile in the dinner program book
ALL TABLE SUPPORT BENEFITS INCLUDE:
• Recognition by level on event webpage, promotional emails, social media, and a large screen aside the stage in the event room.
• Year-round recognition in the Korea Society’s Annual Report
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT AND TICKETS
PATRON COUPLE - $6,000
• 2 tickets for VIP reception and preferred dinner seating
• Acknowledgement on our website and in the dinner program book
PATRON - $3,500
• 1 ticket for VIP reception and preferred dinner seating
• Acknowledgement on our website and in the dinner program book
CONTRIBUTOR - $1,000
• 1 ticket for general reception and dinner
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Full-page in the dinner program book - $10,000
Half-page in the dinner program book - $6,000
Table Sponsorship and Individual Patron ticket registrations must be confirmed by October 3, 2025 to be acknowledged in the dinner program. Cancellations after October 10, 2025 will not be accepted.
The Korea Society is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
For further information on sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please contact Jamie Joo at
SUPPORTERS
2025 Annual Dinner Sponsors
(as of October 10, 2025)
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| Additional Supporter | ||
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| Cynthia and Anthony Kim | ||
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| In-Kind Donor | ||
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| Special Acknowledgement | ||
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Christopher Koo |
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David Bang
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General (Ret.) Skip and Joanne Sharp |
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