Photo credit: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

The Korea Society is deeply saddened by the passing of Madeleine Albright. The first female Secretary of State, Secretary Albright played a pivotal role in the Korean peninsula peace process. She was the first sitting US Secretary of State to visit Pyongyang and meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in October 2000.

Secretary Albright was also a great friend to The Korea Society. In 2006, she delivered the keynote address at the Society’s Annual Dinner, and spoke to the importance of the US-ROK alliance as well as the importance of cementing a comprehensive plan for denuclearization and development on the Korean peninsula.

And just last October, Secretary Albright delivered virtual remarks at the 2021 Annual Dinner on the successes of the U.S.-Korea relationship over the past seventy years and the need for Seoul and Washington to continue working together to confront future challenges.

Secretary Albright was a tireless advocate for the U.S.-Korea alliance whose work encapsulates the message and mission of The Korea Society. She will be dearly missed.