On March 5th, 2021, Mansfield President and CEO Frank Jannuzi and Distinguished Fellow Joseph Yun joined Arirang TV for a special virtual dialogue on U.S.-Korea cooperation.
The televised program, titled “South Korea – U.S. Relations: Build Back Better,” featured policymakers and government representatives from South Korea and the United States to discuss bilateral cooperation on efforts related to security, the economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yoon Young-Kwan, Professor of International Political Economy at Seoul National University moderated the discussion with the participation of six policymakers from South Korea—So Jung-Hwan, Hong Young-Pyo, Lee Kwang-Jae, Kim Young-Ho, Lee Jae-Jung, and Lee Yong-Sun—and virtual attendance of thirty additional members of the South Korean National Assembly. On the U.S. side, Mr. Jannuzi and Ambassador Yun were joined by two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Young Kim (R-CA).
While discussing the North Korea issue, participants from both countries agreed on a step-by-step approach to provide the DPRK with a viable security alternative to nuclear weapons, and representatives from the United States also underlined South Korea’s leading role in the issue. Regarding economic cooperation, policymakers from both sides identified 5G technology, green energy, and microchip supply as areas with great potential for the United States and South Korea to work together. In response to the ongoing pandemic, representatives committed to cooperate and facilitate the COVID-19 vaccine distribution worldwide.
The discussion ended with representatives from both countries reaching a shared understanding of key issues and a clearer direction on U.S.-South Korea bilateral cooperation in the years ahead.
A recording of the program is available via Arirang’s YouTube channel here.