In response to tensions in the U.S.-Republic of Korea political relationship, in 2006 the Mansfield Foundation initiated a project intended to forge stronger political relationships among the current and rising generation of leaders in Washington and Seoul. As part of this project, the Foundation organized a series of dialogues that engaged those individuals most likely to play key roles in post-Bush, post-Roh administrations and in U.S.-ROK relations for decades to come. These dialogues were informed by the following provocative and relevant issue papers solicited from experts outside the core group of participants:
- “America’s Mid-term Elections: What Next for U.S.-South Korean Relations?,” Robert Hathaway, Director of the Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
- “2002 vs. 2006, The Rise and Fall of Anti-Americanism in South Korea: “It’s Korean Politics (not U.S.), Mr. President!,” Hoon Jaung, Chung-Ang University
- “Realigning Expectations for The R.O.K. -U.S. Relationship: Are We Ignoring A Glass More Than Half Full?,” Sung-han Kim, Professor, Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS)
- “Re-imagining the U.S.-ROK Alliance,” Dan Sneider, Associate Director for Research, Walter S. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Stanford University
- “The Korea-U.S. FTA: Prospects and Implications for the Bilateral Strategic Relationship,” Joseph A.B. Winder, President, Winder International
- “U.S.-ROK: Diverging Threat Perceptions of North Korea?,” Ralph A. Cossa, President, Pacific Forum, CSIS
- “An Assessment of Current ROK-U.S. Relations,” Kang Choi, Institute for Foreign Affairs and National Security
- “Visions of Northeast Asian Regionalism: The United States and the Republic of Korea,” Gilbert F. Rozman, Musgrave Professor of Sociology at Princeton University
- “Divergent Threat Perceptions on North Korea,” Hyeong Jung Park, Visiting Fellow, Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, The Brookings Institution
- “Forging an Enduring Foundation for U.S.-ROK Relations,” David C. Kang, Professor of Government, Dartmouth College
- “Between Kantian Peace and Hobbesian Anarchy: South Korea’s Vision for Northeast Asia,” Chung-in Moon, Professor of Political Science, Yonsei University, and Ambassador for International Security Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade