The Korea Society

Last updated
The Korea Society
Formation1957 (1957)
Type 501(c)(3) organization
PurposeImproving South Korea–United States relations
Headquarters New York City, New York
Website koreasociety.org

The Korea Society is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes understanding and cooperation between the United States and Korea. It was founded in 1957 and is currently based in New York City. It receives funding from endowments, donations, and grants. [1]

Contents

The organization adopted its current name following an amalgamation of several groups in 1993 to form The Korea Society.

History

Background

In 1953, near the end of the Korean War, US General James Van Fleet left Korea. He had been commander of all US ground forces, the Republic of Korea Army, and all ground forces of the UN between 1951 and 1953. [2] [3] During a 29 January 1953 speech on the steps of the Korean Capitol Building, Van Fleet said, "I shall come back. You have made me a part of you. I know you are a part of me. I shall not ask you to give me back my heart. I leave it with you." [3]

James Van Fleet in 1953 James A. Van Fleet.jpg
James Van Fleet in 1953

Upon his return to the US, Van Fleet commenced a campaign to raise funds to facilitate reconstruction efforts and aid support for the people of Korea. Following his position during the war, Van Fleet occupied the position of chairman to the American-Korean Foundation (AFK) in the 1950s. [4] Van Fleet was successful in facilitating a fund drive aimed at humanitarian efforts for the Korean people in need of aid. This success led to other aspirations in using his relationships and position to further cooperation between the United States and the people of Korea. In this effort, he sought the input of leaders such as Arthur Hays Sulzberger of The New York Times , Henry Luce of Time-Life, Spyros P. Skouras of 20th Century Fox, William Randolph Jr. Van Fleet also sought the involvement of William Zeckendorf, a real estate developer, Juilliard President, William Schuman, and Ben C. Lim, the first Korean Ambassador to the UN.

Foundation

On 20 November 1957, Van Fleet was one of the five signers of the certificate of incorporation for the Korea Society. On the certificate, the stated purpose of the organization was: [3]

To further and continue the friendly relationship that has long existed between the American people and the people of Korea through mutual understanding and appreciation of their respective cultures, aims, ideals, arts, sciences and industries, to the end that their peoples may, through an ever closer cooperation, continue their contribution to the improvement of mankind.

Certificate of Incorporation of Korea Society, Inc., photocopy of original document in VFPF, Van Fleet Foundation, Hobe sound, FL, p.1.

The Korea Society set up its first operation center at 420 Lexington Avenue. The organization received its first acknowledgment from President Eisenhower through a government endorsement. The Society granted awards to various figures, including Ban Ki-moon, Jimmy Carter, Chey Tae-won, Park Yong-man, Colin Powell, Chung Mong Koo, Lee Kun-hee, George W. Bush, and Kim Dae-jung.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean War</span> 1950–1953 North-South Korea war

The Korean War was fought between North Korea and South Korea; it began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea and ceased after an armistice on 27 July 1953. North Korea was supported by the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union while South Korea was supported by the United Nations Command (UNC) led by the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean reunification</span> Potential unification of North and South Korea into a single Korean state

Korean reunification is the hypothetical unification of North Korea and South Korea into a singular Korean sovereign state. The process towards reunification of the peninsula while still maintaining two opposing regimes was started by the June 15th North–South Joint Declaration in June 2000, was reaffirmed by the October 4th Declaration in October 2007 and the Panmunjom Declaration in April 2018, and the joint statement of United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Singapore Summit in June 2018. In the Panmunjom Declaration, the two countries agreed to work to officially end the Korean conflict in the future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charter of the United Nations</span> 1945 foundational treaty of the United Nations

The Charter of the United Nations (UN) is the foundational treaty of the United Nations. It establishes the purposes, governing structure, and overall framework of the UN system, including its six principal organs: the Secretariat, the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Trusteeship Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Agency for International Development</span> United States government civilian foreign aid agency

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the United States government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $50 billion, USAID is one of the largest official aid agencies in the world and accounts for more than half of all U.S. foreign assistance—the highest in the world in absolute dollar terms.

Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material gain; and with government endeavors that are public initiatives for public good, such as those that focus on the provision of public services. A person who practices philanthropy is a philanthropist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dag Hammarskjöld</span> UN Secretary-General from 1953 to 1961

Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. As of 2024, he remains the youngest person to have held the post, having been only 47 years old when he was appointed. He was a son of Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, who served as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1914 to 1917.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Van Fleet</span> US Army general (1892–1992)

General James Alward Van Fleet was a United States Army officer who saw service during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Van Fleet was a native of New Jersey, who was raised in Florida and graduated from the United States Military Academy. He served as a regimental, divisional and corps commander during World War II and as the commanding general of United States Army and other United Nations forces during the Korean War.

Peacemakers was an American pacifist organization founded following a conference on "More Disciplined and Revolutionary Pacifist Activity" in Chicago in July 1948. Ernest and Marion Bromley and Juanita and Wally Nelson largely organized the group. The group’s organizational structure adopted a multidivisional organizational structure with a loose hierarchy, prioritizing local committees including but not limited to the Tax Refusal and Military Draft Refusal Committee.

MS <i>Jutlandia</i> Ship

MS Jutlandia was contracted by and built for the East Asiatic Company (EAC) in 1934, as a combined passenger and cargo ship at EAC's Nakskov Shipyard, Denmark. Following an extended operational life in which she also served as a hospital ship and a royal yacht, she was finally decommissioned in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Command</span> Multinational military force supporting South Korea

United Nations Command is the multinational military force established to support the Republic of Korea during and after the Korean War. It was the first international unified command in history, and the first attempt at collective security pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations.

Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami introduced the idea of Dialogue Among Civilizations as a response to Samuel P. Huntington's theory of a Clash of Civilizations. The term was initially used by Austrian philosopher Hans Köchler who in 1972, in a letter to UNESCO, had suggested the idea of an international conference on the "dialogue between different civilizations" and had organized, in 1974, a first international conference on the role of intercultural dialogue with the support and under the auspices of Senegalese President Léopold Sédar Senghor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korea Foundation</span> South Korean diplomacy non-profit

The Korea Foundation is a non-profit public diplomacy organization established in 1991 to promote a better understanding of Korea and strengthen friendships in the international community. The foundation carries out various projects for exchange between the South Korea and foreign countries to cultivate mutual understanding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yōhei Sasakawa</span>

Yōhei Sasakawa is chairman of The Nippon Foundation, the World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, and Japan's Ambassador for the Human Rights of People Affected by Leprosy. His global fight against leprosy and its accompanying stigma and social discrimination is an issue to which he has remained highly committed for more than 40 years. As chairman of The Nippon Foundation, Japan's largest charitable foundation, he guides public-interest activities in modern Japan. Sasakawa received his degree from Meiji University’s School of Political Science and Economics. Sasakawa's father was businessman, politician, and philanthropist Ryōichi Sasakawa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korea International Cooperation Agency</span> South Korean aid organization

The Korea International Cooperation Agency was established in 1991 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea as a governmental organization for Official Development Assistance (ODA). KOICA's goal is to enhance the effectiveness of South Korea's grant aid programs for developing countries by implementing the government's grant aid and technical cooperation programs. KOICA is led by three-year-term president of the board who is appointed by the President upon the recommendation of Foreign Minister.

In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 64/134 proclaiming the year commencing 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoje POW camp</span> Prisoner of war camp

Geoje-do POW camp was a prisoner of war camp located on Geoje island at the southernmost part of Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It is considered the largest of the UNC established camps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean Red Cross</span>

The Korean Red Cross, fully the Republic of Korea National Red Cross, is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside South Korea. It is the designated South Korean affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saejowi</span> South Korean non-profit

Saejowi (Korean: 새조위), also known as Saejowi Initiative for National Integration, operates in Seoul, South Korea, as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that assists North Korean defectors with settlement in South Korea. Saejowi sponsors programs that provide medical support, job training, and other educational opportunities in order to aid with defector adjustment to South Korean society. Additionally, Saejowi works to encourage civil involvement in the Korean reunification movement, especially among the defector community. The organization hosts programs that facilitate open communication between South Koreans and defectors from North Korea. It has previously worked with the Korean Ministry of Unification, Korea Hana Foundation, and the Community Chest of Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomnyun</span> Korean Buddhist monk, author, and teacher

Venerable Pomnyun is a Seon master, author, and activist.

References

  1. Korea Society, "History of the Korea Society," The Korean Society, accessed October 15, 2019, https://www.koreasociety.org/history-of-the-korea-society
  2. Robert B. Bruce, "Tethered Eagle: Lt. Gen. James A. Van Fleet and the Quest for Military Victory in the Korean War, April--June 1951," Army History, no. 82 (2012): 6--29.
  3. 1 2 3 McChristian Jr., Joseph A. (2016). ""WILL TO WIN" - HIS GREATEST LEGACY". Van Fleet Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  4. Carlo W. D'Este, "The Will to Win: The Life of General James A. Van Fleet," The Journal of Military History 66, no. 2 (2002): 618.