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[2021 TPD Special Dialogue] Chief Foreign Policy Advisors from Korea’s Ruling and Opposition Parties: Wi Sung-lac and Kim Sung-han

  • By Chey Institue for Advanced Studies
  • |
  • May 16,2025, 2:52 PM SGT

On December 7, 2021, the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies hosted the Trans-Pacific Dialogue forum in Washington, D.C., convening prominent scholars and current and former senior officials from South Korea, the United States, and Japan. As part of the forum, the Institute organized a special session featuring Wi Sung-lac, Chair of the Pragmatic Diplomacy Committee for the Democratic Party’s presidential campaign, and Kim Sung-han, Head of Foreign and Security Policy for the People Power Party’s campaign. The session focused on the North Korea policies and denuclearization strategies of the leading presidential candidates from both parties.

Speakers
Wi Sung-lac | Chair, Pragmatic Diplomacy Committee, Democratic Party Campaign
A graduate of Seoul National University’s Department of International Relations, Mr. Wi served as a career diplomat for 36 years. He specialized in U.S.-related and North Korea nuclear issues, holding key posts including Director-General for North American Affairs and Deputy Chief Negotiator for the Six-Party Talks, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, and Ambassador to Russia.

Kim Sung-han | Head, Foreign and Security Policy, People Power Party Campaign
Dr. Kim earned his B.A. in English Literature and M.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Korea University, and received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Texas at Austin. He served as the 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the 15th administration and was Director of the Ilmin International Relations Institute. He is currently a professor at the Graduate School of International Studies at Korea University.

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Session 1

1. Security Challenges and the Future of U.S. Alliances in East Asia

Contingencies involving Taiwan, the South China Sea, and North Korea are of paramount importance due to their potential to disrupt regional and global stability. Taiwan represents a critical flashpoint in US-China relations, with implications for trade, global supply chains, security alliances, and the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. The situation in the South China Sea is urgent, with near-constant PRC pressure on the Philippines in support of illegitimate maritime claims. Similarly, North Korea's unrelenting nuclear ambitions and unpredictable behavior pose significant threats to peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. Deterring aggression will require careful strategic planning, robust deterrence, and cooperation between the U.S., Korea, and Japan, as well as other partners.

Participant Biographies

Gary SAMORE

Professor, Brandeis University

Gary SAMORE is the Director of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies and Professor of the Practice of Politics in the Department of Politics at Brandeis University. He is also a senior fellow with the Project on Managing the Atom at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Samore previously served as President Obama’s White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction. He was a National Science Foundation Fellow at Harvard University, where he received his MA and Ph.D. in government in 1984.