Exploring the Future of the Asia-Pacific with Ambassador Lee Soo Hyuck and Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA, 39)

On June 22, 2021, the Meridian Corporate Council in collaboration with SK Group hosted a virtual convening with His Excellency Lee Soo Hyuck, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States and Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA, 39). This conversation was moderated by Ambassador Stuart Holliday, CEO of Meridian International Center, and addressed the future of U.S.-Korean economic, security, and diplomatic relations and anticipated opportunities for intergovernmental and private sector collaboration in the science, technology, data infrastructure, and security sectors.  

Ambassador Lee has served has the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the U.S. since January 2019. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to the U.S., Ambassador Lee served as Ambassador both to Yugoslavia in 2002 and to Germany in 2005.  

Congresswoman Young Kim, representing California’s 39th District, is one of the first Korean American women ever to serve in Congress. Prior to serving in Congress, Congresswoman Kim was the first ever Korean American Republican woman to serve in the California State Assembly.  

Throughout the virtual convening, Ambassador Lee and Congresswoman Kim centered the strength and importance of the U.S.-R.O.K. economic, security, and diplomatic alliance. Congresswoman Kim highlighted key avenues for strengthening the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) such as the Partner With Korea Act which would provide 15,000 E4 work visas for Korean nationals to travel to the United States. With mounting concerns about regional security following next generation 5G and 6G infrastructure development, and persistent economic stunting in the wake of the pandemic, Ambassador Lee and Congresswoman Kim stressed that strong U.S.-R.O.K. collaboration on science, technology, and energy sectors would remain critical to maintaining safety, security, and economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.