Convenors
Congressional Host: Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
The event will be in English only. Click here to view the entire program.
Parking and Metro stations are nearby the event venue.
1:00 PM: Opening Session
Emcee: Colonel David Maxwell (Ret), Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation; Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
David Maxwell is a retired US Army Special Forces Colonel and has spent more than 30 years in Asia as a practitioner and specializes in Northeast Asian Security Affairs and irregular, unconventional, and political warfare. He is the Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the Global Peace Foundation where he focuses on a free and unified Korea. He is a member of the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights In North Korea and is the editor of the Small Wars Journal.
Mr. James P. Flynn, International President, Global Peace Foundation
Mr. James P. Flynn is International President of the Global Peace Foundation. As the executive officer of a large, global network of chapters, he provides leadership and management for Global Peace Foundation’s diverse portfolio of peacebuilding and international development work. His robust leadership is reflected in the planning and convening of Global Peace Leadership Conferences on four continents and in the preeminent Global Peace Convention, as well as in the organization’s branding, educational content, and operational management. Mr. Flynn has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than thirty years, and served as an educator, international conflict mediator, interfaith facilitator, and grassroots leader of family strengthening and youth violence prevention programs.
Mr. In-teck Seo, Co-Chair, Action for Korea United
Mr. In-teck Seo is the President of Global Peace Foundation-Korea and Co-Chairman of Action for Korea United, a coalition of over 800 NGOs committed to building a grassroots movement to advance awareness and advocacy for a free and unified Korea. Mr. Seo is instrumental in local and overseas development on the education of the Korean Dream, a ground-breaking values-based peacebuilding approach to the Korean reunification. Mr. Seo is a ROK Presidential Award recipient for his work on peaceful unification in 2021.
1:30 PM: U.S. Congressional-ROK National Assembly Roundtable
Moderator: Mr. John Dickson, Senior Advisor, Global Peace Foundation
Mr. John Dickson is a Senior Advisor on Economy and Government Relations at the Global Peace Foundation and president of World Trade Partnership. He has founded World Trade Centers in Okinawa and Afghanistan, and advised on others. Mr. Dickson was the founding chairman of the World Trade Centers Association’s Committee on Peace and Stability through Trade, organizing initiatives highlighting the contribution of the private sector to peace and stability. John serves on the steering committee of the UN’s Alliance of NGOs for South South Cooperation and serves on the boards of several significant civil society organizations including the Latin American Presidential Mission. Mr. Dickson is a co-founder and chairman of the Global Young Leaders Academy.
Honorable Rob Wittman, Vice Chair, House Arms Service Committee; Chair, Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee; Member, House Committee on Natural Resources
Congressman Rob Wittman has served the First Congressional District of Virginia since 2007. Rob has been focused on strengthening the military and supporting veterans, promoting economic development, increasing access to high-speed internet, and promoting workforce development. In the U.S. Congress, Rob serves as Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. In addition, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus, he is a staunch advocate for a robust Naval fleet and a healthy domestic shipbuilding industry. He also currently serves on the U.S. Naval Academy’s Board of Visitors, as Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee and as Chairman of the U.S. Naval Academy’s Board of Visitors. As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rob brings his professional expertise in water quality, fisheries, and other natural resource issues. He serves as co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Caucus and as a Co-Chair of the House Rural Broadband Caucus. Dr. Witman holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration.
Honorable Myoung-su Lee, Member (People Power Party), Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee
Honorable Myoung-su Lee is a four-term Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea representing Asan city’s Gap District since serving in 2008. He is currently member of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly. Prior to this, Hon. Lee held the positions of Chairman of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, President of the Korea-Azerbaijan Friendship Association of the National Assembly, and Chairman of the Human Resource Recruitment Committee of the Liberty Korea Party. He holds a BS, MS, and Ph.D. in Public Administration from Sungkyunkwan University.
Honorable Seung-joo Baek, Former Member, ROK National Assembly; Former Deputy Secretary of Defense of the Republic of Korea; President, War Memorial of Korea; Chair Professor, Kookmin University Graduate School of Political Science
Honorable Seung-joo Baek is the President of the War Memorial of Korea appointed by President Yoon and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Defense of the ruling People Power Party. He previously served as the fortieth Deputy Secretary of National Defense and member of the twentieth National Assembly of Korea. He also served as director of North Korea Research Section, Korea Institute for Defense. Dr. Baek earned a Ph.D. in political science from Kyungpook National University with the thesis On the Change to Political Power under Deng Xiaoping in the People’s Republic of China and became a visiting fellow at Beijing University. He is currently an expert featured in KBS, CBS, BBS, YTN, Hanguk Ilbo, and Gukbang Ilbo sharing his insights on security issues and current affairs.
Honorable Young Kim (R-CA), Member and Asia-Pacific Subcommittee Chair, House Foreign Affairs Committee; Co-Chair, Congressional Study Group on Korea
Honorable Young Kim chairs the Asia-Pacific Subcommittee of Foreign Affairs, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Study Group on Korea of the U.S. House of Representatives and House Committee of Foreign Affairs. She is also the Co-Chair for the U.S.-ROK Inter-Parliamentary Exchange. Congresswoman Kim represents California’s 39th District, which includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. An immigrant, small business owner, community leader, and mother, Ms. Kim is proud to be one of the first Korean-American women ever to serve in Congress. She previously served as Director of Community Relations and Asian Affairs for former Congressman Ed Royce (CA-39), where she was a key liaison to the 39th District and advisor on issues pertaining to the Asian-American community and foreign policy. Ms. Kim was the first ever Korean-American Republican to serve in the California State Assembly, where she fought to grow jobs, support small businesses, ensure public safety, promote educational opportunities, support veterans, and protect victims of domestic violence.
Honorable Sang-min Lee, Member (Democratic Party), Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee
Honorable Sang-min Lee is a five-term member of the National Assembly of Korea from the Democratic Party. He is currently a member of Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, chairman of the Korea-EU Parliamentary Diplomacy Forum, and co-chairman of the fourth Industrial Revolution Forum of the assembly. In his distinguished political career, he was chairman of the Party’s Central Election Commission, chairman of the Special Committee on Judicial Reform for the twentieth National Assembly and chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for the nineteenth National Assembly.
2:45 PM: Policy Discussion Panel (Scholars, Practitioners, and Escapees from North Korea) Round Table
Emcee: Colonel David Maxwell (Ret), Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation; Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
David Maxwell is a retired US Army Special Forces Colonel and has spent more than 30 years in Asia as a practitioner and specializes in Northeast Asian Security Affairs and irregular, unconventional, and political warfare. He is the Vice President of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and the Global Peace Foundation where he focuses on a free and unified Korea. He is a member of the board of directors of the Committee for Human Rights In North Korea and is the editor of the Small Wars Journal.
Mr. Hyun-seung Lee, Fellow on North Korea Studies, Global Peace Foundation
Mr. Hyun-seung Lee is a North Korean escapee and human rights activist. His extensive background in North Korean international business and military affairs, has been recognized by the U.S. government and policy community. He currently serves as a fellow at the Global Peace Foundation and an advisor to the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK). Hyun-seung was a sergeant in the DPRK Army and later worked in the shipping and mining industries facilitating North Korean trade with China. A series of brutal purges by the DPRK government forced him to defect in 2014. Since then, Hyun-seung has emerged as an expert on North Korea-related topics addressing prestigious institutions such as Brookings, Harvard Kennedy School, and The Korea Society. His insights have been featured in various media including CNN, BBC, The Washington Post, Financial Times, The New Yorker, and VOA. Hyun-seung earned his B.A. from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in China.
Mr. Cheol-hwan Kang, Author, “The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag”; Founder and President, North Korea Strategy Center
Mr. Cheol-hwan Kang is the President of North Korea Strategy Center, Co-President of Action for Korea United. He is the first defector who informed the international society about the cruel reality of concentration camps in North Korea. As a child, he was imprisoned in the Yodok camp for 10 years. He published “The Aquariums of Pyongyang”, and worked as a writer specialized in North Korean affairs of The Chosun Ilbo for 10 years. He has sent thousands of USBs, DVDs and radios into North Korea.
Ms. Seo-hyun Lee, Human Rights Activist; Graduate Student, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
Ms. Seo-hyun Lee is a North Korean defector, human rights advocate, commentator, and YouTube creator. She received the most prestigious education in Pyongyang, North Korea. Seo-hyun excelled academically and received numerous awards. She studied at Kim Il Sung University and at Dongbei University of Economics and Finance in China. After experiencing a series of brutal purges by the Kim Jong Un regime, Seo-hyun’s family defected to South Korea and finally resettled in the United States. She has been committed to raising awareness of human rights in North Korea and disseminating information to people inside the country. She has become an effective policy advocate and human rights activist. Seo-hyun has given a TEDx talk on her life in North Korea and testified at the UN Security Council. She was awarded several scholarships, including the first Otto Warmbier Scholarship. Seohyun is currently studying at Columbia University’s School of Public Affairs. Her ultimate goal is to free the North Korean people.
Ambassador Robert Joseph, Senior Scholar, National Institute for Public Policy; Former Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security
Ambassador Robert Joseph is Senior Scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy. In the George W. Bush administration, he was Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security and later U.S. Special Envoy for Nuclear Nonproliferation. Prior to his positions at the State Department, Ambassador Joseph served in the National Security Council as Special Assistant to the President for Proliferation Strategy, Counterproliferation and Homeland Defense. Prior to 2001, Dr. Joseph was Professor of National Security Studies and Founder of the Center for Counterproliferation Research at the National Defense University. He served as U.S. Commissioner to the Standing Consultative Commission and as head of the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-Russian Commission on Nuclear Testing. Dr. Joseph has a BA from Saint Louis University, MA from the University of Chicago, and PhD from Columbia University. He taught at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tulane University, and Carleton College.
Ambassador Morse Tan, Dean, Liberty University, School of Law; Former Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice
Ambassador Morse Hyung-Myung Tan is Dean of School of Law at Liberty University and previously served as the first Asian-American Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice in U.S. history. He has published extensive law review articles on North Korea and published the book North Korea, International Law and the Dual Crises: Narrative and Constructive Engagement. He previously held Visiting Scholar positions at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and the University of Texas. The Korean-American Society of Chicago honored him as Korean-American of the Year and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs selected him as an Emerging Leader. His media and speaking engagements regarding the DPRK have included the National Law Journal, Reuters, Associated Press (AP), UPI, WGN+, Voice of America, the U.S. State Department Distinguished Lecture Series, and Cornell Law School.
Mr. Greg Scarlatiou, Executive Director, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
Mr. Greg Scarlatoiu is the Executive Director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. For ten years, he has been a visiting professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Yonsei University. Scarlatoiu is vice president of the International Council on Korean Studies. He has authored and broadcast on Radio Free Asia for the past 20 years. Scarlatoiu holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School, Tufts University, and a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts from Seoul National University’s Department of International Relations. He completed the MIT XXI Seminar for U.S. national security leaders in 2016-2017. Scarlatoiu was awarded the title ‘Citizen of Honor, City of Seoul,’ in January 1999. Born and raised in communist Romania, he is a naturalized U.S. citizen. Scarlatoiu is fluent in Korean, French and Romanian.
Dr. Yong-sup Han, Professor Emeritus and Former Vice President, National Defense University of the Republic of Korea; President, International Security Exchange Association
Dr. Yong-sup Han is a Professor Emeritus at Korea National Defense University (KNDU) and a Visiting Professor at Kyungnam University. He is a member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament. He launched the Korea Nuclear Policy Society and served as its first President and he had been Vice President of KNDU and President of the Korea Peace Research Association. He also directed the Research Institute for National Security Affairs of Korea National Defense University. He received BA and MA from the political science department of Seoul National University, Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Ph.D. in Defense Policy from RAND Graduate School of the United States. His English publications include Peace and Arms Control on the Korean Peninsula (Kyungnam University Press), and Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation in Northeast Asia (UNIDIR).
Dr. Jin Shin, President, Institute for Peace Affairs; Chairman of the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy and Director of the National Strategy Institute, Chungnam National University
Dr. Jin Shin is the President of the Institute for Peace Affairs, a professor in the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy, and the Director of the National Strategy Institute at Chungnam National University in the Republic of Korea. He has served as a visiting scholar at Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Shin is the recipient of numerous academic awards including the Fulbright Scholarship and Research Award from the Ministry of Unification. A researcher and an educator for over 20 years, he focuses on publishing North Korea international relations issues contributing to the peaceful unification of the two Koreas. In preparation for the Korean reunification, the Ministry of Unification has asked the Institute for Peace Affairs to co-build reunification educational programs for all educators in Korea.
Dr. Kyung-young Chung, Adjunct Professor, Hanyang University Graduate School of International Studies; Former Policy Advisor, National Security Office, Blue House
Dr. Kyung-Young Chung is Adjunct Professor at Hanyang Graduate School of International Studies since 2016. He is Director of the Diplomacy and Security Center, Action to Korea United Professors Association. He received PhD in International Politics from University of Maryland, Master Degrees from USC, and US Army Command and General Staff College. He graduated from Korea Military Academy. Dr. Chung was Policy Advisor for Presidential National Security Office and Policy Practitioner, Joint Chiefs of Staff and ROK-US Combined Forces Command, along with frontline troop commander. He taught North Korean military strategy and international security at Korean National Defense University and the Catholic University from 2002 to 2015. Dr. Chung is the authors of The Transition of Wartime Operational Control and National Security (2022), Peace Creation: ROK-U.S. Alliance and Peace Making (2020), and South Korea: The Korean War, Armistice Structure, and A Peace Regime in 2020, and A Vision for a Unified Korea and International Cooperation, ed. (2022).