Korea Chair

The Korea Chair is the premier independent platform in Washington, D.C. for the advancement of major policy issues of common importance to the people of the Republic of Korea and the United States

Through nonpartisan, expert analysis and cutting-edge, data-driven research on ongoing policy opportunities and security challenges facing the region, the Korea Chair promotes a greater understanding of relations between the United States, Korea, and Asia.

The Korea Chair examines issues ranging from politics, economy, and foreign policy to economic security, geopolitics, and non-proliferation. The program runs Beyond Parallel, a microsite dedicated to Korean unification, and employs satellite imagery analysis to monitor and track developments on and around the peninsula. Beyond Parallel also houses years of accumulated databases on nuclear diplomacy, unification, and the US-Korea alliance.

New projects that look beyond the peninsula include the role of the G7 in global governance and the weaponization of economic interdependence. The program actively promotes policy discussion in Washington and Seoul through the Impossible State podcast and the Capital Cable series live on YouTube.

Dr. Victor Cha, a former White House official and Georgetown University distinguished professor, is leading the Korea program as the inaugural chairholder since 2009.

Join our mailing list, subscribe to the Impossible State podcast, and follow us on Twitter to receive the Korea Chair’s latest analysis and event invitations.

Meet Our Experts

Meet our network of experts, staff, and non-resident affiliates who contribute to the Korea Chair's analysis.

Contact

  • Minchi Hyun
  • Special Assistant to the President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Program Manager, Korea Chair
  • mhyun@csis.org

Media Queries

Featured Analysis

Database: The Trump Prism on Allies

This graphic shows two metrics by which Donald Trump may measure his support for NATO and Indo-Pacific allies and partners based on his first term in office and his campaign statements.

Commentary — December 11, 2024

See all analysis by the Korea Chair

Recent Event

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2024

Presented by Korea Chair
November 18, 2024 • 9:00 am – 3:00 pm EST

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Audio Briefs

Yoon Declares Martial Law in South Korea

An audio version of “Yoon Declares Martial Law in South Korea,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Andy Lim, Seiyeon Ji, and Victor Cha. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Andy Lim, Seiyeon Ji, and Victor Cha — December 3, 2024

Audio Briefs

Yoon Declares Martial Law in South Korea

On December 3, 2024, South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law in an unannounced televised address, citing threats from "North Korean communist forces" and the need to "rebuild and protect" South Korea from "falling into ruin."

Critical Questions by Andy Lim, Seiyeon Ji, and Victor Cha — December 3, 2024

ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2024

Please join us for the 9th annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum, our premier international forum that brings together officials, policymakers, and experts to discuss issues important to the U.S.-ROK alliance.

Event — November 18, 2024

How Trump Sees Allies and Partners

With the return of Donald Trump to the White House in 2025, governments around the world must adjust their sights away from a traditional globalist orientation by the United States and focus on the vagaries of return to “America First” foreign policies in Washington.

Commentary by Victor Cha — November 18, 2024

Undeclared North Korea: The Yongnim Missile Operating Base

Located 242 kilometers north of the demilitarized zone and only 65 kilometers from the Chinese border, the Yongnim Missile Operating Base is an undeclared ballistic missile operating ICBM base in Chagang Province.

Commentary by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, and Jennifer Jun — November 14, 2024