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.

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Meet Our Experts

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

Contact Information

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

Media Queries

Featured Analysis

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North Korea in 2026: Intentions, Realities, and Response

Sydney Seiler, Dr. Patrick Cronin, Rachel Minyoung Lee, and Markus Garlauskas discussed North Korea's direction in 2026 and what to expect from Kim Jong Un in terms of the diplomatic front with Moscow, Beijing, the ROK, the U.S., and more.

Podcast Episode by Sydney Seiler — February 2, 2026

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Salvage Operations Continue at Chongjin

Latest satellite image of Chongjin shows the ongoing salvage operation of the vessel assessed to be the second Choe Hyon-class guided missile destroyer.

Commentary by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, and Jennifer Jun — May 27, 2025

South Korean Presidential Election | The Capital Cable #113

The South Korean presidential election officially kicked off on May 12, and the results of the June 3 election promises to bring changes to a country embroiled in political turmoil since a short-lived martial law in December 2024.

Event — May 22, 2025

Yongdok-tong Nuclear High Explosives Test Facility: Part 3

The last of a three-part series on the Yongdok-tong Nuclear High Explosive Test Facility, a critical component in the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of North Korea’s nuclear warheads, explores the underground facilities at Yongdok-tong and elsewhere.

Commentary by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, and Jennifer Jun — May 8, 2025

The Impossible State

Is Trump ready to Re-engage with North Korea?

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Mr. Sydney Seiler, and Ms. Yuki Tatsumi discussed the Trump administration’s policy toward North Korea, the possibility of a second Trump–Kim summit, its future direction in relation to the United States, South Korea, and Japan, and more.

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha, Sydney Seiler, and Yuki Tatsumi — May 6, 2025

The Impossible State Podcast