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 X 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 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

North Korean UAVs at Panghyon

Recent imagery shows two types of North Korean UAVs at Panghyon Airbase, observed together for the first time at the location.

Commentary by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, and Jennifer Jun — March 3, 2026

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Recent Events

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Featured Podcasts

Photo: CSIS
Photo: iLab/CSIS

Featured Analysis

Featured Microsite

Beyond Parallel

Featured Report

Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Featured Projects

Additional Projects

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The Impossible State

The Trump-South Korea Trade Deal: Who Wins?

Dr. Victor Cha, Ms. Yoojin Kim, Dr. Philip Luck, and Mr. Bill Reinsch discuss the impact of a major trade deal on U.S.–South Korea economic ties, key industries, and broader geopolitical dynamics.

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha, Philip Luck, William Alan Reinsch, and Yoojin Kim — August 4, 2025

The Impossible State Podcast
Audio Briefs

South Korea Gets Its Trade Deal with the United States

An audio version of “⁠South Korea Gets Its Trade Deal with the United States,⁠” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Victor Cha and Andy Lim. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha and Andy Lim — July 31, 2025

Audio Briefs

South Korea Gets Its Trade Deal with the United States

Each side can claim some victories from the trade deal reached on July 30. South Korean president Lee Jae Myung succeeded in reducing tariffs on autos exports to the U.S. which was a top priority. President Trump could flash a big foreign investment number for U.S. industry. 

Critical Questions by Victor Cha and Andy Lim — July 31, 2025

The Impossible State

US-South Korea Trade Deal and Alliance Modernization?

Dr. Victor Cha and Mr. Sydney Seiler discuss a potential U.S.–South Korea trade deal before the August 1 tariff pause and how to modernize the alliance under new leadership.

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha and Sydney Seiler — July 28, 2025

The Impossible State Podcast