Syngman Rhee and the US-ROK Alliance Conference

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shannon Mitchell; shannon [dot] mitchellgwu [dot] edu (shannon[dot]mitchell[at]gwu[dot]edu)

Cate Douglass; cdouglassgwu [dot] edu (cdouglass[at]gwu[dot]edu)

EVENT:

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Korea and the 70th anniversary of the longstanding alliance between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States. In commemoration of these two pivotal events in US-ROK relations, the George Washington University Institute for Korean Studies (GWIKS) is hosting a day-long conference analyzing Syngman Rhee’s legacy and his impact on the US-ROK alliance.

Syngman Rhee was the first President of the Republic of Korea. He received his B.A. degree from GW in 1907, was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 1949, and received an honorary degree (LL.D.) in 1954.

Scholars at the conference will examine the Syngman Rhee period focusing on the historical perspectives of foreign policy, domestic politics, and cultural development. Additionally, they will examine Rhee’s role in the establishment of the US-ROK mutual defense treaty, which has played a key role in the security, development, and prosperity of the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the conference will discuss the lasting impact of the defense treaty and its role in modern US-ROK relations. Historians and literary scholars will dive into these important issues over three-panel discussions throughout the conference.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

Find full program details and schedule here.

WHEN:

Friday, August 25th, 2023; 8:30am - 5:30pm EST

WHERE: 

The GW Elliott School of International Affairs

Lindner Commons (Room 602),

1957 E Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20052

RSVP:

Journalists interested in attending the event should notify Shannon Mitchell at Shannon [dot] mitchellgwu [dot] edu (Shannon[dot]mitchell[at]gwu[dot]edu) or Cate Douglass at cdouglassgwu [dot] edu (cdouglass[at]gwu[dot]edu).

-GW-