North Korea has undertaken significant efforts to elevate the standard of living for its citizens recently. This shift has led to notable advancements in production and the quality of visual media, teaching North Koreans the “language” of consumerism and new methods of consumption. In Rebranding North Korea, Immanuel Kim delves into the implications of a thoroughly modernized North Korea for its citizens and the world as the country strives to participate in global modernity and technological advancements. Kim traces two parallel trajectories illustrating the most significant changes in North Korean consumer culture: the expansion of modern urban development projects and increased social amenities, alongside the technologically advanced aesthetic qualities of visual media.

Date: [Sep 23, 2025]

Time: [3:30-5pm]

Location: [Room 505, Elliott School of International Affairs or Virtual via Zoom]

Program Brochure

This two-day conference will bring together government officials, scholars, and practitioners from the U.S. and Korea to exchange perspectives on fiscal and budget policy and to foster dialogue and collaboration across stakeholders. Together we will explore various issues ranging from global trade policy shifts to demographic challenges, debt management, geopolitics, innovation policy and R&D, energy transformations, AI, and more, across both Korean and the U.S. contexts.

The conference will feature keynote remarks from Maya MacGuineas (President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget) and Douglas Holtz-Eakin (President of the American Action Forum). 

Speakers include Robert Atkinson, Wendy Edelberg, Martha Gimbel, Henry Haggard, Michael Horrigan, Danny Leipziger, Tami Overby, Jessica Riedl, Jay Shambaugh, Tara Sinclair, Kent Smetters, Alan Wm. Wolff, and more!

Date: [October 1-2, 2025]

Location: [Room 602, Lindner Family Commona Elliott School of International Affairs or Virtual via Zoom]

Program Brochure

Join us for a lively **Book Talk** at the Flagg Building on September 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM. The book offers a comprehensive examination of modern and contemporary Korean art, contextualized within a wide range of historical, social, political, and cultural frameworks. Co-authors Prof. Jung-Sil Lee, who is currently teaching at George Washington University, and Prof. Koh Dong-Yeon, an art critic with over twenty years of experience in Korea, will introduce the key trends in Korean art with the backdrop of the changing cultural landscape of the postwar period. The book is intended for a broad audience, appealing not only to those interested in art but also to those engaging in Korean modern history. Let’s share our thoughts, insights, and welcome your recommendations! See you there!

Date: [Sep 30]

Time: [2-4pm]

Location: [Hammer Auditorium- Flagg Building-Corcoran School of Arts and Design]