Asan Plenum 2015

“Is the U.S. Back?”

Hahm Chaibong
President of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies

Welcome to Asan Plenum 2015, I hope you enjoyed the provocative video we provided you to provoke your thinking. Before we start I must of course remember the tragedy that is unfolding in Nepal and all those that are suffering. 12 countries including South Korea have sent rescue teams and our hearts go out to all those that are suffering from this tragedy.

This year we chose as our theme “Is the U.S. Back?” Now, you can answer that in whichever way you feel. This year’s theme, as I have said, we purposely tried to be provocative. Things look somewhat different from the outside world. At least enough so that we wanted to propose this theme for thought and see first,

whether the U.S. is really back? Second, if it is, what does it really mean for many regions and many countries in the world?

Before we start I have this most distinct and always the greatest pleasure of introducing to you the founder and the honorary chairman of our institute, and who’s greatest achievement I always tell him is the founding of this institute.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. MJ Chung.