KOREA DAYS:ANN ARBOR

The Nam Center for Korean Studies hosts the Korea Society leadership for a presentation on The Korea-U.S. Partnership, a discussion of political security challenges, business opportunities and cultural affairs. Following an undergraduate reception, Ambassadors Hubbard and Minton will deliver their lecture at 4pm in the Rackham Amphitheatre (on the 4th floor). The following day, the Ambassadors will visit the Hyundai-Kia Technical Center in nearby Superior Township, highlighting the addition of new jobs and a $15 million expansion. This visit flows into the premiere screening of the Ann Arbor Korean Independent Film Festival co-sponsored by The Korea Society and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Speakers Ambassador Thomas C. Hubbard, Chairman: Thomas C. Hubbard is Chairman of The Korea Society and senior director at McLarty Associates, where he specializes in Asian affairs. A career foreign-service officer for nearly forty years, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea from 2001 to 2004, and before that as Ambassador to the Philippines from 1996 to 2000. He served seven years in Japan and was deputy chief of mission and acting ambassador in Malaysia. He held key Washington postings, including assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs. Ambassador Hubbard was a principal negotiator of the 1994 Agreed Framework aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and headed the first senior-level U.S. government delegation to North Korea. He was also President Clinton’s envoy to promote human rights and democracy in Burma. Ambassador Hubbard sits on numerous advisory boards. He received his BA in political science from the University of Alabama and has been awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Maryland and the University of Alabama.
Ambassador Mark Minton, President: Mark Minton joined The Korea Society as President in May 2010. Prior to joining, he played a leading role in America's relations with Asia during a distinguished 32-year career as a senior foreign-service officer. Ambassador Minton served as U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia from September 2006 to September 2009, and was deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea. He also served as the country director for Korea, deputy country director for Japan, as well as other positions at the U.S. Department of State, in various diplomatic posts in Japan, as a Pearson Fellow with the United States Senate, and at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. He also spent a year as a teaching Diplomat-in-Residence at the City College of New York. Ambassador Minton received his BA in literature from Columbia University and his Master’s degree in history from Yale University.