The Program: “A Panel Discussion: The Future of Korea 2019” In cooperation with the World Affairs Council of America, the Korean Economic Institute of America (KEI), the US Department of State, and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea we are pleased to announce a panel discussion with the representatives from the KEI, State Department and Korea. Please join us for an engaging evening on current events in Korea and interact with those with first-hand experience.

Panelist Claire Smolik is from the US Department of State’s Foreign Service Office/ Republic of Korea Unit Chief. After joining the Foreign Service in 2008, Claire Smolik served in Stockholm as a consular officer. Her next posting was to the State Department’s Operations Center as a Watch Officer. Subsequently, Claire had responsibilities related to NATO political coordination, including anti-piracy naval patrols off Somalia and NATO’s military coalition in Afghanistan. This led to a year at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, where Claire led the External Political team covering Afghanistan’s relationship with Pakistan, India, and Iran. Following a tour as political-military officer in Berlin, Claire returned to the Operations Center as a Senior Watch Officer. Claire currently serves as the Republic of Korea Unit Chief. Claire holds a B.A. from Wellesley College and completed a Master’s in Paris at Sciences Po.

Panelist Sang Kim is the Director of Public Affairs and Intern Coordinator at the Korea Economic Institute of America. She is responsible for managing KEI’s public outreach programs as well as the organization’s external affairs. She joined KEI in April 2013 as the Office Manager and Executive Assistant and has taken various responsibilities since then, including serving as the Associate Director of Programs. Prior to joining KEI, Sang was at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins SAIS where she researched on a variety of issues related to Korean affairs, focused mainly on U.S. – Korea and inter-Korea relations. Sang graduated from University of Maryland, College Park with a B.A. in Government & Politics with minors in Korean Studies and Chinese Language. She earned her Master’s degree in Security Policy Studies from the George Washington University.

Embassy of the Republic of Korean panelist TBD.

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