On August 23, 2024, EAI and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (CCGA) held a roundtable to discuss the future of the U.S.-ROK alliance amidst complex crises in the Indo-Pacific region and the evolving U.S. alliance structure. Drawing on public poll data from both institutions, participants analyzed the trends in South Korean and U.S. public perceptions of each other and projected the future trajectory of bilateral relations. The discussion also focused on the implications of the upcoming U.S. presidential election for the alliance structure and explored potential roles the two countries could play in the Indo-Pacific region.

Participants

Korean Side

Young-Sun Ha Chairman, EAI; Professor Emeritus, Seoul National University

Yul Sohn President, EAI; Professor, Yonsei University

Sook Jong Lee Senior Fellow, EAI; Distinguished Professor, Sungkyunkwan University

Jaejeok Park Professor, Yonsei University

Alex Soohoon Lee Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for Defense Analyses

U.S. Side

Chris Elstoft Consul General, Australia Consulate in Chicago

Karl Friedhoff Marshall M. Bouton Fellow for Asia Studies, CCGA

Craig Kafura Director, Public Opinion & Foreign Policy, CCGA

Matt Shapiro Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology

Dina Smeltz Vice President & Senior Fellow, Public Opinion & Foreign Policy, CCGA

Paul Staniland Professor, University of Chicago

Jake Werner Acting Director, East Asia Program, Quincy Institute

■ Program Manager: Jisoo Park, Research Associate
    For inquiries: 02 2277 1683 (ext. 208) | jspark@eai.or.kr