KAFS

Hello,

This is Yong-joon Lee, the President of the Korea-America Friendship Society.

Welcome to our website, and thank you for your interest in KAFS.

Since its founding in 1991, KAFS has for the past 35 years, remained a nonpartisan, private organization dedicated to strengthening the Republic of Korea–United States alliance and promoting friendship between the peoples of our two nations. Throughout the years, we have worked to raise public awareness in both Korea and the United States of the strategic importance and historical significance of the alliance, while also advancing policy recommendations and fostering informed public dialogue to reinforce bilateral cooperation. Through lectures, academic conferences, publications, and people-to-people exchanges, we have taken the lead in promoting a deeper understanding of the importance of the Korea–U.S. alliance, both at home and abroad.

Today, the international community is facing challenges of historic proportions. The intensifying competition between the United States and China, along with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has brought in a new Cold War–like international order, fundamentally reshaping the security environment in East Asia and on the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, the Trump Administration’s “America First” foreign policy has significantly redirected U.S. priorities and its approach towards alliances, creating uncertainties for security on the Korean Peninsula.

As the United States reassesses the value and role of its alliances, we face an increasingly important task of managing the Korea–U.S. relationship with greater care and strategic foresight. In response to these changing circumstances, KAFS is committed to strengthening its role as a bridge between the two nations by increasing mutual understanding between our peoples, and ensuring that future generations continue to share and uphold the values of the alliance. Grounded in our shared commitment to the principles of liberal democracy, we will continue to expand our contributions to the sustained development of the ROK–U.S. alliance.

We sincerely appreciate your continued interest in and support for the activities of KAFS. Together, let us build an even brighter future for the Korea–U.S. alliance.

February 2026

Korea-America Friendship Society, President

Yong-Joon Lee

Ambassador Yong-joon Lee is a former senior Korean diplomat who served for 38 years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. His distinguished career includes service as Deputy Foreign Minister(2008–2010), Ambassador to Italy(2015–2017), Ambassador to Malaysia(2010–2013), Ambassador for North Korean Nuclear Affairs and Director-General for North Korean Nuclear Affairs(2006–2007), and Deputy Director-General for North American Affairs(2002–2003).

He also served multiple terms at the Office of the President (Blue House), including as Senior Director for Policy Coordination at the National Security Council(1998–1999). His overseas assignments included postings at the Korean Embassies in France, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam, as well as service at the Secretariat of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization(KEDO) in New York.

Since his retirement from government service in 2017, Ambassador Lee has been serving as Chairman and CEO of the Sejong Institute, a leading civilian think tank specializing in foreign policy and security affairs. He is also President of the Korea-America Friendship Society(KAFS), Vice Chairman of the Korea-America Association(KAA), and as a regular columnist for Chosun Daily and Munhwa Daily.

Throughout his diplomatic career, Ambassador Lee focused primarily on Korea–U.S. security and military cooperation, as well as North Korean nuclear and security issues. He served as Ambassador for North Korean Nuclear Affairs and Deputy Head of the Korean Delegation to the Six-Party Talks(2006–2007). His extensive experience on the North Korean nuclear issue also includes serving as Director for Policy at the KEDO Secretariat(2003–2004), during which he made frequent visits to North Korea, including Pyongyang, Sinpo, Hyangsan, and Hungnam, for negotiations with North Korean officials. Earlier, he participated as a member of the Korean delegation to the Four-Party Talks(1998–1999) among the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the United States, and China on establishing a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

Ambassador Lee has authored five books on foreign policy and security affairs:

Korea’s Dangerous Choice(2019), Truth and Delusions behind 30 Years of the North Korean Nuclear Saga(2018), The End of the Game: 20 Years’ History of the North Korean Nuclear Issue(Seoul, 2010; Tokyo, 2012), A New Rule of the Game in the North Korean Nuclear Issue(Seoul, 2004; Tokyo, 2005), and Vietnam’s Scar of the Forgotten War(2003)

He received a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Seoul National University in 1979 and a Master’s degree in International Relations from Chung-Ang University in 2010. In 2007, he was a visiting scholar at Peking University. He is married and has one son and one daughter.

President Biography