- Board meeting brings together leaders including Richard Lee Armitage, former Deputy Secretary of State, and Joseph Nye, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

- Chairman Choi proposes Korea-US-Japan-China Young Leaders Forum, with the inclusion of China going beyond conventional Young Leaders Forum of Korea-US-Japan

SKC Chairman Choi Shin-won attended the board meeting and the International Forum of the Pacific Forum of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (Pacific Forum CSIS), which took place in Honolulu, Hawaii for two days on March 17 and 18, and shared his views on security and the economic situation in Northeast Asia with directors and board members from countries around the world.

In attendance at the meeting were more than twenty board members including Richard Lee Armitage, former Deputy Secretary of State, and Joseph Nye, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, James A. Kelly, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (East Asia and Pacific.), Ralph A. Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum, and Chairman Choi. About 20 of the board members reviewed the forum’s activities in 2014 and shared their views on the overall outlook and major activities planned for this year.

The directors of the Pacific Forum gave high marks to the Korea-U.S.-Japan Young Leaders’ Forum, which was held in Korea at the initiative of Chairman Choi in November of last year. In response, Chairman Choi proposed a plan to extend the Korea-US-Japan Young Leaders Forum to include China in the future.

Notably, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Pacific Forum since its establishment in 1975, and hence featured various commemorative events. Chairman Choi said, “I believe the Pacific Forum CSIS, which marks its 40th anniversary this year, has discovered many talented young leaders, and has constantly provided opportunities and programs designed to nurture them into next-generation policymakers,” adding, “Now, many former Young Leaders are striding onto the global stage, and are standing out, thus promoting the reputation of the Pacific Forum on many occasions, something of which we are justifiably very proud. Notably, it is very rewarding whenever I hear about the activities of Korean Young Leaders, in particular, and their work in collaboration with global leaders.” Chairman Choi again donated $20,000 to support the Young Leader Development Program after making a similar donation last year, while playing an active role as a board member of the Pacific Forum.

The Young Leaders Program, which is supported by the Pacific Forum, is designed to promote next-generation leadership. Under the program, more than 700 recipients of scholarships from 55 countries, including young people from Korea, have contributed to the forum through direct participation in efforts to define Northeast Asian and international policy issues at the Pacific Forum since 2004.

Meanwhile, SKC Chairman Choi Shin-won was officially appointed as a board member of the Pacific Forum under CSIS in September 2013, and has been working actively in his role ever since. The Pacific Forum also serves as a think tank for policy issues on Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula.