Investigators
Michael H. Armacost - Shorenstein Distinguished Fellow at Shorenstein APARC, Stanford University
Stephen W. Bosworth - Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University
Robert Carlin - Pantech Fellow at APARC, Stanford University
Victor Cha - Director of Asian Stdies at Georgetown University
Thomas C. Hubbard - President at Kissinger McLarty Associates
Don Oberdorfer - Chairman of the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University
Charles L. Pritchard - President at The Korea Economic Institute
Evans J.R. Revere (Principal Investigator) - President at The Korea Society
Gi-Wook Shin (Principal Investigator) - Director of Shorenstein APARC at Stanford University
Daniel C. Sneider - Associate Director of Research of Shorenstein APARC at Stanford University
David Straub - Pantech Fellow at Shorenstein APARC, Stanford University

New Beginnings is a new policy study group formed by the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University and The Korea Society to explore how to revitalize the U.S. alliance with the Republic of Korea (ROK) after nearly a decade of strains and tensions.

January 2008

Mr. Lee Myung-bak will be inaugurated as South Korea's president next month, and the next U.S. president will be elected in November. The political transitions that each country will be going through are all the more important since they will be occurring so close to each other, and because Korean Peninsula-related issues, especially the Six Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear program, will weigh heavily on the minds of the new presidents in both countries.

It is no secret that the alliance has been under stress during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Roh Moo-hyun. In large part, this is a product of differences over how to respond to North Korea's decision to pursue the development of nuclear weapons. But the two countries have also grappled with a range of tough issues, from the restructuring of their wartime command system to the negotiation of a free trade agreement. In Korea, a vibrant democracy has guaranteed that public opinion is playing a much greater role in the formation of policy. And in the United States, the public and policymakers have been largely preoccupied with events in the Middle East. Meanwhile, support for the U.S.-ROK alliance, so long an unchallenged part of the foreign policy of both countries, has been eroding.

Both current presidents have made considerable efforts, sometimes at personal cost, to lessen tensions and preserve the alliance. President Roh's decisions to dispatch Korean troops to Iraq and to negotiate the FTA were made over the opposition of many members of his own party. And President Bush's recent support for diplomatic engagement with North Korea has also met considerable resistance from members of his own administration and party, while some Members of Congress have expressed reluctance to approve the U.S.-Korea FTA.

But it is also true that communication between the two presidents has not always been easy and has been limited by public opinion and political realities. The change in leadership in both countries in the coming year thus offers an opportunity for a new beginning in our alliance. Free from the burden of past interactions, two new governments can approach some of these difficult issues from a fresh perspective. At a personal and a policy level, there is a possibility that the gap between the U.S. and ROK may be narrowed. While differences over policy may continue, the two new leaders can set a positive tone for the relationship that can alter the dynamic of public opinion in both countries.

The work of shaping a new beginning in our alliance should begin as soon as a new government is formed in Korea. We have formed a nonpartisan group of senior American former officials and experts, drawn from the academic and policy communities, who have long experience in Korea. The New Beginnings study group will meet in late January at Stanford to consider the election outcome, analyze the message sent by Korean voters, and consider its impact on U.S.-ROK.

Funding provided by
• William Perry Endowment
• Pentech Group