[Notice] John Hamre and Rexton Ryu to Deliver Keynote Speeches… Seeking Korea’s Survival Strate...

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[Notice] John Hamre and Rexton Ryu to Deliver Keynote Speeches… Seeking Korea‘s Survival Strategy Amid Complex Crises

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17th Edaily Strategy Forum to Open at The Shilla Seoul

[Edaily Hee-na Oh, Edaily] Edaily will host the 17th Edaily Strategy Forum (ESF 2026) from June 16 to 17 at the Dynasty Hall of the Shilla Hotel Seoul. Under the theme “The Age of Power, Recasting Civilization : Who Designs the New World?”, the forum will comprehensively analyze the diplomatic, security, financial, and fiscal turning points facing Korean society amid intensifying U.S.-China hegemony competition, the Iran war, and the geopolitical upheaval driven by rising America First policies. It aims to explore breakthrough strategies for overcoming these crises.

The 17th Edaily Strategy Forum will be held at the Dynasty Hall of the Shilla Hotel Seoul at Jangchung-dong, Jung-gu. (Photo=Edaily)

The first day will open with a keynote speech by John Hamre, Chairman Emeritus of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), one of the world’s most prestigious foreign policy and national security think tanks, which he led for 26 years. In his address, he will diagnose the changing roles of major powers and middle powers in the U.S.-China hegemony competition and present strategic directions for Korea to overcome a new era of geopolitical fragmentation and rising isolationism.

On the second day, Rexon Ryu, President of The Asia Group and former Nonproliferation Director at the U.S. National Security Council (NSC), will deliver the keynote speech titled “Security and Defense Strategy in the Era of Self-Reliance.” He will examine the growing expectation among allies to shoulder greater defense responsibilities under the America First framework. He is also expected to outline a new vision for national defense, highlighting how strategic assets such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced industrial capabilities are becoming increasingly integrated into modern security architectures.

Thorsten Beck, Professor at the European University Institute, and Kwan-ho Shin, Chairman, The Korea Money and Finance Association (KMFA), will diagnose risks facing the global financial system arising from growing economic bloc formation and fragmentation. Noreena Hertz, Professor Emeritus at University College London and author of the global bestseller ‘The Lonely Century,’ and Jiyoon Kim, Visiting Professor of Institute of East and West Studies at Yonsei University, will take the stage to offer survival strategies for the international community and corporations to pursue mutual prosperity in an era of extreme division caused by deglobalization, polarization, and digital isolation.

Other prominent speakers and panelists include: James Kim Chairman & CEO, AMCHAM Korea; Kisoon Park Professor, Graduate School of China, Sungkyunkwan University(SKKU); Alan Auerbach Professor, Economics at University of California, Berkeley; Young Lee President of The Korea Institute of Public Finance (KIPF); In-cheul Cho Member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea); Young-Jun Chun Former President of The Korean Association of Public Finance (KAPF); Il-ho Yoo Former Deputy Prime Minister for Economy; Yoon-jae Cho Former Member of the Monetary Policy Board, Bank of Korea · Distinguished Professor of Graduate School of Economics, Yonsei University; Andrew Levin, Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College; Jin-il Kim Member of the Monetary Policy Board, Bank of Korea; Soo-Min Park Member of the National Assembly (People Power Party of Korea); Dong-hyun Ahn Professor of Department of Economics at Seoul National University; Cynyoung Park Director of The South East Asian Central Banks(SEACEN).

● Date: June 16 (Tue) ~ 17 (Wed), 2026

● Venue: Dynasty Hall, Shilla Hotel, Seoul

● Organizer: Edaily

● Co-organizers: Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Policy Evaluation Research Institute (PERI)

● Inquiries: Secretariat of the EDaily Strategy Forum