Lifelong Learning Program

America's Dream Never Ends:
Desirable Foreign Policies for the Upcoming Era 
Honorable Nakyon Lee, Former Prime Minister of South Korea

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm (Mountain)
Click to Register

1475 Lawrence Street (CU Denver Business School)
Jake Jabs Event Center, 1^st Floor

In this lecture, Mr. Nakyon Lee, a former Prime Minister of South Korea, explains that the American dream was not just a dream of the American people but that of global citizens as well. He discusses how the American dream has declined recently with the domestic and international challenges and how isolationist foreign policies and protectionist economic policies have undermined America’s international stature and credibility. He proposes that America pursue greater inclusiveness by rebuilding its middle class and realizing economic justice domestically and regain its global leadership by building up soft power externally. He also suggests that the U.S. should immediately engage in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and help South Korea contribute to peace and prosperity of East Asia and the world.

Nakyon Lee
Honorable Nakyon Lee is a former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea serving during the Moon Jae-in Administration. He graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in law and became a journalist at Dong-a Ilbo. After 21 years as a journalist, he entered politics and served five terms as a member of the National Assembly. During his fourth term in 2014, he became the governor of Jeollanam-do Province until President Moon nominated him as prime minister in 2017. He was also elected as the chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea in 2020. During his years in public affairs, he has focused on both the domestic and international affairs of South Korea. As prime minister, he was responsible for domestic issues, including the safety of the citizens and society. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at the National Assembly, through which he worked toward a peaceful inter-Korean relationship. He is currently a visiting scholar at the George Washington University Institute for Korean Studies, where his research focuses on the peacebuilding process for the Korean Peninsula.

The Robert Reynolds Distinguished Lecture Series
The Robert Reynolds Distinguished Lecture Series is supported by the Robert and Viola Reynolds Endowment for International Business for the purpose of bringing renowned faculty, business practitioners, and government leaders and officials to speak at the University of Colorado Denver’s Business School.