“An opportunity to elevate, deepen, and diversify the U.S.–Korea alliance beyond security toward shared technology and industrial resilience”
Alex Wong, President and Global Chief Strategy Officer of Hanwha Group, called for the U.S.–South Korea alliance to evolve into a more practical partnership centered on production capacity, economic cooperation, and long-term industrial ties.
Speaking at the 41st Sejong National Strategy Forum, Wong emphasized that the changing global strategic environment presents new opportunities to expand the alliance beyond its traditional focus on security and defense.
The forum, organized by the Sejong Institute, brought together senior officials and experts from Korea and abroad under the theme “Trump 2.0 and South Korea’s Foreign Policy.” South Korean Minister of National Defense Gyu-Back Ahn delivered congratulatory remarks, while Harvard University Professor Stephen Walt presented the keynote address.
Wong joined a panel discussion titled “Trump 2.0 and the New Global Order,” alongside former Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka, German Ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt, and former South Korean Vice Minister of National Defense Beomchul Shin.
During the session, Wong noted that South Korea’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and heavy industry provide a foundation for broadening the alliance into a technology- and industry-driven partnership. He argued that cooperation should increasingly focus on building resilience in key sectors rather than remaining limited to military coordination.
He also highlighted the growing importance of securing production capacity in strategic industries such as shipbuilding and defense. As Western countries place greater emphasis on strengthening industrial bases, Wong said deeper defense industrial cooperation and long-term economic collaboration between the United States and South Korea would be essential.
Wong previously served as Principal Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House National Security Council and now oversees global strategy at Hanwha Group.
