Hanwha Group President and CSO Alex Wong Calls for U.S.–ROK Alliance Built on Industrial Capacity

April 2, 2026 – Hanwha Group President and Global Chief Strategy Officer Alex Wong said the U.S.–South Korea alliance should evolve into a practical partnership grounded in production capacity, economic cooperation, and long-term industrial ties.

Wong, who previously served in the White House as U.S. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, delivered his remarks at the 41st Sejong National Strategy Forum. Organized by the Sejong Institute — an independent foreign policy and security think tank founded in 1983 — the forum brings together current and former senior officials and scholars from Korea and abroad, and now marks its 41st edition.

This year’s forum was held under the theme “Trump 2.0 and South Korea’s Foreign Policy.” South Korean Minister of National Defense Gyu-Back Ahn delivered congratulatory remarks, and Professor Stephen Walt of Harvard University gave the keynote address.

Wong participated in the “Trump 2.0 and New Global Order” session, 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 discussion, Wong said the changing global strategic landscape presents an opportunity for the U.S.–Korea alliance. He argued that Korea’s achievements across advanced manufacturing and heavy industrial sectors position it to help elevate, deepen, and diversify the alliance beyond its traditional security and military focus toward one built on shared technology and industrial resilience.

Wong noted that Western nations have recognized the need for a critical mass of productive capacity across key manufacturing sectors — including shipbuilding and defense. He argued that the U.S.–ROK alliance should take a further step forward by deepening defense industrial cooperation and building long-term economic partnership.

Wong served as Principal Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House National Security Council prior to joining Hanwha Group, where he now oversees global strategy.

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