Philip Yun, Commonwealth Club World Affairs Co-CEO

Today, my guest is Philip Yun, a distinguished scholar, lawyer, and executive whose 40-year career spans government, academia, business, and philanthropy, with a focus on international security and East Asian affairs. Currently serving as Co-President and Co-CEO of Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California, Philip leads a prestigious nonpartisan forum that has shaped public discourse for over two centuries.

A key figure in U.S. foreign policy, Philip served as a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Department of State under President Bill Clinton from 1994 to 2001, contributing to high-level negotiations with North Korea, including a historic 2000 trip to Pyongyang with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Philip’s career also includes roles as a Pantech Fellow at Stanford University, Vice President at The Asia Foundation, and Executive Director of Ploughshares Fund, the largest U.S. philanthropic organization focused on nuclear nonproliferation. A frequent commentator on CNN, Fox News, and NPR, his insights have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Hill, and Foreign Policy.

On HSU Untied, we’ll explore Philip’s remarkable journey, from his early days as a lawyer to being a Fulbright Scholar in Korea to his leadership in global diplomacy, and his vision for fostering dialogue in a complex world.