The International Council on Korean Studies (ICKS) was founded in March 1996 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the advancement of Korean studies and related academic and professional research on Korean affairs in the United States and abroad. The Council promotes Korean studies and encourages dialogue on topics ranging from inter-Korean relations and reunification to the experiences of Korean Americans, through conferences, seminars, publications, and other relevant activities.

ICKS was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1996, and its inaugural leadership included Dr. Woong B. Lee (Chairman of the Board), Dr. Ilpyong J. Kim (President), and Dr. Hugo W. Kim (Secretary General). That same year, ICKS held its first conference in Arlington, Virginia under the theme “Two Koreas in World Affairs”—an event that brought together 28 papers and nearly 200 participants. Selected papers were published in the inaugural issue of the International Journal of Korean Studies (IJKS) in 1997, with support from the Korea Society.

Despite limited early resources, ICKS focused its efforts on building a solid foundation, maintaining annual conferences, and consistent journal publication. Over the years, the organization has partnered with universities, think tanks, and civic institutions to convene forums exploring critical issues in Korean studies, fostering both academic and generational exchange.