The U.S-Korea Institute at SAIS is part of an extensive program which began in 2006 to make SAIS a hub of Korea-related activities in the Washington, D.C., area. The purpose of the institute is to increase information and understanding of Korea and Korean affairs in the U.S. by producing and publishing innovative research on Korea, inter-Korean affairs, Korean and regional relations and U.S.-Korean affairs; educating and informing students, scholars, policymakers, business and NGO leaders; and promoting constructive interaction to inform U.S. policy on issues related to the Korean peninsula.