David I. Steinberg

David I. Steinberg, who twice served as the country representative for the Asia Foundation's Korea Office, has died Thursday. He was 96.

Known as the top Asia policy expert focusing on Korea, Myanmar and Southeast Asia, he led over two tenures at the Asia Foundation's Korea Office, from 1963 to 1968 and from 1994 to 1998. He was also a columnist for The Korea Times.

Before coming to Korea, he also served as country representative of the Asia Foundation's Myanmar Office from 1958 to 1962. He worked for the U.S. National Security Agency during the 1950-53 Korean War.

He also served for almost two decades in the U.S. government as an Asia expert, including at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

In 1990, Steinberg joined Georgetown University as a professor of Korean studies and directed Georgetown University's Asia studies program from 1997 to 2007.

He wrote 14 books, including "Stone Mirror: Reflections on Contemporary Korea" (2002).

He is survived by his wife, Anne Myongsook Lee, two sons and two grandchildren.