Joheun
Lee

Joheun Lee (Jo) is a literary translator from Korea who has been working as a Korean-to-English freelance translator for several commercial projects.

A long-time fan of K-pop and many other subcultures, she finds herself drawn to the works on related topics and speculative fiction, especially by women and queer writers. A UX Designer by day, Jo now lives with her partner and four cats in Shanghai, China.

Repped by Edwina de Charnacé at Mulcahy Sweeney Associates.

Works

Novel Translation

  • Holy Boy 성소년 by Lee Heejoo (Harper Via US; Picador UK, 2026)
  • The Forest Called You 너라는 이름의 숲 by Amil (Harvill Secker, 2026)

Short Story Translation

  • ‘A Butch's Review of a Sex Robot’ 어느 부치의 섹스 로봇 사용기 by Amil (The Queerphoria anthology, Verve Books, 2026)
  • ‘The End of the World’ 세상의 끝 by Lee Yuri (Exchanges Fall '24 issue, 2024)
  • ‘Gas Station’ 주유소 by Jang Jeong-hee (The 2024 5th Asian Literature Festival Anthology, 2024)
  • ‘The Centaur Flies’ 켄타우로스, 날다 by Kim Kyeong-hee (The 2024 5th Asian Literature Festival Anthology, 2024)

Essay Translation

Grants

*rights and samples available for the works below*

  • Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency Sample Translation Grant:
    • My Angel 나의 천사 by Lee Heejoo (Minumsa)
    • Cacadu 카카듀 by Park Seolyeon (Anon Books)
  • LTI Korea Sample Translation Grant:
    • Through the Darkness (tentative) 어둠 뚫기 by Park Seonwu (Munhakdongne)
    • Kindly Prejudiced 선량한 차별주의자 by Jihye Kim (Changbi)
    • Mijeong's Box (tentative) 미정의 상자 by Soyeon Jeong (Rabbit Hole)
    • The Evidence of the Voices 목소리의 증명 by Danyo (Wisdom House)
    • Tangeum 탄금 by Jang Da-hye (Book Recipe)
    • mymy by Kang Jin-a (Vookda)
    • Terrarium 테라리움 by Lee Aram (Vookda)

Residency

Selective Workshops/Mentorship

  • 2024 British Centre for Literary Translation Summer School Korean strand
  • 2023-24 National Centre for Writing Emerging Translator Mentorships Mentee in Korean - mentored by Clare Richards
  • 2023-24 Literature Translation Institute of Korea Translation Academy
  • 2023 The American Literary Translators Association Building Our Future: A Weekend of Virtual Workshops for Emerging BIPOC Translators

K-Pop / Entertainment

Event Subtitles

Concert/VCR Scripts

  • 2025 Babymonster Hello Monsters World Tour
  • 2023 ATEEZ THE FELLOWSHIP : BREAK THE WALL
  • CIX 2nd WORLD TOUR 〈Save me, Kill me〉
  • Mnet GREAT SEOUL INVASION Final
  • 2022 SUNMI THE World Tour 'GOOD GIRL GONE MAD'
  • 2022 LOONA 1st WORLD TOUR [LOONATHEWORLD]
  • 2022 SVT 6TH FAN MEETING ‘SEVENTEEN in CARAT LAND’
  • Stray Kids 2ND #LoveSTAY [SKZ CHOCOLATE FACTORY]

Webtoons

Mostly worked with Fantasy & Wuxia genre, interested in working in BL/GL

Industry / Corporate

2023 2022

Academic

Abstracts, presentations, and lecture subtitles in various fields, including: Art, Art Therapy, Behavioral Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Education, Entrepreneurship, Film Studies, Fisheries, Food Culture, Humanities, Social Welfare, etc.

Other Specializations

IT, web, app / IR, pitch decks, presentations / Company Profiles / Lyrics / Cosmetics / Academic records / etc.

Contact Me

Also find me on X (formerly Twitter)