Joheun
Lee

Joheun Lee (Jo) is a Korean-to-English literary translator & recently, a writer(!) from Korea.

With roots in K-pop fandom and a love of subcultures, she is especially drawn to stories of desire, relationships, and identity by women and queer writers. A UX Designer by day, Jo now lives with her partner and four cats in Shanghai, China.

Repped by Ivan Mulcahy at International Creative Agency.

Works

Novel Translation

Holy Boy 성소년 by Lee Heejoo

Out on Feb 5, 2026 (Picador UK) / Feb 17, 2026 (HarverVia US)
  • One idol. Four fans. Worship’s never been bloodier. [...] More than a little unhinged, Holy Boy is an exhilarating descent into the dark side of devotion. —From the publisher
  • [...] a subversive, intricately plotted novel that explores the perils of objectification, the dark undercurrents of female desire, and the precarity of love. —From the publisher

The Forest Called You 너라는 이름의 숲 by Amil

Out on Jun 4, 2026 (Harvill Secker)
  • [...] a love letter to K-pop, romance and high school politics – a novel about staying true to our passions and loving ourselves and each other in an increasingly artificial world. —From the publisher

Writing

K-pop Spirit Academy

Out on May 7, 2026 (Farshore)
  • The young action-packed, funny K-Pop chapter book series that fans of Lottie Brooks and K-Pop Demon Hunters have been waiting for! Full of friendship, monster-fighting and being true to yourself.💖🎤🎵✨ —From the publisher

Short Story Translation

  • ‘A Butch's Review of a Sex Robot’ 어느 부치의 섹스 로봇 사용기 by Amil (The Queerphoria anthology, Verve Books, 2026)
  • 'Big Sister' 큰언니 by Jang Ami (Luna Station Quaterly Issue 064, Dec 2025)
  • ‘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:
    • The Ritual 제 by Kim Junnyung (TXTY)
    • Summer Is Just Another Season 여름은 고작 계절 by Kim Seohae (Wisdom House)
    • The Woman That I Am 나라는 여자 by Kyoungsun Lim (Maumsanchaek)
    • The Suspects 용의자들 by Jeong Haiyeon (Wisdom House)
    • The Townhouse 타운하우스 by Jeon Jiyeong (Changbi)
    • Dive 다이브 by Danyo (Changbi)
    • The Unsaid 다 하지 못한 말 by Kyoungsun Lim (Toast)
    • Juliana's Tokyo 줄리아나 도쿄 by Han Junghyun (Swimmingkkul)
    • My Angel 나의 천사 by Lee Heejoo (Minumsa)
    • Cacadu 카카듀 by Park Seolyeon (Anon Books)
  • LTI Korea Sample Translation Grant:
    • Creamy(nal) Love 크리미(널) 러브 by Lee Heejoo (Munhakdongne)
    • Creamy(nal) Love 모든 시간이 나에게 일어나 by Nahyeon Kim (EunHaeng NaMu)
    • One Day a Young Dog Came to Me 어린 개가 왔다 by Jeong Yi-hyeon (Hankyoreh Publishing)
    • Through the Darkness 어둠 뚫기 by Park Seonwu (Munhakdongne)
    • Kindly Prejudiced 선량한 차별주의자 by Jihye Kim (Changbi)
    • The Still Box 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

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 Evening Courses
  • 2023 The American Literary Translators Association Building Our Future: A Weekend of Virtual Workshops for Emerging BIPOC Translators
  • 2023 The Kenyon Review Translation Workshop

Screenplay

  • Undisclosed Project for an OTT service

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

2025
  • Hyundai Motor Company RETRACE Magazine - SONATA
2023 2022

Contact Me

Also find me on X (formerly Twitter) and my cats on Instagram