Jiye Seong-Yu

I’m a strategic communications professional 8 years experience in the human rights sector, combined with a background in Korean-English interpreting and translation for corporate, government, and nonprofit clients.

CO-FOUNDER & SPOKESPERSON

In 2020, I co-founded Asian Voices Europe, a nonprofit that successfully lobbied the European Commission to recognize anti-Asian racism as a standalone category of hate crime and discrimination by August 2022. We are also the first Asian-led organization to consult the European Commission on their Anti-Racism Action Plans & Strategy.

Based on the belief that communication is key to starting dialogue, and that dialogue is fundamental to changing the world, I combine data, cultural sensitivity, and gentle curiosity to build campaigns, essays, and workshops where diverse worldviews meet and strategize to take action.

Behind this work is my background as an intersectional feminist researcher: My MA thesis on millennial feminist activism in South Korea [link] has been cited by ARTE [Français] [Deutsch] and its and accompanying blogpost on Real Koreans [link] has been used as source material at NYU’s MA in Gender and Sexuality Studies. 

Photo by Guus Dubbelman, De Volkskrant

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMUNICATOR

I’m a copywriter, editor, and linguist (translation/consecutive interpreting) with 8 years’ full-time work experience in the human rights sector. I was the project manager for a program that won the 2020 Webby’s People’s Voice Award for Best Cause-Related Campaign, led communications for a conference whose newsletter and social media engagement I grew between 35% and 200%, and have worked at three international development & human rights conferences.

In a world of many Englishes, I aim to produce content tailored to the global nonprofit audience, blaancing clarity and cultural sensitivity.

My working languages are: English A, Korean A, French C. I have working knowledge of Dutch (C1), German (B1), and Spanish (B1). I speak basic Japanese, and read some classical Chinese and Latin.

Photo by Mafalda Rakoš for 75 Years UN, Humanity House.

TRANSLATOR & INTERPRETER

I’ve translated, interpreted, and proofread 300,000 words for 31 clients across the globe since 2014, including:

  • AkzoNobel, Hyundai E&C, Oracle Korea, Samsung Electro-Machinery,
  • NAVER Papago, YG Entertainment, Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Fondation Goodplanet
  • Charmzone Cosmetics, Farfetch, NARS Cosmetics/Shideido
  • Citibank, Korea Development Bank

As of 2025, I focus on strategizing media and fundraising campaigns from the Korean/queer/feminist/nonprofit sector, and occasionally provide interpreting services, for clients including:

  • Billytown Den Haag, WEST Den Haag, Seoul Museum of Art
  • Coda Korea (코다코리아), NAUH (나우), PINKS (연분홍치마)

Photo courtesy of Oslo Freedom Forum. Interpreting for North Korean human rights activist Ji Seong-ho and journalist Lilian Luciano