Eunkoo Lee is Co-Founder and Co-President at Freedom Speakers International (formerly the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center). She is responsible for running the organization’s behind-the-scenes work and staying in contact with refugees to learn about their needs and experiences within the program.

She is an expert and advocate for North Korean human rights, North Korean refugee integration and capacity building.

Prior to FSI, Eunkoo was a Manager at Volunteering Korea (2016-2017) where she worked on a global development cooperation project in Mongolia and oversaw logistics for iteration of the the <IAVE World Volunteer Conference>

As a Researcher at the Education Support Center for North Korean Migrants under KEDI* (2010-2016), she focused on analyzing (a) the integration process of both North and South Korean education systems during/post- reunification; (b) education statistics of Youth North Korean refugees in South Korea and education institutions in North Korea; and (c) the capabilities of former North Korean teachers living in South Korea. She was Research Team Lead at the North Korean Rights Data Base Center (2005-2009) where she managed data collection, liaised with overseas funding organizations and published research outputs.

In 2018, Eunkoo was selected to take part in the International Visitor Leadership Program organized by the U.S. Department of State, a premier professional exchange program for current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience. Also she received a work excellence award from Ministry of Education in 2012

She is currently a PhD candidate majoring in international relations at Ewha Womens University, South Korea. Her research interest areas include North Korean refugees` integration policy, North Korean human rights and North Korean refugee English education.

When she is not working, Eunkoo enjoys watching sports, especially baseball, and spending time with her family.

Select Publications

•  Lee, Eunkoo et, al, 2014, A study on North Korean Defector Teacher`s Understanding of South Korean Education, Seoul: Journal of Korean Education 41(1), 231-258
• Lee, Eunkoo et. al, 2008, Analysis of North Korean Human Rights References, Seoul: NKDB
• Lee, E. et. al, 2008, White Paper on North Korean Human Rights 2008, Seoul: NKDB
• Lee, E., 2008, Supporting of the Settlement System in South Korea compared with Foreign Countries.
• Freedom Discussion, September, 2008, Seoul: Korean Freedom League, PP.170~174.
• Lee, E., 2008, Introduction to References on Human Rights in North Korea, Freedom Discussion, May, 2008, Seoul: Korean Freedom League, PP.106~110.
• Lee, E., 2008, The Actual Condition of Human Rights in North Korea as seen through the Political Prison Camp Experience. Freedom Discussion, March, 2008, Seoul: Korean Freedom League, PP.105~109.
• Lee, E. et. al, 2007, White Paper on North Korean Human Rights Statistics, Seoul: NKDB
• Lee, E.,2007, The Living Conditions of North Korean Defectors in China and Reasons for Coming to South Korea, Freedom Discussion, December, 2007, Seoul: Korean Freedom League,PP.117~123.
• Lee, E., 2007, International Society Pressure for Improving Human Rights of North Korean,
• Freedom discussion, June 2007, Seoul: Korean Freedom League, PP.96~101.
• Lee, E., 2006, How can we support North Korean Women Living in South Korea?
• Freedom discussion, October, 2006, Seoul: Korean Freedom League, PP.90~95.