J. Julianne Lee (Jihyun Julianne Lee) is a publisher, contemplative practitioner, and philanthropist dedicated to exploring how the wisdom of spiritual traditions can enrich contemporary life and contribute to a more humane, thoughtful, and meaningful future.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Julianne spent many years in the United States, where she completed most of her education. She attended Concord Academy in Massachusetts, earned her BA from Brown University, and her MA from Harvard University. Her studies also included time in France and Korea.
Julianne began her professional career as a journalist and news anchor at SBS, one of Korea's leading television networks. In 1994, she became the first female journalist in Korea to serve as the solo anchor of a prime-time news hour.
Following her graduate studies at Harvard University, Julianne returned to Korea to enter public service, joining the Presidential Office of the Roh Moo-Hyun Administration. She served as the first and youngest Presidential Secretary and Spokesperson for Foreign Press Affairs, and also became the first Spokesperson of the National Security Council of Korea.
After her government service, she returned to broadcasting as the host of Korea Now, an English-language current affairs program on Arirang TV. She later served as Senior Advisor at RBS Bank & Securities Korea.
Across more than two decades of leadership roles spanning media, government, and finance, Julianne came to recognize that many of the challenges facing society are not merely political, economic, or technological. They are also questions of human consciousness, values, and culture. Drawing on a lifelong interest in spiritual and contemplative traditions, this realization inspired her to devote the next chapter of her work to exploring how their wisdom can be integrated into everyday life—cultivating greater presence, meaning, and compassion, and ultimately shaping the way we live, lead, and contribute to society.
She published Ars Vitae, a limited-edition publication series that explores what it means to live well through the lenses of philosophy, contemplative wisdom, culture, and the human search for meaning.
Extending this inquiry beyond the written page, she co-founded Krueger & Lee with her husband, Christian, a Swiss-based non-profit organization dedicated to exploring how contemplative wisdom can be meaningfully integrated into contemporary life and leadership. Through dialogues, forums, retreats, and educational programs, the organization creates spaces for inquiry and practice around the art of living well and the cultivation of a more thoughtful and compassionate society.
Their shared commitment to a compassionate and flourishing society also extends to philanthropy. Through the Krüger Foundation, Julianne and Christian support children in need, provide medical care to disadvantaged communities, and deliver emergency relief to refugees and victims of conflict and natural disasters in various parts of the world.
In recognition of her distinctive professional path, Julianne was named a Young Global Leader and New Asian Leader by the World Economic Forum, and a Next Generation Leader by the Korea Foundation. She previously served on the board of the Korea Foundation, and is currently a board member of the World Meditation Foundation.
Julianne and her husband Christian divide their time between Switzerland and Thailand. Her life is shaped by contemplative practice, walks in the Engadin mountains, and a deep appreciation for handmade crafts and Asian tea—simple pleasures that reflect her enduring interest in presence, beauty, and the art of living well.