Soyeon Jeong

Soyeon "Jay" Jeong (Korean: 정소연, born February 25, 1983) is a South Korean science fiction writer, educator,  translator, and lawyer. She is the founding member of the Science Fiction Writers Union of the Republic of Korea, and has been the head of the union since December 19, 2017.[1][2]

In this Korean name, the family name is Jeong.
Soyeon Jeong
Born1983 (age 39–40)
Masan, South Korea
Pen nameJay Jeong
Occupationwriter, lawyer
NationalitySouth Korean
EducationSeoul National University (BA)
Yonsei University (JD)
Period2004–present
GenreScience fiction
Korean name
Hangul
정소연
Hanja
鄭昭延
Revised RomanizationJeong Soyeon
McCune–ReischauerChŏng Soyŏn

Life and career

Jeong was born in 1983 in Masan, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. She attended the Seoul National University, where she majored in social welfare and philosophy. She earned her JD from Yonsei Law School, Seoul, and currently resides in Seoul.

Deeply engaged in the South Korean science fiction fandom community since her late teens, she is considered an important figure in the field.[3][4] She began her career as a science fiction author in 2004, and she was one of the founding members of Webzine Mirror. She mostly translated modern American science fiction, including The Speed of Dark, Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang, The Martian Child, and Beggars in Spain.[5] As a writer, she is best known for her award-winning short story Cosmic Go. The comics version of this short story was released for free and went viral. Her short story collection Yeonghee Next Door was published in 2015.[6]

As a lawyer, she is mostly known for her advocacy activities. She is an active member of Minbyun (Lawyers for a Democratic Society).[7] Lately she is known to have begun her own scholarship foundation, Boda Initiative, which supports tertiary education for less privileged girls in Asia.[8][9]

Jeong taught science fiction writing at Munji Culture Center from 2009 to 2011. She is currently a lecturer at Changbi Academy.[10]

Awards
  • 2005 Science and Technology Creative Award (Cosmic Go)
  • 2006 Seoul National University Literary Award
  • 2017 Seoul Bar Association Commendation[11]

Works(partial)

Works in Korean
  • Cosmic Go (short story, 2005)
  • Yeonghui Next Door (Changbi, 2015; YA Book of the Year 2015)[12]

Works in translation

References
  1. "한국과학소설작가연대 대표에 정소연 작가" (Newspaper article). Yonhap News Agency. January 5, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  2. "SF, 한국에서는 콘텐츠로만 받아들여져…그 뒤에 있는 창작자들의 목소리는 배제". Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  3. "옆집의 영희 씨와 함께 지내는 방법 - 정소연의 『옆집의 영희 씨』와 한국 SF의 사고실험". Crossroads Webzine (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  4. "My World Wobbled and Changed: An Interview with Soyeon Jeong by GORD SELLAR, Clarkesworld Magazine - Science Fiction & Fantasy". Clarkesworld Magazine. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  5. "정소연 | 작가 & 작품 - 인터넷교보문고". www.kyobobook.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  6. "정소연 작가 "SF는 '지금 여기'를 가장 아름답게 이야기할 수 있는 장르" - ize". ize.co.kr. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  7. "[민변의 활동]다른 별에서 온 마녀! 변호사 적응기-정소연 변호사 인터뷰 - 민주사회를 위한 변호사모임 | 민변" (in Korean). Minbyun. 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  8. "[동아광장/정소연]안녕, 나의 친애하는 스콜라". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 2018-06-30. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  9. "[소년중앙] 작가·번역가·변호사·장학사업…'무엇이 나를 행복하게 하나' 고민". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 2018-11-12. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  10. "옆집의 SF 창작 교실 - 4기". www.changbischool.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  11. "서울지방변호사회". seoulbar.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  12. "아동청소년문학 평론 현장에서 뽑은 '올해의 책'". 네이버 블로그 | 창비 블로그 (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-09-10.
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