Author, Documentary Filmmaker & Bicultural Identity Advocate; Author of "Still Life With Rice"; Director at Korea Academy for Educators

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Helie Lee Biography

Helie Lee is a Korean American author, speaker, and documentary filmmaker whose work encompasses memoir, social activism, and gender exploration. Lee is the author of the bestsellers "Still Life With Rice" and "In the Absence of Sun," memoirs that chronicle her family's experiences in Korea from the 1930s through the late 20th century. "In the Absence of Sun" details her attempt to rescue her uncle from North Korea. After returning to the United States following a post-college journey to Korea, Lee began writing her first book while working on television shows including "In Living Color," "Saved by the Bell," and "The Martin Lawrence Show."

Lee's work has established her as a voice on bicultural identity and human rights. As an author, Lee has been featured on "Nightline," CNN, Associated Press, NBC Nightly News, NPR, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, People Magazine, the "Today Show," and "Oprah." Cosmopolitan Magazine recognized Lee as a "Freedom Fighter" in its "Fun Fearless Female" competition. Her writing has also appeared in Mademoiselle, Essence, and KoreAm Journal.

Beyond her writing, Lee advocates for North Korean human rights, lecturing nationally on bicultural heritage and issues facing North Korean refugees. She was invited to testify at a Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Immigration. Lee is the co-founder of The Korea Academy for Educators, an honorary board member of the San Diego Asian American Film Festival, and a board member of the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. She is also a member of PEN, an organization supporting freedom of expression and literary culture.

Lee has spoken at academic institutions including Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Northeastern University, Amherst, the Korean American Coalition, KASCON, and The Museum of Tolerance. She serves as director of the Korea Academy for Educators and as an associate professor at the Seoul Institute of the Arts in Korea.

In the documentary film "Macho Like Me," Lee explores gender and society by transforming her appearance to experience life as a man. The project, which combines monologue with documentary footage, examines how society treats men and women differently. "Macho Like Me" has been presented at the San Diego Asian Film Festival and the DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival.

BOOK Helie Lee

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/13/2026.

  • How do I book Helie Lee to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Helie Lee for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Helie Lee, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Helie Lee or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Helie Lee

    Speaking fees for Helie Lee, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Helie Lee are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Helie Lee, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Helie Lee speak about?

  • Where does Helie Lee travel from?

    Helie Lee generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Helie Lee’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Helie Lee for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Helie Lee for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Helie Lee or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Helie Lee is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Helie Lee for your event is available upon request. Helie Lee generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Nadya Okamoto, Naila Amin, Nonette Royo, Arthur Garrison and Aditi Mayer. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Helie Lee for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP