Direction, Not Speed: A research fellowship in Japan, Motherhood and Redefining Legal Career Success with Dajeong Lee
Dajeong Lee is a partner specialising in dispute resolution and insolvency, currently in Japan as a research fellow at Waseda University. Dajeong's story is about the moments no one plans for. With wisdom drawn from jazz music, long-distance running, and the rhythm of daily life in Japan, Dajeong offers a refreshingly honest perspective on ambition, identity, and what it really means to keep moving forward through career detours and parenthood.
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!
In this episode you’ll hear:
How navigating three major life changes at once, tested her in completely different ways
Why Dajeong sees her Waseda research fellowship as an investment in herself, not stepping away from her partner level legal career
Her shift from sprinter mindset to long-distance runner mindset: why endurance now matters more to her than speed
Her favourite author and other fun facts
About Dajeong
Dajeong Lee is a Korean lawyer and a partner in the Litigation Practice Group at Yulchon LLC, one of Korea’s leading law firms.
She majored in Communications at Ewha Womans University and received her J.D. from Yonsei University Law School. Since joining Yulchon in 2018, she has focused primarily on insolvency and restructuring, financial disputes, and corporate litigation, representing clients in a wide range of civil and commercial matters.
She is currently a visiting researcher at Waseda University in Japan, where she is conducting comparative research on insolvency law in Korea and Japan.
After giving birth to her first child in late 2025, she has been balancing motherhood, legal research, and her career as a lawyer while living in Tokyo.
Outside of work, she enjoys reading mystery novels, watching baseball, and traveling. She is also interested in learning and growing through new languages, cultures, and environments.
Connect with Dajeong
Law firm contact: https://www.yulchon.com/en/professionals/professionals-view/djlee23264/lee-dajeong.do
Links
Keigo Higashino novels: https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%B4%8B%E6%9B%B8-Keigo-Higashino/s?rh=n%3A52033011%2Cp_27%3AKeigo%2BHigashino
Connect with Catherine
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair
Subscribe using your favourite podcast player.
Apple Podcasts|Spotify| Breaker|RadioPublic
We would love to hear from you!
You can record your feedback by clicking on the button below.
By recording a message you are acknowledging and agree that we may share your message with our subscribers and community on social media or other media. Thank you!
Lawyer on Air was the winner of the Bronze Award in the “Best Podcast by a Kiwi Abroad Category” in the New Zealand Podcast Awards 2021.
Lawyer on Air has been nominated for “Best Business Podcast” in the Quill Podcast Awards, 2022! Thank you to all our supporters who voted for the podcast!