'Love at Twenty-Three, Success at Forty-Nine' Joan Lee Passes Away

A Legend in the PR Industry and Bestselling Author... Passed Away at 77 in the US on the 16th
Also Known for Overcoming a 26-Year Age Gap in Marriage to a Catholic Priest

Joan Lee, founder of Star Communication, passed away on the 16th (local time) in Los Angeles, USA. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung]

Joan Lee, author of the bestseller book "Love at Twenty-Three, Success at Forty-Nine," founder of Star Communication and a legend in the PR industry, as well as former chairperson of the board at Women’s Newspaper, passed away on the 16th (local time) at her home in Los Angeles, USA, according to Women’s Newspaper on the 17th. She was 77 years old.

Joan Lee served as PR manager at the Chosun Hotel, Asia regional president of the international women’s executive club ZONTA, senior vice chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce, and president of the foreign PR firm Burson-Marsteller. She also founded Korea’s first PR specialized company, Star Communication.

While a student at Sogang University, she became famous for marrying Father Kenneth Edward Killoren (Korean name: Gilloyeon), the founder and first dean of the university, in a love that transcended age, religion, and nationality.

At the time, 23-year-old Joan Lee and her 49-year-old mentor left the school and the Catholic Church to move to the United States, where they successfully married after obtaining difficult permission from the Vatican. Mr. Killoren passed away in 1986.

After overcoming poverty and hardship, raising two daughters, and achieving success in both work and family, she published two books in 1994, "Love at Twenty-Three, Success at Forty-Nine," which contained her love story and business experiences, drawing great attention.

Joan Lee suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 2002, and her health deteriorated due to kidney disease. Since 2012, she had been living in the United States with her eldest daughter’s family. Her last visit to Korea was on June 2nd at the publication celebration of her memoir "Gratitude," where she expressed thanks together with her two daughters.

The funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. (local time) on the 22nd at St. Agnes Korean Catholic Church.

Survived by her eldest daughter, Angela Seongmi Lee, CEO of CJ E&M America, and her second daughter, Amy Hyunmi Lee.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.