Rising Stars: Meet Judie Young Joo Lee of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Judie Young Joo Lee.

Hi Judie Young Joo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I immigrated to Georgia, United States, in 1994 when I was 12 years old. At the time, I could only speak a handful of English words. Looking back, I think I survived those lonely years by observing people at school and escaping into my imagination at home.

I was part of the last graduating class of the Atlanta College of Art before it became part of SCAD, where I majored in Graphic Design and minored in Video Art. Pursuing both disciplines at the same time was challenging when there was barely enough time to complete even one project, but I loved every minute of it. By learning to manage my time efficiently, I was able to graduate on schedule.

To be honest, I always wanted to be a fine artist more than a designer. Even after graduation, while working at a design agency, I constantly felt that something was missing. Within just two years, I was promoted to Art Director, but around that time I made the unexpected decision to leave everything behind and move alone to South Korea, the country where I was born. Because I hadn’t left Korea by choice as a child, I had always carried a deep longing to reconnect with my roots.

That was the beginning of a new chapter. Although I looked Korean, I didn’t truly feel Korean, so I found myself living in a place that was both my homeland and, at the same time, a foreign country. I started at a design company, then expanded into freelance branding and marketing, taught as a part-time university lecturer, and worked across a variety of creative fields. Along the way, I accumulated countless experiences that no amount of money could ever buy.

Then, the castle I had spent years carefully building came crashing down through marriage and motherhood. My oldest son is autistic. Although I was born in Korea, I had never truly grown up there, so raising a child in Korea often felt unfamiliar and overwhelming. In 2017, my husband and I made the difficult decision to leave behind everything we had built in Korea and return to the United States with our children. We had to start over completely from scratch.

My son became my highest priority, and I devoted myself to finding every possible way to support him. Around that time, my husband—who also found America unfamiliar after moving here with me—decided to earn his real estate license. I decided to get mine as well, partly so we could share the same journey and better understand each other’s experiences.

Thankfully, my husband was eventually able to return to his IT career, where he still works today. As for me, I never imagined that I would become a real estate agent. Yet today, I am proud to be part of the Pentavision Team at Foundation Partners Realty. Life has a funny way of taking us places we never expected.

Just as I once balanced Graphic Design with Video Art, I now balance many different roles in my life. Above all, I am a wife to my husband and a mother to my two children. Professionally, I work as a real estate agent and freelance branding consultant. I also serve on the board of the The Korean American Business Women’s Association, the Southeast Regional Support Committee of Korean American Food for the Hungry International, host a Christian broadcasting program, and stay actively involved in a variety of community initiatives.

I honestly don’t know what I’ll be doing next, and I think that’s what makes life so exciting. Anchored by the unchanging love of my family, I enjoy embracing new experiences and growing alongside a constantly changing world.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Immigrating to the United States during my early teenage years completely changed my life. Those years were marked by an intense search for my identity. I couldn’t speak English, and because I was different, I was bullied. Looking back, those childhood memories stayed with me for many years.

Because my sense of identity was shaken, I spent much of my youth feeling lost and much of my adulthood living with anxiety. Yet, for most of my life, I found that nearly every challenge could eventually be worked through. If I took the time to reflect, find direction, and keep moving forward, there was usually a solution. It was often a matter of time rather than impossibility.

But my son was different.

The journey of raising a son with autism was never about finding a solution. It wasn’t a problem to be fixed.

More than anything, I hoped that after I am gone, my daughter would never feel that her own future had to be sacrificed because of her older brother. At the same time, I believed that while I am still here, it is my responsibility to help my son build a life where he can one day live as independently as possible, even if his path looks different from others.

That journey is still unfolding today. In the beginning, it felt like nothing but struggle—filled with uncertainty, frustration, and countless questions. Over time, however, it has become a journey filled with gratitude, love, and hope.

I’m sure the road ahead will never be easy. But one thing is certain: my son is gradually creating his own path, one step at a time. For that, I am deeply grateful.

And now, I have learned to stand firmly on my own path while walking beside him on his—encouraging him, believing in him, and cheering him on every step of the way.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a real estate advisor with Foundation Partners Realty, but my background is actually in branding, marketing, and creative strategy. For more than 20 years, I’ve helped people communicate value through thoughtful presentation, strategic positioning, and storytelling. Today, I bring those same skills into real estate.

I specialize in helping sellers position their homes to stand out in a competitive market while guiding buyers through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives with clarity and confidence. I believe real estate is about much more than transactions—it’s about understanding people, listening carefully, and creating strategies that fit each client’s unique goals.

What I’m probably best known for is combining creativity with strategy. Every home has a story, and every client has different priorities. Rather than using the same approach for everyone, I create tailored marketing and negotiation strategies that highlight each property’s strengths and help clients make informed decisions with confidence.

What I’m most proud of is the trust my clients place in me. Buying or selling a home can be emotional and overwhelming, and I take pride in being someone who stays calm, communicates honestly, and helps people move forward with confidence. At the end of the day, I want my clients to feel that they had someone genuinely looking out for their best interests—not just someone trying to close a deal.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was a very curious kid. I loved reading books, writing stories, drawing, and using my imagination. I would even read my own stories out loud and act them out, even when no one was watching. Creating stories was one of my favorite ways to spend time.

I was also fascinated by people. I loved meeting new people and hearing about their lives because I realized that everyone has a different story. No two people see the world the same way, and I found that incredibly interesting. I think that’s where my love for listening and understanding others really began.

I’ve never liked the idea of wasting the time I’ve been given. Even when I was young, I kept a journal, planned my days, and was always looking for something new to learn or try. Looking back, I think those habits shaped who I am today—they made me curious, intentional, and always eager to keep growing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Foundationpartnersrealty.com
• Instagram: judielee828
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bk1SBr6vY/?mibextid=wwXIfr