Steven Sungyong Heo is the visionary founder and CEO of Africa Insight, a premier civil society organization dedicated to fostering international cooperation and advocacy since its inception in 2013 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. He has extensive experience as an international cooperation practitioner, having lived in Tanzania and Senegal for nearly four years and worked with various organizations, including non-governmental organizations, UN-Habitat, and governmental bodies. He has traveled extensively across Africa, experiencing diverse regions and cultures to understand the continent’s multifaceted nature, amassing over 15 years of experience focused on African regions and international cooperation.
Steven has been instrumental in reshaping the narrative of Africa within Korean society and promoting mutual cooperation. He deeply contemplates Africa’s perspectives, works hand in hand with Africans, and is committed to understanding and representing African viewpoints. He leads transformative initiatives with dedicated and inspiring colleagues at Africa Insight, such as the Seoul Africa Festival, Korea’s largest annual celebration of African culture, the UNESCO ESD-certified Ubuntu Africa Global Citizenship Education project, and the Africa Young Entrepreneurs Support (Y.E.S) Project in Kenya, which fosters young social innovators. Additionally, he contributes his expertise to research and policy recommendations on enhancing cooperation and raising awareness between South Korea and the African continent. His work exemplifies the philosophy of “Ubuntu - I am who I am because of who we all are,” striving to bridge cultures and foster global unity.
He currently serves as a member of the evaluation committees for affiliated organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Steven is also the author of Tanzania as it is and the lead translator of Design for the Other 90%. He engages in approximately 50 activities annually, including lectures, appearances, consultations, and advisory roles at various institutions such as government agencies, schools, and private organizations, focusing on Africa-related topics such as global citizenship, cultural diversity, civil society organizations, and international cooperation. This extensive engagement has led to appearances on Korean broadcasting programs such as EBS1, MBC, KBS, and ArirangTV.
For inquiries, please contact: steven.heo@africainsight.org.
