Lianna Leung, a rising junior at Stanford University, is pursuing a degree in international relations with a focus on East Asia. From Berkeley, California, she is passionate about human rights and international law. She has explored these interests through public sector internships, including a recent position at International Bridges to Justice in Geneva, where she supported public defenders and organized human rights awareness initiatives. Her research primarily focuses on China’s expanding geopolitical influence, and she is working with the Hoover Institution to examine Chinese media influence in Africa.
Attending last year’s Stanford College Freedom Forum, she had the opportunity to hear the testimonies of North Korean defectors, which deepened her interest in the human rights crisis on the Korean Peninsula. At HRNK, she hopes to further investigate the dynamics of Chinese support for the Kim regime and expand her understanding of regional security and humanitarian issues.
In the coming year, Lianna will continue her studies at Stanford and participate in a study abroad program at Peking University in Beijing. Through both academic and professional experiences, she aspires to work at the intersection of policy, law, and global governance, advancing efforts to promote justice and human rights on a global scale.