Ji-Yeoun You was born in South Korea. At the age of five, she started playing the piano, and five years later, she had her debut with Mozart’s „Krönungskonzert“. While being a student at the renowned Yewon Arts School in Seoul, she won all important national youth contests such as Chosun, Ewha, Hankook and Samic.
In 1995, she continued her musical education in Berlin, where she studied with Laszlo Simon at the „Universität der Künste“ and, after switching to the „Hochschule für Musik ‚Hanns Eisler‘“, with Klaus Bäßler and Georg Sava. In parallel, she participated in master classes by Daniel Barenboim, Klaus Hellwig, Hans Leygraf, Menahem Pressler, Wolfram Rieger and Elisso Wirssaladze.
During her studies, she received a scholarship for Young Artists from the “Robert Schumann Haus”, Zwickau, and a scholarship for the promotion of young artists (NaFöG) from the senate of Berlin. In 2005, she finished her studies by passing the concert exam with distinction.
Ji-Yeoun You became famous beyond the borders of Korea and Germany, when she was awarded first prizes in numerous international competitions such as the International Chopin contest in Göttingen, Germany; the „Konzerteum contest“ in Athens, Greece; the G.B. Viotti International Music Competition in Vercelli, Italy; the international Johannes Brahms competition in Pörtschach, Austria; and the International Young Musicians Platform in Bromsgrove, England. Winning the Berlin Piano Contest in 2004, she performed the Wanderer Fantasy by Franz Schubert in the final concert which was recorded by the broadcasting station „Kulturradio rbb“.
Ji-Yeoun You gave solo recitals in Berlin, Edinburgh, London, Paris and Seoul. As soloist, she played in concerts of several orchestras such as the Berlin Symphony orchestra or the Brandenburg Symphony orchestra. At the Musica Nova Festival Glasgow and the Festival Bolzano, she had performances as invited artist.
Besides her solo activities, she worked together with various chamber music formations. In 2005, under the close guidance of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Wolfram Rieger, she began to deeply engage in Lied accompaniment.
Ji-Yeoun You is teaching at the Berlin University of the Arts as well as at the University of Music “Carl Maria von Weber”, Dresden. In recognition of her contributions to culture she was awarded the Freedom of the City of Yeosu, her hometown.