Skip to content

Minjae Lee

Minjae Lee (Korean: 민재; born October 1, 2015) was a Korean-Chinese pianist from Tianjin who later lived in Baltimore. He used limited speech and AAC, a customized manual wheelchair with power-assist, and extensive medical and daily-living support. After winning the senior piano division at the Rome International Piano Competition, he developed lasting relationships with Jacob Keller, Charlie Rivera, and the wider CRATB community.

Early Life and Education

Minjae was raised in Tianjin by Nari and Joon-Ho Lee, alongside his older sister, Minseo. He attended a weekday school for students with complex disabilities and received supplemental music training through Tianjin Juilliard Pre-College.

Minjae was frequently bullied and tricked by peers who exploited his trust and cognitive delays. His family worked to preserve his social connections while helping him recognize unsafe behavior.

At seventeen, Minjae entered the Rome International Piano Competition in late 2032 and won first place in its senior piano division. He met Jacob Keller, one of his musical heroes, during the competition. A severe post-competition health crash contributed to the Lee family’s decision to pursue specialized medical care in Baltimore. The family completed a lengthy approvals and preparation process during late 2033 and physically relocated in early 2034.

Music

Minjae trained as a classical pianist and used music as an important form of expression when speech was difficult. His health required short, flexible practice and recording sessions with frequent rest.

He later recorded the album ‘’Still Here’’ with Jacob and CRATB. The album was released in January 2036.

Health, Disability, and Access

Main article: Cerebral Palsy Reference

Main article: POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Reference

Main article: Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Reference

Minjae had spastic cerebral palsy, autism, POTS, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, gastroparesis, anxiety, moderate global developmental delay, and severe chronic fatigue. These conditions affected movement, stamina, seizure safety, digestion, sensory processing, speech, and daily-living tasks.

He primarily used a customized manual wheelchair with power-assist and later tilt-in-space support. When medically stable, he could walk only very short distances inside the home. His family adjusted physical therapy and activity around his energy and seizure risk.

Minjae used pull-ups or briefs because bowel and bladder awareness and control were inconsistent. On better days he managed with limited help; on worse days he requested assistance. Overwhelming pain or sensory distress could lead him to bite himself or engage in other self-injury. His support team responded by reducing demands, protecting him from injury, and helping him communicate the source of distress.

Minjae experienced severe, disabling chronic fatigue as part of his complex medical presentation. He did not have a separate ME/CFS diagnosis.

Communication

Minjae spoke in short, simplified phrases affected by cerebral palsy and a stutter. He also used an AAC application on an iPad and nonword vocalizations when speech failed. His receptive understanding was stronger than unfamiliar people often assumed.

Korean and Mandarin were his principal spoken languages, and he knew only a small number of English words when he first entered the United States. He gradually became fluent in English, although Korean, Mandarin, and AAC remained easier under stress, fatigue, or reduced speech access. He called Logan Weston, Charlie Rivera, Jacob Keller, Peter Liu, Ezra Cruz, Elliot Landry, and Riley Mercer ‘’hyung’‘, the Korean kinship term he used for these chosen older-sibling relationships. His use of the traditionally male term for Riley was specific to their established bond rather than a general rule for people of every gender.

His voice was high, soft, and nearly unbroken. He stood approximately 5‘1” and weighed around ninety pounds, with a very thin build, thick straight black hair, and small hands.

Personality

Minjae was determined, stubborn, emotionally sensitive, and highly trusting. He smiled readily and believed people generally meant well, a disposition that helped him form connections but also increased his vulnerability to manipulation. With people who knew him well, he could be sassy and sarcastic. When ill, he could become tearful, irritable, or physically clingy.

He expressed preferences and boundaries through speech, AAC, facial expression, and gesture. His need for substantial support did not eliminate his ability to make meaningful choices about relationships, activities, rest, and care.

Family and Core Relationships

Nari, Joon-Ho, and Minseo Lee

Nari coordinated much of Minjae’s daily care and understood his subtle signs of pain, fatigue, and overload. Joon-Ho managed medical advocacy, insurance, and the logistics of the family’s international move. Minseo supported Minjae as his older sister and often helped interpret his communication in unfamiliar settings.

Minh Tran

Main article: Minjae Lee and Minh Tran

Minjae knew Minh Tran from early childhood through the friendship between Nari and Mei Tran. Their friendship became a teenage romance. Minh accompanied the Lees through the Rome competition and their early-2034 move, accepted Minjae’s proposal on December 27, 2034, supported his communication and medical access, and became his wife in early fall 2036.

CRATB Chosen Siblings

Charlie Rivera became an especially close older-brother and mentor figure because he shared Minjae’s experiences with POTS and gastroparesis. Logan, Jacob, Peter, Ezra, Elliot, and Riley also became trusted older-sibling figures whom Minjae called ‘’hyung’‘. Jacob’s connection began at the Rome competition. Logan first became involved through a remote consultation during Minjae’s post-Rome health crisis, helped coordinate the transfer and receiving care, and grew closer to Minjae after the family’s relocation. The other relationships developed through Minjae’s integration into the CRATB chosen-family network.

Caleb Ross

Main article: Caleb Ross and Minjae Lee

Minjae met Caleb Ross through a video call arranged by their mothers in early 2036. They became close friends through regular calls and later in-person visits. This friendship began before the release of Minjae’s documentary and was not caused by it.

Day Programs and Community Access

After the move, Minjae tried multiple day programs. At least two placements failed because staff used infantilizing approaches, ignored his communication, or treated medically necessary rest as avoidance. By early 2037, he and his support worker Ari had found a program that better respected his communication and medical limits.

Public Work

Minjae participated in the 2037 documentary ‘’I Am Still Me: A Minjae Lee Story’‘, directed by Julian Reyes and produced by Kayla Rossi. He wanted the documentary to include difficult aspects of his life rather than presenting only uplifting material. Minh appeared as his wife and co-subject.

Memorable Quotes

No verified exact quotation is currently available.

Characters Supporting Characters Living Characters Korean Characters Chinese Characters Disabled Characters Chronic Illness Characters Wheelchair Users Neurodivergent Characters Autistic Characters Musicians Pianists Lee Family