{
  "id": 10122726,
  "title": "We are the authors of our own story",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/we-are-the-authors-of-our-own-story-10122726",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-27T03:17:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20260927/we-are-the-authors-of-our-own-story"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Last week, I had the privilege of witnessing the 2026 Class Day address given by Lee Min Jin, a globally recognized author of the acclaimed novel Pachinko. Her powerful reflections on the Korean diaspora, spanning from the era of Japanese colonial rule to the present day, left a profound impact on me. Through her celebrated work, readers around the world gained a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by Koreans during those turbulent times in Japan and in their own homeland. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of the phrase \"Time is our teacher,\" drawing upon ancient Greek philosophical ideas - chronos, which represents the passage of time, and kairos, which refers to the crucial moment. She encouraged us to cherish those pivotal moments that define our lives, rather than constantly rushing through life's challenges. As I have aged, I have come to realize that the most lasting lessons we learn are not from the haste of our actions, but from recognizing the moments that truly shape our identities. For Lee, one such defining moment was attending a tea gathering at Yale University, where she learned about a Korean Japanese boy who tragically took his own life after enduring relentless bullying. This devastating incident became the catalyst that inspired her to write the poignant novel Pachinko. I admire her unwavering resilience, as she dedicated 38 years of her life to conducting extensive research, conducting interviews, and delving into the complex history of the Korean diaspora.",
  "summary": "Last week, I watched the 2026 Class Day address delivered by Lee Min Jin, the world-renowned author of \"Pachinko.\" Her reflections on the Korean diaspora, spanning from Japanese colonialism to the present, resonated deeply with me. Thanks to her celebrated novel, readers worldwide came to understand the hardships Koreans endured both in Japan and in Korea during those colonial years. Her speech…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "We are the authors of our own story",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/we-are-the-authors-of-our-own-story",
        "published": "2026-09-27T02:57:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}