{
  "id": 20192579,
  "title": "Min Jin Lee on \"American Hagwon\" and writing \"social novels\"",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/min-jin-lee-on-american-hagwon-and-writing-social-novels",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T15:21:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/min-jin-lee-on-american-hagwon-and-writing-social-novels/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Min Jin Lee, an acclaimed author known for her social novels, discusses her latest work, \"American Hagwon,\" and her experiences as a Korean immigrant in the United States. Lee's previous novel, \"Pachinko,\" sold over two million copies in the U.S., but initially struggled to gain traction, eventually becoming a bestseller after receiving critical acclaim.\n\n\"American Hagwon\" is the third installment in Lee's \"The Diaspora Quartet,\" a series exploring the migration of Koreans worldwide. The novel delves into education, focusing on the prevalence of for-profit learning centers, or \"hagwons,\" in both Korea and the U.S. Lee conducted extensive interviews with Koreans, highlighting the crucial role of education in their lives.\n\nRaised in a blue-collar neighborhood in Queens, Lee faced shyness and struggles in her youth but eventually found success in the Ivy League and a career in law. However, a liver disease diagnosis led her to leave her high-paying job and pursue writing, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and societal reflection. Lee's characters in \"American Hagwon\" experience upheaval when they relocate to America, prompting questions about the true value of education and personal transformation.",
  "summary": "The Korean-American novelist and bestselling author of \"Pachinko\" talks about her latest book, \"American Hagwon,\" part of her series chronicling the migration of Koreans around the world.",
  "key_points": [
    "Min Jin Lee writes social novels, including American Hagwon",
    "American Hagwon explores hagwons, for-profit Korean learning centers",
    "Lee draws from personal experiences as Korean immigrant in US"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}