Min Jin Lee

Korean author Min Jin Lee is the bestselling writer of American Hagwon.

Her name

Lee pronounces her name the way her family intended.

Profanity

Lee uses profanity to condemn racial stereotypes about asian americans.

“I sat there in the press box, and I remember thinking, this whole idea that asian americans have shitty personalities, that’s really shitty”

American Hagwon

Lee’s third novel follows a korean family’s struggle with education.

“The cost doesn’t matter. We all know you have to pay up for the best coaching”

Hagwons

Korean hagwons are multibillion-dollar test prep academies.

“thriving on anxiety”

Education costs

Hagwons boost test scores but strain family finances.

“The more work I would do, the more work I would be given”

Family crisis

John loses job after betrayal, family moves to california.

“John takes up a physically demanding job at a fish-fry restaurant”

Mido’s sacrifice

Mido pauses college to work at hagwon for family.

“Mido, the youngest and only daughter, pauses her college education and works at an american hagwon”

Hagwon community

Hagwons provide korean kids with community and childcare.

“They can also function as de facto daycare centers”

AI anxiety

Lee links hagwons to ai-driven educational fears.

“There’s an anxiety that the modern person feels right now”

Korean immigrant

Lee’s parents owned a jewelry store in manhattan.

“My parents aren’t pushy”

Career shift

Lee quit law after diagnosis to write novels.

“I don’t want to die working this way”

Healthcare struggle

Lee and husband navigate coobra healthcare after job loss.

“Absolutely nobody would give me interviews”

Family love

Lee says love determines life purpose over wealth.

“The inability to live with your truthful self determines the tragedy of your own life”