Novelist Min Jin Lee: From Queens to Global Acclaim

Novelist Min Jin Lee's life story began with her family's immigration from Korea to Queens, New York, in 1976. Initially finding her new surroundings difficult, marked by poverty and bullying, Lee discovered a profound refuge in the city's public library system. This early immersion in books became the bedrock of her future literary endeavors.

Lee's literary career has established her as a significant voice in contemporary fiction, drawing parallels to 19th-century social realists like George Eliot and Charles Dickens. Her novels, such as "Free Food for Millionaires" and the globally celebrated "Pachinko," meticulously chronicle the lives of Koreans and the diaspora.

Her latest novel, "American Hagwon," released this month, delves into the intense pressures surrounding higher education in Korea, Australia, and California. It examines the sacrifices parents make and the potential damage of an obsessive pursuit of academic prestige.

Lee approaches her craft with a lawyer's due diligence, conducting extensive research and interviews for each novel. Her work is characterized by its advocacy for the overlooked and its exploration of complex social and historical dilemmas, often framed through the lens of family and sacrifice.