Book · 2026 · Fiction
American Hagwon
- mentions
- 8
- people
- 4
- podcast
- 1
- episodes
- 3
- recommendations
- 3
It's titled American Hagwon, and it's the result of almost a decade's worth of work. It is will eventually be a four-part thematic series exploring Korea and the Korean diaspora.
What they say about it
- Exploring themes of education“what is education”3
- Discussing the new novel“author of the new novel”2
The best things said about it
I adored this book. I also feel it is a flowering tree and all of that.
This conversation we just had was wonderful and delightful. Minjin Lee, author of the new novel American Hagwan. This was great as always. Thank you for coming on.
This is American Hagwan by none other than Minjin Lee of Pachinko fame.
Well, I wrote about education and what it means for upward mobility and downward mobility.
Were you trying with American Hagwon to answer a question about what it means to be Korean in America?
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee is a contemporary novel exploring the complexities of education, societal expectations, and the Korean diaspora within the United States. Dwight Garner praised the novel on The Book Review alongside other notable literary works, expressing profound admiration for its narrative scope. Joumana Khatib previewed the upcoming novel on the same podcast, connecting it to the author's previous literary success with Pachinko. Gilbert Cruz hosted Min Jin Lee on The Book Review to discuss American Hagwon as the culmination of nearly a decade of research intended to form part of a larger four-part thematic series exploring Korea and its diaspora. During the interview, Min Jin Lee explained that the book investigates the intense societal pressures surrounding education, upward and downward mobility, and what it means to purchase education within the United States. Gilbert Cruz and Min Jin Lee further explored the core questions embedded in the narrative regarding cultural identity, the value placed on learning, and the immigrant experience in America, cementing the book as a major contemporary literary release.
Every mention
Gilbert Cruz This conversation we just had was wonderful and delightful. Minjin Lee, author of the new novel American Ha… 4
“It's titled American Hagwan, and it's the result of almost a decade's worth of work. It is will eventually be a four-part thematic series exploring Korea and the Korean diaspora.”
“I want to write about people. I want to write about society. I usually start out by having these bigger questions about like what is education?”
“Were you trying with American Hagwan to answer a question about what it means to be Korean in America? Were you trying to answer a question about what it means to believe in the value of education?”
“This conversation we just had was wonderful and delightful. Minjin Lee, author of the new novel American Hagwan. This was great as always. Thank you for coming on.”
Dwight Garner I felt the same way about American Haguan by freshly reviewed I adored this book. I also feel it is a flowe… 1
“I felt the same way about American Haguan by freshly reviewed I adored this book. I also feel it is a flowering tree and all of that.”
Joumana Khatib This is American Hagwan by none other than Minjin Lee of Pachinko fame. 1
“This is American Hagwan by none other than Minjin Lee of Pachinko fame.”
Min Jin Lee Well, I wrote about education and what it means for upward mobility and downward mobility as you put so apt… 2
“Well, I wrote about education and what it means for upward mobility and downward mobility as you put so aptly. And it's a weird time to get education and also to buy education, especially in a country like America.”
“I started it. I started. Yeah. Thank you. It's called Marshall Plan. Mhm. And it's about the Koreans from Korea who went to Germany to work as nurses and miners.”
