Min Jin Lee on 'American Hagwon' and why it takes a decade to write each novel

NPR | By Aarti Shahani

Published November 5, 2026 at 11:52 AM EST

Lee's new novel is about the promise and perils for Koreans who pursue a Western education. Her previous book, the 2017 novel Pachinko, was a finalist for a National Book Award.

Aarti Shahani

Aarti Shahani is an NPR correspondent based in Silicon Valley.

See stories by Aarti Shahani

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