Min Jin Lee’s latest novel, *American Hagwon*, explores the complexities of academic ambition and family sacrifice within a Korean-American context, unfolding over 15 years from 1992 to 2007. The story follows the Koh family—John, Helen, and their three children, Bo, DH, and Mido—whose lives are shaped by cultural expectations, economic challenges, and the pursuit of educational success.
The novel opens in Seoul, where the Kohs, a middle-class family, face instability following a betrayal that disrupts John Koh’s corporate career. This forces the family to relocate twice: first back to Sydney, then to California amid the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Much of the narrative centers on their experiences in the United States, particularly within the setting of an American hagwon—private Korean educational academies that provide intensive tutoring aimed at securing admission to elite universities.
Lee examines the function and cost of education as a central theme, contrasting it with broader issues of identity and societal pressure. The hagwon system symbolizes a rigorous work ethic that Korean families often embrace as a means to overcome socioeconomic barriers. Parents invest heavily, both financially and emotionally, in their children's academic achievements, often placing intense demands on them. However, the novel also presents an alternative perspective voiced by the hagwon founders, who promote valuing education for its own sake rather than solely as a pathway to career or financial gain.
Among the Koh children, Mido stands out for having left university unfinished, yet she achieves financial success and personal contentment. Her experience challenges prevailing notions about the necessity of formal education while affirming the benefits of a disciplined approach to learning. Mido articulates a view that studying relentlessly should be normalized, much like extensive practice in sports, emphasizing that education can offer widespread benefits even if it does not lead every student to elite academic or athletic success.
Lee’s narrative style is straightforward, with a third-person perspective that shifts among the main characters. Dialogue drives much of the story, providing insight into the characters’ motivations and the cultural tensions they navigate. The novel offers a measured, reflective look at the sacrifices made by immigrant families and the varied definitions of success within the Korean diaspora.
The story’s emotional core lies in the Kohs’ resilience and the difficult choices they confront. Helen and John maintain stoicism amid hardship, while Mido’s decision to forgo traditional milestones for the sake of her siblings underscores the enduring theme of personal sacrifice. The novel reaches a climactic moment involving a crime that reshapes the family’s trajectory and culminates in a final, striking sentence that invites readers to reconsider their assumptions about John Koh’s character.
*American Hagwon* complements Lee’s earlier work, notably *Pachinko*, by moving beyond survival and exploring how the descendants of immigrant families strive to thrive amid lingering challenges. The novel offers a nuanced portrayal of the intersection between cultural expectations and individual aspirations, leaving a lasting impression on readers engaged with themes of family, education, and identity.