Author Lee’s latest novel, "American Hagwon," continues her exploration of immigrant family dynamics against the backdrop of broader social and economic forces. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with nearly 100 college students of Korean descent, as well as visits to educational hubs in the United States and East Asia, Lee delves into the intertwined challenges of economic survival, identity, and sacrifice within Korean diaspora communities.
Lee conducts much of her work from her Harlem brownstone, where her dedicated office reflects years of literary and academic inquiry. Her approach in "American Hagwon" echoes the structure and sensibility of 19th-century social realism, yet she modernizes these techniques to address present-day themes. Unlike traditional Victorian narratives that often centered on marriage, Lee situates the stakes of her stories around economic hardship, familial obligation, and self-actualization, emphasizing the multiple, simultaneous needs her characters must navigate—food, respect, shelter, and love.
Set primarily in Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district, the novel introduces a range of characters who are connected through a Presbyterian megachurch, which serves both as a social nexus and a space for moral interrogation. Early in the story, a sermon on idolatry prompts questions about competing loyalties—whether to God, family, or material success—a motif that recurs throughout the book. Lee details the trajectories of two sisters, Helen and Sonya, from poverty to relative wealth, and another character, Nari, who contemplates the expensive but financially burdensome education options for her children. These individual stories unfold across continents and social strata, illustrating the ripple effects of personal decisions against economic downturns such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
Lee’s narrative style employs a subtle, neutral third-person perspective that refrains from overt judgment, allowing the complexity of her characters’ moral and emotional struggles to emerge naturally. Her prose is deliberately plain and conversational, making the dense, interconnected plotlines accessible without sacrificing depth. Themes of female friendship and resilience are prominent, reflecting Lee’s own collegiate experiences within communities of color and her broader interest in interpersonal networks as means of circumventing systemic oppression.
Faith and sacrifice play significant roles in "American Hagwon." Lee’s personal connection to Presbyterianism informs the spiritual dimensions of the story, where churches function as both cultural anchors and sites for sustaining dignity amid the hardships of migration and assimilation. The novel grapples with the tension between belief and responsibility, as characters confront the demands placed on them by family and society. Sacrifice, in Lee’s portrayal, is neither wholly positive nor negative; it is a complex, often painful necessity that shapes the lives and identities of her characters.
Looking ahead, Lee plans to explore South Korea’s post-war transformation in her next work, focusing on the contributions and struggles of Korean women married abroad and the economic ties maintained through remittances. This forthcoming novel aims to illuminate often overlooked narratives of sacrifice and survival that underpinned South Korea’s rise.
Through "American Hagwon," Lee continues to blend intimate family portraits with incisive critiques of education, materialism, and social expectation in both Korea and the United States. Her work challenges readers to consider how love, power, and sacrifice intersect within immigrant experiences, highlighting the endurance and adaptability of those navigating shifting cultural and economic landscapes.