Exploring the Depth of ‘American Hagwon’ by Min Jin Lee

Min Jin Lee’s latest novel, American Hagwon, represents nearly a decade of devoted creation. This third installment in her series on the Korean diaspora follows Pachinko, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. This novel explores the intricate themes of immigration, the fragile promises held by America, and the role of education. The story captivates with its depth and emotion, presenting characters who linger in memory beyond the novel’s substantial page count.

The Koh family is central to this rich narrative, spanning from 1992 to 2007. Readers first meet John and Helen Koh upon their return to Seoul, South Korea, from Sydney, Australia, after six years. John’s role as a senior manager for a Korean conglomerate had relocated them. Before Australia, their journey included the United States, where their three children, Bo, DH, and Mido, were born in Paramus, New Jersey. Despite their Korean roots, their extensive travel leaves 13-year-old Mido struggling to adapt to her schooling in Korea.

South Korea turns out to be yet another temporary station due to a betrayal by John’s oldest friend, Taehun Shin. Shin is portrayed as focused in his career but chaotic in his personal life, tangled with an employee named Danbi, who complicates matters with her demands and relationships. This turbulence leads to John’s involvement in a conspiracy that forces him out.

The narrative shifts in 1997, marked by the Asian financial crisis. Many characters, including the Koh family, migrate to Southern California. Support networks of family and friends help manage their new life, though it requires settling for less. John finds employment at Shrimp Castle, battling daily exhaustion and the harsh reality of his circumstances.

Later, Mary, Shin’s estranged wife, emerges as a notable character, reflecting on the toll of relentless hard work, sometimes leading to illness. The Koh children work at a hagwon, an after-school academy, part and parcel of a Korean American community’s educational thrust. However, the hagwon led by Lion emphasizes transformative, not merely transactional, education, challenging common perceptions.

In the novel’s climax, Lion’s address to the parents underscores the value of education beyond academic success, urging a broader vision. Lee’s writing style in American Hagwon defies conventional storytelling norms, integrating exposition with captivating insights. The novel finishes with a poignant sentence, marked by a possessive pronoun that delivers a profound and redemptive impact, leaving readers deeply affected.