Min Jin Lee's novel *American Hagwon* and its themes of education, family, and Korean diaspora

Consensus Summary

Min Jin Lee’s *American Hagwon* centers on the Koh family’s decades-long struggle to navigate education, economic instability, and cultural identity across *Seoul, Sydney, and California*. The novel follows their journey from a stable middle-class life in *1992* to upheaval during the *late 90s* Asian financial crisis, which forces them to relocate and prioritize their children’s academic futures. At its core, the story examines the Korean *hagwon* system—private after-school academies—where parents invest heavily to secure their children’s success in a competitive society. Both *The Guardian* and *ABC* highlight the novel’s exploration of how these institutions reflect broader societal pressures, from wealth disparities to the moral dilemmas of educational exploitation.

The backdrop for *American Hagwon* is Lee’s 'Diaspora Quartet,' with the novel serving as a follow-up to *2017’s Pachinko*, which was named one of the *New York Times*’ top 100 books of the *21st century*. The *Guardian* emphasizes the novel’s immersive, character-driven approach, comparing it to *George Eliot’s Middlemarch* in its depth and emotional resonance. Meanwhile, *ABC* frames it as part of a broader October 2026 literary landscape, alongside works by *Barbara Kingsolver* and *Hernan Diaz*. Both sources agree that the novel’s *650 pages* span nearly *three decades*, tracing the Koh family’s fragmented yet interconnected lives as they adapt to personal betrayals, financial hardship, and the relentless pursuit of educational achievement.

Key figures in the novel include the Koh family—*John, Helen, Bo, DH, and Mido*—as well as *Lion*, a former Princeton prodigy who now runs a *California hagwon* and grapples with the system’s ethical failures. *The Guardian* delves into Lion’s internal conflict, noting his critique of hagwons as 'objects to shape and bring to the market,' while *ABC* underscores his declaration that 'our children should not have to save us.' Both outlets also highlight the novel’s global scope, with the Kohs’ migrations reflecting the broader Korean diaspora experience. *The Guardian* further explores the novel’s thematic richness, linking hagwons to symbols of culture, failure, and the purpose of achievement, while *ABC* focuses on the family’s sacrifices and the generational cycle of educational pressure.

The two sources diverge in their emphasis on secondary details. *The Guardian* avoids external comparisons, instead focusing on *American Hagwon*’s standalone literary merits, such as its structural parallels to *Middlemarch* and its critique of hagwons from multiple perspectives—including through *Mido’s* work at *Fortress*. In contrast, *ABC* situates the novel within a broader literary month, mentioning *Kingsolver’s 2022* *Demon Copperhead* and *Diaz’s 2017* *In the Distance*, as well as unrelated works like *Favel Parrett’s 2011* debut and a *1939*-set novel. The *Guardian* also provides specific details about the novel’s length (*650 pages*) and its exploration of the *late 90s* crisis, while *ABC* briefly touches on the Kohs’ time in *Australia* without elaborating on its significance.

Neither article explicitly addresses unresolved questions or future expectations, though *ABC* implies that *American Hagwon* is part of a continuing conversation about education’s role in immigrant communities. The *Guardian*’s review suggests the novel’s transformative effect on readers, while *ABC* frames it as one of several standout books in October 2026. Both sources agree on the novel’s central themes—family, education, and cultural identity—but their differing focuses reflect broader journalistic priorities: *The Guardian* prioritizes literary analysis, while *ABC* embeds the novel within a broader cultural and temporal context.