Min Jin Lee returns with 'American Hagwon', the new chapter of the Diaspora Quartet.

Min Jin Lee, author of the award-winning 'Pachinko,' returns to bookstores with 'American Hagwon,' the third installment of her ambitious Diaspora Quartet. The novel, described as "gloriously immersive," explores the world of 'hagwon,' the expensive Korean private academies where students spend evenings and weekends to boost their academic performance.

The story follows a Korean family willing to sacrifice everything for their children's education, reflecting that scarcity mindset that characterizes South Korean society, where spots in the top universities are limited and competition is fierce. Lee presents the struggle to secure a place in the most prestigious hagwon as symptomatic of this culture.

Published in November 2026, 'American Hagwon' arrives after 'Pachinko,' recently named by the New York Times as one of the 100 best books of the 21st century. The work continues the exploration of Korean diasporic experiences that made the author famous, addressing universal themes like sacrifice, ambition, and cultural identity through a specific and powerful lens.