American Hagwon - a captivating saga of family, ambition, and sacrifice.

Min Jin Lee's saga of the Korean diaspora begins in 1992 in Seoul. John and Helen Koh want the very best for sons Bo and DH, and daughter Mido. John's managerial job has taken them to the United States, Australia, and back to South Korea. When Miko struggles to adapt to school, she attends a local hagwon, a private, for-profit tutoring center or cram school that students attend outside regular school hours. The ultimate goal is for the children to secure admission to a top university. John experiences a betrayal from his boss and trusted friend, and with the 1997 financial collapse in Korea, the Koh family's economic situation changes drastically. The family seeks new opportunities in Southern California. There, the Koh children, now adults, join their close friends in working at a newly established and immediately successful American hagwon, where the local Korean families are obsessed with over-achievement. 

American Hagwon is an excellent intergenerational story which concludes in 2007. The characters are exceptionally well developed, including not only the Koh family members, who are incredibly loyal to one another, but also their friends and foes. Don't let the length of more than 650 pages deter you from reading this captivating book that moves very quickly. It is an eye-opening look at Korean culture, and the extreme sacrifices parents make to secure their children's success in a highly competitive environment. While reading, it is difficult not to reflect on the true meaning of success and happiness.

Many thanks to Cardinal | Grand Central Publishing for providing an advance of this memorable book.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Literary Fiction.

Publication Date: Sept. 29, 2026.

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