Min Jin Lee (@lee_minjin)

Let America Read. Please. Let’s fight censorship and book-banning. #letamericaread

“Earlier this month, the 53-year-old Korean American author was in Seoul, where she was awarded the 2022 Manhae Grand Prize for literature. She was also there for events commemorating the completely new Korean translation of her best-selling 2017 novel, “Pachinko.” “ I had a wonderful conversation with the terrific journalist Soo Youn for The Washington Post. 🔗 in bio. Soo and I talked about work, politics, race, class, and feminism. Still researching & writing “American Hagwon.” 🐢 Next time, I hope to continue the conversation with SY over bingsoo in Seoul, Los Angeles, or New York.

Images from The New Yorker interview with Michael Luo. Photographs by the gifted photographer Andrew Kung. 🔗 for the interview in bio.

Backstage with the exquisite Sandra Oh. In this joyous Public Theater production of “Twelfth Night,” her transcendent performance was utterly luminous and mesmerizing. I loved this play, direction, extraordinary cast, set design, and music with all my heart. To see this play outdoors is pure New York magic. “Twelfth Night” opens on Aug 12 and will run through Sep 14. Shakespeare in the Park is free to the public. Please support @publictheaterny

Three fiction writers at the Whitney. We came to gaze at the beauty of the magnificent Amy Sherald. Note: Sunday, August 10, 2025 is the last day of “American Sublime.” Run.

With the great chef @sung.shim News: Jonathan Cheng has a book coming out in April 2026.

📅 It wasn’t our birthday. Just felt like it was.

For Samin, I will cross continents, hemispheres, and an ocean just to bring her strawberries. 🍓 What jet lag? We cooked from her forthcoming masterpiece.

“We’re on each other’s team.” — Lorde (b. New Zealand) I loved “Koreaboo” by the incredible @michelle.lim.davidson. Received so much kindness and grace allowing me to finish up my research for “American Hagwon.” Much love and thanks to Zoe, Imogen, Jasmond, Eric, Victoria, Chris, Phil, Arjun, John, Jae, Ben, Nico, Michelle, Heather, Ben, Jen, and so many good folks of Sydney and Seoul. Heading home to Harlem. 🫶

Dim sum club. My Aussie Family: Ben, Scott, Mark, Hazel, and Victoria. Highly Recommend: Mango pancake at Royal Palace Seafood Restaurant. Excellent. Eucalyptus tree.

Sydney Day 2. Fieldwork and interviews continue for “American Hagwon.” With Glory, Wengie, Victoria, Jae, John, Chris, Imogen, and Lizzie. Holding up a real barrister bag. The soft shell crab salad at Caysorn Thai is 🏆.

Bewigged barrister in Sydney. Day 1 in Oz. Fieldwork continues. Got to visit the chambers of brilliant barristers Arjun, Michelle, and Dom for “American Hagwon” research. Author Benjamin Keyworth’s “Superworld” Volume 4 dropped today. Super reunion with beautiful new mum solicitor Victoria; amazing new dad, solicitor & author Benjamin; their gorgeous baby William; and very best grandmum. It’s winter in Australia. ❄️