Min Jin Lee – a Korean-American novelist, author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, and a National Book Award finalist. Born in Seoul and raised in the US, she bridges two cultures in her work, writing about migration, family, and resilience. Her novels are sweeping sagas of identity and belonging.
✨ Studied history at Yale, once planning to become a lawyer. 📚 Practiced law before committing to writing full-time. 🌍 Lived in Japan, where the seeds of Pachinko took root. 📖 The novel became an international bestseller and cultural touchstone. 🏆 Her works have earned numerous awards and appeared on NYT bestseller lists. 💡 Calls writing “an act of memory and compassion.” 🖊️ Known for her slow, meticulous process – taking years per book. 🎓 Teaches creative writing and mentors young writers. 📺 Apple TV+ adapted Pachinko into a successful series. ☕ Often writes in libraries, saying they carry “the breath of history.” 😄 Once joked that her books are hefty not for their plots but for her obsession with detail.