Min Jin Lee factchecks American Hagwon details in Sydney
Author Min Jin Lee traveled to Sydney in 2025 to factcheck her novel American Hagwon.
Purpose of the recent visit
Lee went to Australia after submitting her manuscript for the book. She needed to refine her knowledge of education systems in Korea, Australia, and the United States. The trip also helped her understand how immigrants describe their status as migrants rather than refugees.
Focus on global themes
The story follows a family moving from South Korea to Australia before reaching the US. Lee wanted to ensure the portrayal of hagwons remained accurate throughout the narrative. Her goal was to show how middle-class families without wealth navigate these different environments.
Local insights for the story
The author visited Sydney four times before this final factchecking journey. She used the latest trip to polish specific details about life in Chinatown. This process allowed her to finalize the book with greater precision.
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