Author Min Jin Lee's 'Pachinko' follow-up explores Korean education obsession

Lee’s new book traces a Korean family’s upheaval from Korea to Australia and Southern California during the Asian financial crisis. – AP

Min Jin Lee's first novel since her million-selling Pachinko is a long book that grew out of a basic question: What do Koreans care most about?

"We’re obsessed with education, and it became my obsession over why Koreans care so much,” says Lee, whose American Hagwon, scheduled for Sept 29, will likely be one of the year's most anticipated books.