“Living every day in the presence of those who refuse to acknowledge your humanity takes great courage.”
— Narrator reflecting on the resilience of Korean immigrants in Japan.
Archivist's Choice
Pachinko
Min Jin Lee (2017)
Genre
Literary Fiction / Historical Fiction
Reading Time
900 min
Key Themes
See below
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A young Korean woman's choice to raise her son in Japan starts a multi-generational story about prejudice, poverty, and the search for identity.
Synopsis
In early 20th-century Korea, Sunja, a young woman, becomes pregnant by a wealthy, married yakuza named Hansu. She refuses to be his mistress and accepts a marriage proposal from Isak, a kind Christian minister on his way to Japan. This decision starts a multi-generational story of a Korean family, the Zainichi, trying to find identity and survive in Japan, where they face prejudice.
Sunja and Isak settle in Osaka. They raise their two sons: Noa, Hansu's biological son, and Mozasu, Isak's son. The family deals with poverty, discrimination, and the difficulties of World War II. After Isak dies, Sunja works hard, eventually running a successful kimchi business with her sister-in-law. Noa, smart and studious, learns Hansu's true identity and his own parentage. This leads him to leave his family and live a reclusive life. Mozasu, in contrast, goes into the pachinko industry, a gambling business often linked to Korean immigrants, and becomes wealthy. Decades later, Mozasu's son, Solomon, tries to build an American career but is drawn back into the family's world and the complexities of the pachinko business. The novel ends with Solomon navigating his own moral and professional problems, while Sunja, now an elderly woman, thinks about her life, her choices, and her family's lasting endurance in a society that never fully accepts them.
Reading time
900 min
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Epic, Poignant, Resilient, Reflective
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy sweeping historical sagas following multiple generations of a family, exploring themes of identity, prejudice, and resilience in the face of adversity.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer fast-paced plots with clear-cut heroes and villains, or shy away from stories that depict systemic discrimination and hardship.
Plot Summary
Sunja's Shame and a Missionary's Offer
In the early 1900s, in the small Korean fishing village of Yeongdo, Sunja, the daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls in love with Koh Hansu, a charismatic and wealthy fish broker. Sunja discovers she is pregnant with his child and that he is already married with a family in Japan. Devastated, and refusing to become his mistress, Sunja faces social ostracism and a difficult future. Her mother, Yangjin, is heartbroken but supportive. At this time, Baek Isak, a kind, sickly Christian minister on his way to Osaka, Japan, offers to marry Sunja and claim the child as his own, saving her from disgrace. Sunja accepts his proposal, recognizing the large sacrifice and chance for a new life. She leaves her home and mother to go to Japan with Isak.
Arrival in Osaka and New Beginnings
Sunja arrives in Osaka, Japan, with Isak. She is welcomed into the humble home of Isak's older brother, Baek Yoseb, and his wife, Kyunghee. The family lives in a crowded Korean ghetto, facing constant discrimination and poverty as Zainichi Koreans. Yoseb, though stern and traditional, works hard in a biscuit factory to support them. Kyunghee becomes a loving sister to Sunja. Sunja gives birth to her first son, Noa, who is Hansu's biological child. Despite the difficulties, Sunja finds a sense of belonging and community among other Koreans in the ghetto. Isak, despite his frail health, works in his ministry, offering comfort and hope to their struggling community. Sunja learns to adjust to her new environment, trying to be a dutiful wife and mother.
Hansu's Shadow and the Birth of Mozasu
Years pass, and Sunja gives birth to her second son, Mozasu, Isak's biological child. During a time of extreme poverty and hardship, with Isak struggling to find consistent work and Yoseb's small income not enough, Hansu reappears in Sunja's life. He offers them financial help. Sunja initially refuses, but eventually accepts for her starving family, not knowing the full extent of Hansu's underworld connections. Hansu arranges for Noa to attend a respected Japanese school, giving him a better education than most Korean children could hope for. Hansu's presence is a constant, unsettling reminder of her past. He is a source of both fear and reluctant thanks for the opportunities he provides for her sons, especially Noa.
Isak's Imprisonment and Tragic End
As World War II intensifies, the Japanese authorities become more oppressive towards Koreans. Isak, because of his Christian faith and perceived anti-state activities, is arrested and imprisoned. Sunja, Kyunghee, and the children face immense struggles without him. After a long and brutal time in prison, Isak is released, but his health is broken, and he dies shortly after returning home. Sunja is left a widow with two young sons and no way to support them. Desperate, she decides to take a job selling kimchi in the market. Yoseb's traditional views are against this, but Kyunghee supports her and joins her. This is a big turning point, as Sunja begins to make her own way as a resilient provider.
Kimchi Business and the Introduction of Mrs. Han
Sunja and Kyunghee work hard, making and selling kimchi at the market. Their business slowly grows, providing a stable income for their family. Their reputation for delicious kimchi spreads, eventually catching the attention of Mrs. Han, a wealthy and influential woman who runs a boarding house for young Korean men. Mrs. Han is impressed by Sunja's hard work and the quality of her product. She offers Sunja and Kyunghee a steady contract to supply kimchi for her boarding house. This arrangement greatly boosts their finances and introduces Sunja to a new network of people, further integrating her into the Korean community in Osaka. The boarding house becomes a central place for the family.
Noa's Revelation and Disappearance
Noa does well in his studies, getting into Waseda University in Tokyo, a respected achievement for a Zainichi Korean. Just as he is about to start his promising future, Hansu tells Noa that he is his biological father, not Isak. This devastating truth shatters Noa's identity and his admiration for Isak. Feeling betrayed by his mother and disappointed by his origins, Noa leaves his university studies and disappears from his family's life. This leaves a deep emptiness and great sadness for Sunja and Mozasu. His disappearance is a direct result of Hansu's involvement and Noa's inability to reconcile his identity with his heritage.
Mozasu's Path into Pachinko
After Noa's disappearance, Mozasu, less academic than his brother, finds work in the pachinko industry. This is a profitable but often criticized business run primarily by Koreans. He is first employed by a kind boss, Goro, and learns the trade. Hansu, who has an interest in the pachinko world, subtly guides Mozasu's career, providing opportunities and connections without direct involvement. Mozasu, unlike Noa, accepts his Korean identity and the opportunities available to him. He rises to become a successful and respected pachinko parlor owner. He also marries and has a daughter, Hana, though his marriage eventually ends.
Solomon's American Dream and Return to Japan
Mozasu's son, Solomon, grows up in comfort because of his father's success. He attends respected international schools and eventually studies at an American university. He represents his family's hopes for a future free from discrimination. Solomon, a bright and ambitious young man, tries to get a job in a major American bank in Tokyo, hoping to connect his Japanese and American identities. However, he quickly encounters the subtle but widespread racism and xenophobia within the Japanese corporate world. He realizes that his Zainichi heritage still limits his opportunities despite his education and fluency. He struggles to find a sense of belonging in a society that sees him as an outsider.
Hana's Tragedy and Solomon's Crisis
Solomon has a close, complicated relationship with his cousin Hana, Mozasu's daughter from his first marriage. Hana is a rebellious, independent woman who works as a hostess and lives a life on the edge of society, often taking risks. She is diagnosed with AIDS, a result of her lifestyle, and her health quickly gets worse. Solomon tries to help her, bringing her home to be cared for by Sunja and Mozasu. Hana's tragic death deeply affects Solomon, forcing him to face the harsh realities many Zainichi Koreans deal with. Her death, along with his professional setbacks, pushes Solomon to a breaking point, leading him to give up his corporate goals.
Solomon's Embrace of Pachinko and Sunja's Enduring Legacy
After his corporate dreams collapse and Hana dies, Solomon changes deeply. He realizes that his attempts to fit into mainstream Japanese society have not worked and that his true place is within his family and the world they have built. He decides to join his father, Mozasu, in the pachinko business, embracing his heritage and the industry that has supported his family for generations. The novel ends with Sunja, now an elderly woman, thinking about her life and the choices she made. She visits Isak's grave, acknowledging her lasting love for him and the sacrifices she made for her family. Her journey, spanning decades, shows the endurance and perseverance of Zainichi Koreans.
Principal Figures
Sunja Baek
The Protagonist
From an innocent girl shamed by circumstance, Sunja transforms into a formidable matriarch who endures unimaginable hardship, consistently prioritizing her family's survival and well-being.
Koh Hansu
The Antagonist/Supporting
Hansu remains largely static in his powerful, enigmatic role, consistently acting as a catalyst for major plot points and a symbol of both danger and unexpected aid.
Baek Isak
The Supporting
Isak's arc is one of profound self-sacrifice, culminating in his tragic death, which solidifies his legacy as a loving and righteous figure.
Kyunghee Baek
The Supporting
Kyunghee evolves from a quiet, dutiful wife into an independent and strong partner for Sunja, finding her own voice and strength through shared hardship.
Baek Yoseb
The Supporting
Yoseb remains largely fixed in his traditional worldview, a constant source of both stability and friction within the family.
Noa Baek
The Supporting
Noa's arc is a tragic descent from hopeful assimilation into a self-destructive flight from his identity, ending in his suicide.
Mozasu Baek
The Supporting
Mozasu's arc shows a journey from a less academic child to a successful and pragmatic businessman who embraces his identity and builds a stable life for his family.
Solomon Baek
The Supporting
Solomon's arc is a journey from striving for assimilation and a Westernized career to ultimately accepting and embracing his Zainichi Korean identity and family legacy.
Hana
The Supporting
Hana's arc is a tragic journey of defiance and self-destruction, ultimately finding a brief period of peace and care before her death, highlighting the harsh realities of her generation.
Yangjin
The Supporting
Yangjin's arc is one of enduring maternal love and quiet strength, adapting to profound loss and separation while maintaining her dignity.
Themes & Insights
Identity and Belonging
The novel explores the complex and often painful search for identity among Zainichi Koreans. Characters like Noa try hard to fit in, only to be rejected and ultimately broken by the truth of their origins. Solomon, a third-generation Korean, faces similar struggles in the corporate world, realizing that his education and fluency cannot remove his 'otherness.' The pachinko industry, often looked down upon, becomes a place where many Zainichi Koreans, like Mozasu, can build successful lives and find a sense of community and belonging. They embrace an identity that is neither fully Korean nor fully Japanese.
““History has failed us, but no matter.””
Family and Sacrifice
Family is the foundation of 'Pachinko.' Generations make sacrifices for each other's survival and success. Sunja's initial decision to marry Isak and leave Korea is a big sacrifice to protect her unborn child and mother from shame. Throughout her life, she works hard, dealing with poverty and discrimination, always putting her sons first. Mozasu, in turn, works hard to give Solomon opportunities he never had. The novel shows how these sacrifices, often made quietly and with great personal cost, hold the family together and allow them to endure.
““A woman’s life is a battle she has to fight for herself.””
Prejudice and Discrimination
The constant discrimination faced by Zainichi Koreans in Japan is a central theme. From being denied proper housing and jobs to experiencing social exclusion and violence, the characters constantly navigate a hostile environment. Yoseb's refusal to let Sunja work, fearing more Japanese scorn, and the challenges Solomon faces in the corporate world show how deeply rooted this prejudice is. The novel details the systemic and personal forms of racism, showing its lasting impact on individuals and generations.
““In Japan, Koreans were considered the lowest of the low.””
Resilience and Survival
Despite facing great hardship—war, poverty, discrimination, and personal tragedy—the Baek family consistently shows incredible endurance. Sunja's journey from a shamed girl to a strong matriarch, building a kimchi business from scratch, shows this. Mozasu's success in the pachinko industry, a field often viewed negatively, also shows adaptability and a will to thrive against all odds. The novel celebrates the human spirit and the ability to find hope and build lives, even when history and society seem determined to break them.
““Living every day, that’s the real work.””
Fate vs. Free Will
The story often deals with the tension between fate and individual choice. Sunja's initial choice to reject Hansu's offer and marry Isak starts the whole story. This is a powerful act of free will against societal expectations. However, the characters' lives are also greatly influenced by the larger historical forces of Japanese colonialism and discrimination, which often limit their choices. Hansu, with his seemingly all-knowing control, sometimes appears as an agent of fate. Yet, the characters continually make decisions that shape their own destinies within those limits.
““There was no way to make sense of the world. It was a place of endless hard work and ceaseless good fortune and misfortune.””
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Generational Saga
Traces the lives of a Korean family across multiple generations, spanning over 80 years.
The novel employs a generational saga structure, beginning in the early 20th century with Sunja and extending to her grandchildren in the late 20th century. This allows the author to explore the long-term impact of historical events, individual choices, and systemic discrimination on a single family. It highlights how the struggles and decisions of one generation profoundly shape the opportunities, challenges, and identities of the next, providing a panoramic view of the Zainichi Korean experience through time.
Third-Person Omniscient Narration
Provides a broad, insightful perspective into the characters' inner lives and the wider historical context.
The narrative is told from a third-person omniscient point of view, allowing the reader access to the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of various characters across different time periods. This perspective also enables the author to seamlessly weave in historical context and societal commentary, providing a comprehensive understanding of the Zainichi Korean experience without being confined to a single character's limited viewpoint. It creates a sense of epic scope and emotional depth.
Symbolism of Pachinko
Represents the precariousness of life, the search for fortune, and a path for marginalized Koreans.
Pachinko, a Japanese pinball-like gambling game, serves as a powerful symbol. It represents the precariousness of life for Zainichi Koreans, where success is often a matter of chance and navigating a rigged system. It also symbolizes a path to economic survival and even prosperity for a community largely excluded from mainstream Japanese industries. For Mozasu and Solomon, it becomes a family business, a space where they can exert control and find success, even as it remains a stigmatized profession, embodying their acceptance of their 'otherness' and their ability to thrive within it.
The Korean Diaspora Experience
The central historical context and driving force behind the characters' struggles.
While not a 'device' in the traditional sense, the Korean diaspora experience in Japan (Zainichi Koreans) functions as the overarching plot device and thematic backbone. The entire narrative is shaped by the historical reality of Koreans migrating to Japan during colonial rule and the subsequent discrimination they faced. Every character's motivation, every obstacle, and every choice is intrinsically linked to this specific historical and social context, making it the inescapable framework for the multi-generational story.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“We cannot help but be interested in the stories of people that history pushes aside so thoughtlessly.”
— Narrator's commentary on the overlooked lives of marginalized individuals.
“A woman's lot is to suffer.”
— Sunja's mother-in-law, Yangjin, expressing a resigned view of women's roles.
“History has failed us, but no matter.”
— Opening line of the novel, setting the tone for the characters' struggles.
“It was not fair, but it was life.”
— Sunja reflecting on the hardships and injustices she faces.
“You want to see a very bad man? Make an ordinary man successful beyond his imagination.”
— Mozasu's observation about how success can corrupt people.
“For a woman, the man you marry will determine the quality of your life completely.”
— Advice given to Sunja, highlighting societal expectations for women.
“There was consolation in being with others who were also lost.”
— Describing the Korean immigrant community's sense of solidarity in Japan.
“She had learned that people could surprise you—in good ways and bad.”
— Sunja's realization about human complexity over her lifetime.
“In life, there was no such thing as a true ending; there were only pauses.”
— Narrator reflecting on the ongoing nature of life's struggles and stories.
“A good mother does not let her children see her cry.”
— Sunja's internal thought about maintaining strength for her family.
“The world was not a fair place, and it was foolish to expect it to be.”
— Mozasu's pragmatic view developed from his experiences as a Korean in Japan.
“You must never shame yourself. Shame is a thief.”
— Advice from Sunja's mother, emphasizing dignity in the face of adversity.
“Sometimes, the best way to get what you want is to pretend you don't want it.”
— A strategy employed by characters navigating social and economic challenges.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'Pachinko' follows the multi-generational saga of a Korean family from the early 1900s through the late 1980s, beginning with teenaged Sunja who becomes pregnant by a married yakuza-affiliated fish broker, Koh Hansu. She marries a sickly Christian minister, Isak, and moves to Japan, where her family faces discrimination as ethnic Koreans (Zainichi). The story traces their struggles through World War II and beyond, with later generations navigating identity, survival, and the pachinko gambling industry.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
