Min Jin Lee
Min Jin Lee was born on November 11th, 1968 and is currently 57 years old. Min Jin Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea.
Min Jin Lee is known for writing in the Historical Fiction and Literary Fiction genres.
Min Jin Lee has written 3 standalone novels, starting with Free Food for Millionaires in 2007. The most recently released novel was Pachinko, which was released in 2017. There is an upcoming standalone novel entitled American Hagwon which is being released on September 29th, 2026.
Min Jin Lee has also written the Disorder Collection series which has 6 books including The Best Girls and The Beckoning Fair One.
Min Jin Lee was the runner-up in the 2018 Dayton Literary Peace Prize awards, fiction category, for her novel
Pachinko.
Min Jin Lee: Awards & Accolades
Min Jin Lee books have been nominated for multiple awards, Pachinko was nominated for the Goodreads Awards, Best Historical Fiction, in 2017 as well as the National Book Awards - Best Fiction in 2017, Dayton Literary Peace Prize - Fiction in 2018, RUSA Awards - Historical Fiction Award in 2018.
Min Jin Lee: Lists & Other Mentions
- Pachinko was the Service95 Book Club July 2023 Pick.
- Pachinko has made several lists including:
- New York Times: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Selection in 2024.
- WordsRated: America’s 100 Favorite Books Selection in 2024.
- Los Angeles Times: The 30 Best Fiction Books of the Last 30 Years Selection in 2025.
Pachinko was listed at #21 on the Los Angeles Times "Best Fiction Books of the Last 30 Years" list, which was published in April 2025.
Min Jin Lee: TV/Movies Based on Books
The 2017 novel Pachinko was adapted to a TV series in 2022. It was on Apple TV, starring Lee Min-Ho, Minha Kim and Jin Ha.
Related Authors
Fans of Min Jin Lee also enjoy these authors:
- Kristin Hannah, author of: The Nightingale.
- Amy Tan, author of: The Joy Luck Club.
- Emilia Hart, author of: Weyward.
- Adriana Trigiani, author of: The Shoemaker's Wife.
- Barbara Taylor Bradford, author of the Emma Harte Series.
- Ellen Marie Wiseman, author of: What She Left Behind.
- Khaled Hosseini, author of: The Kite Runner.
- Emma Donoghue, author of: Room.
- Abraham Verghese, author of: Cutting for Stone.
- Elizabeth Gilbert, author of: Eat, Pray, Love.
Min Jin Lee: F.A.Q
When was Min Jin Lee Born? How old is Min Jin Lee?
Min Jin Lee was born on November 11th, 1968. Min Jin Lee is currently 57 years old.
Where was Min Jin Lee Born?
Min Jin Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea and is Korean-American.
What was the first book Min Jin Lee wrote?
The first book written by Min Jin Lee was Free Food for Millionaires, published in 2007.
What was the most recent book Min Jin Lee wrote?
Her most recently released work was The Best Girls (a short story) on June 27th, 2019.
What is the most popular book by Min Jin Lee?
Based on the number of readers on Book Notification, the most popular Min Jin Lee book is
Pachinko. Here are her most popular books:
- Pachinko (8.4)
- Free Food for Millionaires (6.83)
- The Best Girls (8)
What genres does Min Jin Lee Write?
Min Jin Lee primarily writes in the Historical Fiction and Literary Fiction genres. Her work includes sub-genres such as Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, and Cultural Historical Fiction.
Are there upcoming new books by Min Jin Lee?
Min Jin Lee has a new book coming out on September 29th, 2026 called
American Hagwon.
Click and we will keep you updated on this via e-mail, and about any new books Min Jin Lee announces in the future.
How many books has Min Jin Lee written?
Min Jin Lee has written 4 books. 3 Standalone Novels, 1 book in the Disorder Collection Series.