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MIN JIN. LEE
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โก Free 3min Summary
PACHINKO - Summary
Pachinko is a sweeping, multi-generational saga that follows a Korean family through the 20th century, beginning in early 1900s Korea and moving through Japan. The story centers on Sunja, a young Korean woman whose unplanned pregnancy leads to a decision that will echo through generations. After refusing to be a wealthy man's mistress, she marries a kind minister and moves to Japan, where her family faces discrimination, hardship, and the ever-present challenge of maintaining their Korean identity while building a life in a foreign land. Through their involvement in the pachinko business - a Japanese gambling game - the family seeks economic stability and social mobility, all while grappling with questions of belonging, identity, and survival.
Key Ideas
Identity and Belonging
The constant struggle between Korean heritage and Japanese assimilation forms the core of the narrative, as characters navigate their dual identities and face systemic discrimination while trying to find their place in society.
Generational Sacrifice
Each generation makes profound sacrifices for the next, from Sunja's initial choice to protect her child's future to her descendants' decisions about education, career, and family, highlighting the complex web of duty and love that binds families together.
Survival and Resilience
The family's involvement in the pachinko business becomes a metaphor for life itself - a game of chance where skill, determination, and resilience can help overcome seemingly impossible odds.
FAQ's
The pachinko parlors represent both the economic lifeline for many Korean immigrants in Japan and a metaphor for fate, chance, and the complex moral choices people make to survive in hostile environments.
While the specific characters are fictional, the novel is deeply rooted in historical events and experiences of Korean immigrants in Japan during the 20th century, drawing from extensive research and real stories of the Korean diaspora.
The novel spans nearly a century, beginning in 1910s Korea during the Japanese occupation and continuing through the late 1980s, encompassing major historical events including World War II and Korea's division.
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