“History has failed us, but no matter.” Pachinko and Min Jin Lee | KBS DOCU INSIGHT

『Pachinko』, a novel that captivated the world with the story of four generations of a Korean Japanese family. What is the power of the novel 『Pachinko』 and what does Min Jin Lee want to say?
“It’s a powerful story about resilience and compassion.”
- Barack Obama (former U.S. President)
"A social novel in the Dickensian vein... frequently heartbreaking“
― USA Today
”Vivid and immersive, Pachinko is a rich tribute to a people
that history seems intent on erasing.“
― The Guardian (UK)
All copyrights to this video belong to KBS.
KBS is a public broadcasting service in South Korea.
Air date : August, 2023
#MinJinLee #Author #PachinkoNovel #MinJin #FreeFoodForMillionaires #AmericanHagwon #KoreanAmerican #Documentary #Sunja #NewYork #Harlem #Busan #Osaka #TheMet #NYPL #Book #Korean

[@shoveit2urface]

There, she said it: reconciliation is only possible when one is honest about history. Can’t agree more.

[@susansheldon2033]

This book broke my heart over and over again. I know the point of learning history isn't to develop prejudice, but I have come to believe that Japan owes both apologies and restitution to Korea.

[@lamilanesesenzafreniingiappone]

It’s funny how many people think other countries should apologize and restituite when their own maybe didn’t even consider such a thing when it has to do with their own crimes.

[@susansheldon2033]

Why the assumption?

[@lamilanesesenzafreniingiappone]

@@susansheldon2033 I could ask the same, as japan did apologize and restituite to Korea.

[@calitaliarepublic6753]

@@lamilanesesenzafreniingiappone Actually Japan refused to call it restitution. They gave money to Korea, but called it economic development aid. And sometimes Japanese politicians apologized, but then others came along and denied Japan’s crimes. So the situation isn’t as simple as the Japanese make it out to be.

[@lamilanesesenzafreniingiappone]

@@calitaliarepublic6753 well, it's not that's simplified either. there is a lot of healing to do for sure. And is needed as people need to.move.past and look ahead. We cannot have the young generations bearing a burden they don't own, paying for others mistakes. However, regardless, it's not up to us, to judge not to call for amendment as,.most likely, many countries, not only the Japanese, have a lot to be forgiven for and retribute as well. I don't want to enter any debate here but I think we know is quite an hypocrisy to suggest others are at fault and judge them when we have our own faults to face, especially when we confront issues either with European colonialism or American politics.

[@anna.iakobidze]

I'm not a native English speaker but I read Pachinko even quicker than in my own language, I just could not stop reading. And it broke my heart and made me wipe many times. I would stop and just cry and continue again. I've befriended and got used to the family, storyline, and updates about them, I already miss them and I would love to know about their recent life events as well ah. They seem so real, everything described in so many details and in a realistic way. As I listened to your interview, you really made me Korean the way you wished for here. You inspired me in so many ways and made me think and rethink many things I have thought about before. Thank you so much.

[@Rachel-uq1bn]

The narrator’s thoughtful kind tone and consideration for all the characters in Pachinko could only have come from Min Jin Lee. She’s such an inspirational woman.

[@cristinamayumi7322]

What a great documentary. Min Ji Lee is just exceptional as it is her work. Korea is becoming more close to all of us, non-koreans. It became a soft spot of our hearts. Great job all of you.

[@TMorales131]

Thanks so much KBS for this wonderful documentary. Min Jin Lee is one of the most admired and fascinating women in the world that’s created a lasting historical footprint with her book. PACHINKO is a life altering book for millions across the globe. It has created a thirst for learning more about Korean History as well as served to inspire people to delve deeper into their own country’s history. I enjoyed the drama but there would be no drama without the book. Accolades for the production are well deserved. However, minimizing Min Jin Lee,the woman, during the promotion was a big mistake imo. It bordered on disrespectful. Parts of her inspirational story should have been included in the promotion along with the snippets from the actors and producer.

[@classickdramaclips]

Mother-in-laws compassion and forgiveness…I was touched by author’s mother interview…how her son-in-laws mother bowed to her…heart rending…‘history has failed us…’ what a powerful statement….recondite…

[@shawnsun4490]

Indeed, actually I cried when her mom described that.

[@laurabutler5286]

Lee Min Jin, thank you for helping this Venezuelan-American become more Korean.❤️

[@pkubigfool]

It is such a beautifully written book on such a sad and dark story with struggles, prejudices and heartbreaks. I feel Sunja's pain and admire her resilance at the same time. It is a window to look into the complicated historty of colonization and war in East Asia. Very inspiring and educational!

[@menchiequinal8794]

I got her book in 2018 trip to NYC, watched the TV series .. touched me a lot 😢.. the book is beautifully written

[@Lilili408]

thank you KBS for this documentary ! love and admire Min Jin Lee, her parents ! thank you for writing Pachinko ! the book is a masterpiece ! that is the story of my grandparents, my mom and dad , my uncles and aunts , and so many other thousands of koreans who went through the same pain that cannot be forgotten. big virtual bow : )

[@user-nv4kx8ib5f]

We are always connected. Thank you

[@TheMaiah13]

I have this book. I have a close friend who was among the actors in the shooting of this drama here in Toronto.

[@pamelapieris]

Thank you and appreciate your documentary and look forward to more of these. All good wishes🙏

[@robertkinkhorst5697]

Greatly enjoyed this documentary, loved the book and the first part of the series ❤️

[@wisecanadianwoman]

Amazing woman. Thank you for this documentary.

[@Utuber8282]

What a powerful presentation! It aches my heart for a long time.... Thank you! We are a powerful family!! ❤

[@84vietskater]

Love the series love her couldn’t keep the book down! Definitely can relate to her upbringing and coming to America as a immigrant my family is from Vietnam and parents came here to give us the the best life they can give us! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@zinniamarak9216]

A touching documentary. Min Jin Lee's Pachinko is really a masterpiece.

[@cathymeow6720]

Thank you very much for this special on Min Jin Lee. Her perspectives and beliefs has shed so much deeper insights into humanity. Very shaken and moved and truly inspiring 😌😌

[@bangkokhomes]

Watching this video almost bought me to tears.I have read Pachinko, now I am going to re-read it. Thank you Min Jin Lee

[@youyoung_eats]

영상 올려주셔서 감사합니다, 잘 보았습니다.

[@nohahaikal6970]

Thank you for the video, I read the arabic translation of Pachinko and I really love it and as I have been touched by the book I also been touched by her words in that video,. Thank you

[@user-mi6nw8yc7y]

One of the most heartfelt books of all time!! Thank you for this fascinating documentary on Min Jin Lee ~ 🙏👍♥️🫶

[@tenaciousdnk1]

Amazing novel Pachinko....Couldn't set it down, page after page.

[@Wasabijo593]

Loved the book on so many levels.

[@pamcook1238]

Loved this documentary. We are family.

[@Minimum-Rich]

She is amazing

[@alexcarter8807]

I had a pachinko machine in my bedroom when I was a teen. I'm not sure where we got the thing from, or how exactly to play it, but it was kind of cool to look at. We had a few of the balls too but they were just kept as little treasures, like you keep interesting rocks and seashells and so on.

[@California_life_0321]

오... 한국 방송사들과 영어로 인터뷰 할때는 일부러 천천히 이야기 해주신거 같네요. 드러나지 않는 배려심이 여기저기에서 보이는 성숙한 작가님 화이팅!

[@c_cma1971]

I read the book. Greetings from Bucharest, Romania.

[@user-jm9ep3zp5g]

she is such a mentor

[@taylorpuella]

Christopher's mother's apology - wow, her humility. As well as Min Jin Lee's mother's acceptance of such an apology - so much humility. Imagine the amount of healing that could happen in the world if people approached disagreements with such humility and grace. 13:30

[@PreciselyDani]

OMG she has the same ergonomic keyboard as me! Kinesis advantage!

[@katejumawan3957]

❤❤❤

[@TheMaiah13]

I love her smile

[@sar983]

❤

[@madmonsterson6804]

20:28 26:25 39:50 41:08

[@RollerBladingSuxs]

If her father was North Koreanese, how was her father able to go into South Korea and marry her mother that is South Koreanese?

[@wills-lolo]

Probably a refugee during the Korean War and had to stay in the South after the division

[@Maggie-tq1du]

I want to become Korean❤. I do admire her. A true influencer.

[@tigerjonn]

You need to be her for your own peoples.... Not want to be Korean. But want to be a inspiration for your own peoples...

[@HKim0072]

Most expensive Korean drama ever. Don't think anything will top it for a long time. I met a Zainichi while working at a Korean restaurant in the states. I'm pretty sure he was connected to organized crime and ran pachinko parlors in Japan.

[@classickdramaclips]

Married a Sicilian-American whose father was born in Palermo….everyone has heart of gold…

[@user-my3di3cm4j]

Yeap, it's highly likely connected to organized crimes...

[@classickdramaclips]

@@user-my3di3cm4j that’s not what I meant…not everyone you meet are cosa nostra….

[@HKim0072]

@@classickdramaclips The restaurant that I worked was really overpriced. Probably double what it should have been. Catered to Japanese tourists. I worked as a bartender, but it was really a service bar for the restaurant. I knew enough Japanese to tell them where the bathroom was and to get their server if they needed something. Pachinko while legal has a sideways relationship to gambling. Gambling always has a connection to organized crime. I never chatted with any of the customers, but we spoke in English because its basically my first language. Really the only conversation I remember having with a customer there. His group was 10+ people and their bill was over $1K. This was many years ago while I was attending college.

[@TMorales131]

Thanks so much KBS for this wonderful documentary. PACHINKO is a life altering book for millions across the globe in terms of creating a thirst for learning Korean History. I dare say it has served to inspire people to delve deeper into their own country’s history. I enjoyed the drama but there would be no drama without the book. Accolades for the production are well deserved. However, minimizing Min Jin Lee,the woman, during the promotion was a big mistake imo. It bordered on disrespectful. Parts of her inspirational story should have been included in the promotion along with snippets from the actors and producer.

[@Sanismom]

6

[@user-my3di3cm4j]

Many of the mafias after WW2 in Japan were owning Pachinko parlors, and it was deeply connected to underground crimes. Actually many of the mafia boss was Korean or Korean Japanese. It’s questioning that is not correctly depicted in this video.

[@werthersoriginal]

13:25 The irony that the daughter experienced prejudice while her own family was being prejudice against her boyfriend/husband.

[@HKim0072]

lol, immigrants to the US can be super racist. At best, a bit ignorant and at worst, just plain racist. 1.5 or 2nd generation are typically more liberal with their views because they grow up in the environment.

[@mailinglist2451]

lol do you not know how the japanese committed atrocities against the Koreans? The japanese were the Nazis and KKK of Asia.

[@irmar]

It's not the same kind of prejudice. It's the distaste towards a people that have brutally tortured your people. My mother, who had lived through WW2, told me that, whenever she heard German language in a movie or anywhere else, her heart beat faster and she had a knot in her stomach. Sometimes it's not even rational, it's instinctive. The fear, the horror, the despair, the fact that you are reminded of those terrible experiences... Although the person you have in front of you is innocent and probably wasn't even born back then. It takes struggle to overcome all that and sometimes never do.

[@mailinglist2451]

@@irmar my heart goes out to your mom to live with such fear, even though the Nazi regime is gone now. It’s seemingly incomprehensible for folks whose relatives didn’t endure such atrocities.

[@werthersoriginal]

@@irmar A lot of my family has been robbed by black people. So by using your own logic... You see how that doesn't work? Your argument is that some prejudice is ok as long as it's socially acceptable. The people of Germany thought the same about Jews because it was socially acceptable at the time. Your argument creates a quandary.

[@josesch2703]

The life has no fault or right it is just life but if you follow man to cliff that is your fault and if you dream of heaven but their is no heaven that is also selfish so if you want to know what is meaning of life life ask your self that question. . The life is open book but you must share the ideas of life to be empathy of humanity but not foolish in this look up Pucius😂

[@tgfbeta1017]

Great Book, a Horrible TV drama.

[@nf3805]

Tf u toxic

[@calitaliarepublic6753]

I read that she screwed up a bunch of details with anachronisms in the first half of the 20th century. That's what you get when an American who barely speaks Korean and only lived in Japan for a few years tries to write a book about Koreans living in Japan.

[@nomomania6827]

I haven't read anything about screw ups, otherwise scholars would've been all over it. What source of legitimate published article did you read that from? She did extensive years of research and countless interviews, it took her 30 years to produce this NY Times best seller. Good for her!

[@calitaliarepublic6753]

@@nomomania6827 Read the article “The Misplaced Props in Pachinko” on the blog Ask a Korean!

[@nomomania6827]

​@@calitaliarepublic6753 Ask a Korean blog is supposed to be a legitimate published article? 😂 Is he a scholar? Are you his fan? He's a Korean American raised in the US. Any blogger should be taken with a grain of salt and it looks like he's no longer in the business of blogging.....I wonder why 😂.

[@calitaliarepublic6753]

@@nomomania6827 Actually he grew up in Korea until high school, meaning he lived in Korean society about twice as long as Min Jin Lee. So yeah, I trust his knowledge of Korean culture more. And if you actually read the article, you’d see how bad her mistakes were. Like she has characters in the early 20th century using modern slang. You don’t really need a “legitimate published article” to point out that kind of mistake, just general knowledge of Korean culture that Min Jin Lee clearly lacks.

[@nomomania6827]

@calitaliarepublic6753 For NY Times best seller, you would think scholars and Korean scholars including historians and novelists would've challenged it with scrutiny and legitimate articles would've been published against it since its release in 2017. But there's nothing out there, not one. Ask a Korean is out of business, he's had lots of backlash from what I recall even during the peak blogging era.