Sunday Pick: Min Jin Lee | from Design Matters

Writing serves as a profound act of moral and social inquiry, particularly when exploring the complexities of the Korean diaspora. Min Jin Lee, author of *Pachinko* and *Free Food for Millionaires*, emphasizes the necessity of viewing oneself as an artist long before external validation arrives. Her work challenges postmodern nihilism by constructing narratives that affirm meaning, purpose, and the resilience of ordinary people whom history often overlooks. Navigating a career transition from corporate law to literature required immense personal vulnerability and the courage to inhabit an identity despite initial failures and financial instability. Faith and a rigorous commitment to research underpin her creative process, allowing her to capture the truth of human experience. Ultimately, the pursuit of writing demands choosing the important over the urgent, transforming personal struggles into a broader, compassionate understanding of survival and human dignity.