Min Jin Lee

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Min Jin Lee stands as a towering figure in contemporary literature, having transformed the landscape of Asian American fiction. Her novel Pachinko broke barriers by becoming a global phenomenon, earning her a spot among the most celebrated authors of her generation. She was the first Korean American author to win the Manhae Grand Prize for Literature, a testament to her profound impact on the genre. Her appointment as New York State Author Laureate further cements her legacy as a vital cultural voice.

AwardsMin Jin Lee has received numerous prestigious awards for her contributions to literature. She won the Manhae Grand Prize for Literature for Pachinko and was a finalist for the National Book Award in Fiction. Her work has also been recognized with fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. In 2025, she was appointed the New York State Author Laureate.

Honours & Distinctions

New York State Author Laureate

New York State Governor's Office·2025

Appointed to serve a two-year term promoting literature and literacy across the state.

Guggenheim Fellowship

John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation·2015

Awarded for exceptional creative capacity in fiction.

Radcliffe Institute Fellowship

Harvard University·2014

Residency at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

Rankings & Lists

#12

Top 100 Contemporary Authors

The Guardian·2023

Best Books of the Century So Far

The New York Times·2020

Magazine Covers

TIME Magazine

March 2026

The Voice of a Generation

Vogue

June 2018

Writing History

Records & Feats

First Korean American to Win Manhae Grand Prize

Historic First·2018

Min Jin Lee became the first Korean American author to receive this prestigious international literature award.

Longest Running Bestseller List Entry

Career Milestone·2023

Pachinko remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for over two years due to the TV adaptation.