Diasporic and Peripheral Vulnerabilities in Min Jin Lee’s <i>Pachinko</i> Diasporične in periferne ranljivosti v romanu <i>Pachinko </i>avtorice Min Jin Lee

Stanciu, Catalina (author)

The aim of this paper is to discuss the representations of Zainichi (the Korean Diaspora in Japan) and other peripheral identities in Min Jin Lee’s novel Pachinko (2017). The paper will focus on the intersection between diaspora, as well as other marginal categories, and vulnerability. Regarded here as contiguous to the field of diaspora, the paradigm of vulnerability will be explored according to its multiple facets, while suggesting that layered vulnerabilities fabricate the psyche of the characters in the novel. Apart from the (trans)generational trauma and the vulnerability that the Zainichi family faces in the novel, it is important to verify whether or how the writer opens up space for resistance, forms of empowerment or solidarity. In other words, the following question will be posed: is there something more than vulnerability and trauma that defines marginal identities? Lastly, in distinguishing between diasporic and peripheral identities, a few main and secondary characters will be discussed in parallel in order to explore the dynamic interplay between periphery and centre.

• Language: English
• Keywords: vulnerability, trauma, diaspora, Pachinko, Min Jin Lee
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 17.03.2025
• Number of pages: Str. 111-131
• Numbering: Vol. 13, no. suppl.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-178233
• ISSN: 2232-5131
• eISSN: 2350-4226
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/as.2025.13.sup.111-131
• Publication date in RUL: 21.01.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Asian studies
• Publisher: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 2232-5131
• COBISS.SI-ID: 265206272

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Diasporične in periferne ranljivosti v romanu Pachinko avtorice Min Jin Lee

Abstract

Namen tega prispevka je razpravljati o reprezentacijah Zainichijev (korejske diaspore na Japonskem) in drugih perifernih identitet v romanu Pachinko (2017) avtorice Min Jin Lee. Prispevek se bo osredotočil na presečišče med diasporo ter drugimi marginalnimi kategorijami in ranljivostjo. Paradigma ranljivosti, ki jo obravnavamo kot sorodno polju diaspore, bo raziskana glede na svoje številne vidike, pri čemer bo nakazano, da večplastna ranljivost ustvarja psiho likov v romanu. Poleg (trans)generacijske travme in ranljivosti, s katero se v romanu sooča družina Zainichijev, je pomembno preveriti, ali in kako pisateljica odpira prostor za odpor, oblike opolnomočenja ali solidarnosti. Z drugimi besedami, zastavljeno bo naslednje vprašanje: ali obstaja še kaj več od ranljivosti in travme, kar opredeljuje marginalne identitete? Nazadnje bo pri razlikovanju med diasporičnimi ter obrobnimi identitetami vzporedno obravnavanih nekaj glavnih in stranskih likov, da bi raziskali dinamično vzajemno delovanje med obrobjem in središčem.

• Keywords: ranljivost, travma, diaspora, Pachinko, Min Jin Lee