In an interview on The Asian American Experience

But my next book is by a fourth generation Korean American and what I really love about this is that, even though there is talk of race in the book, it really doesn’t matter. It’s a backdrop and you could substitute the race for African American or Hispanic because the stories are much more human. It’s nice to have an Asian American writer that transcends race. This collection is like Joyce’s Dubliners in a way in that the stories are all set in the same town and the characters weave in and out.

Is there a distinct Korean American experience?

Most cities have a Korea Town like a China Town. In New York it’s right there on 32nd Street and this book does talk about Korean America rather than Korea. It’s a common experience to be brought up in America by Korean parents who are very traditional and for the kid to feel the pull of both cultures. I came here when I was ten and of the 300 kids in my class at school there were maybe three Asians. For a good part of my life I wouldn’t say I shied away from everything Korean, but I felt more white. It’s all about fitting in when you’re young. But now it’s much different. Now I do like the fact that I’m not the same as everyone else. Where I live, out in the countryside here, 1% of people are perhaps Asian. Not that it’s backward, but I’m not going to find any Asian American enclave.