Pachinko

When Yoseb comes home, he cannot find 6-year-old Noa, Noa’s baby brother Mozasu, or anyone else. At the church, he learns that Isak, Pastor Yoo, and Hu were arrested that morning because Hu was silently reciting the Lord’s Prayer “when they were supposed to be pledging allegiance to the Emperor” (151). Yoseb is frightened, knowing that Isak’s poor health will make it very difficult for him in jail. The police refuse to release Isak, despite Yoseb’s pleas. At home, they wonder who they can turn to for help, and realize that there is no one who with the power or desire to help them.

Every morning, Sunja brings food to the police station for Isak, hoping that he will receive it. But she is also practical, knowing she must be prepared if the worst happens. She decides to be a peddler, selling kimchi in the market, despite Yoseb’s attempts to stop her. Even he realizes that they need money. The other vendors insult her and tell her to move. She moves her cart to the train station entrance, next to a butcher. She shouts, “Kimchi! Delicious kimchi! Try this delicious kimchi, and never make it at home again!” (159). The only one to buy from her is the butcher who is working next to her.

Sunja decides not to go home until she sells her whole jar. Kyunghee, who is taking care of the kids at home, visits her at lunch so Sunja can nurse Mozasu. Kyunghee admires her bravery. The more Sunja works, the more she realizes that she can sell whatever kimchi they make, “and this ability to sell had given her a kind of strength” (161). When she does not have the ingredients for kimchi, she sells other things, including candy. When someone asks her for kimchi, she says she only has candy. The person then asks when Sunja will have more kimchi because he wants it for his restaurant, saying, “My name is Kim Changho, and I manage the yakiniku restaurant right by Tsuruhashi Station. News of your excellent kimchi has spread far” (163).

Kyunghee accompanies Sunja to the restaurant, but when they meet Kim Changho, Kyunghee is too nervous to speak. Sunja talks with Kim, and learns that Kim wants them to work in the kitchen since they have the necessary ingredients and equipment. Kyunghee does not like the idea of working in the kitchen, but Kim offers them a large salary, almost double Yoseb’s salary. They realize that with so much money, they would be able to afford more to eat as well as send more money to their parents.

When they ask Yoseb about the job, he erupts in anger, but he also knows how much they need money.

When Noa, who is now 8 years old, comes home from school, he discovers a filthy man in his home and screams. He does not recognize his father at first, until the man says, “It’s appa [daddy]” (177). Noa gets him water, and when Isak quickly falls asleep, Noa runs to the restaurant to get his mother. Sunja rushes back with Noa. She remembers what the others said, “that the Korean prisoners were usually sent home just as they were about to die, so that they would not die in jail” (179).

When they get home, Noa asks to get Yoseb, and Sunja agrees. Isak wakes up and sees Sunja. She can see how much he’s suffered. Isak tells her that the sexton and the pastor died the day before.

When Noa tells Yoseb about Isak, Yoseb can see his boss watching him. He knows that the boss would never allow him to go home, so he tells Noa that he will be home in a few hours. 

Sunja sends Noa to get the pharmacist while she tends to Isak. She is sickened to see his body so broken and bruised: “There was no one as good as Isak. He’d tried to understand her, to respect her feelings; he’d never once brought up her shame” (186). When he wakes, she tells him about their boys, and feels great delight in her great pride in their boys. Isak asks God to let him live long enough to see them.

When Kyunghee arrives with Mozasu, there is great joy. Mozasu sits with Isak, calling him “Papa” and reaching for his face. Yoseb arrives and does not hide his shock over his brother’s emaciated and broken figure. He is heartbroken and angry. When Kyunghee brings him a blade to shave Isak, he is grateful to have the task. Yoseb says, “Isak-ah, why did I bring you to this hell? I was so lonesome for you. I was wrong, you know, to bring you here, and now I’m punished for my selfishness” (190).

The next day, Yoseb and Kyunghee go to work. Noa asks if he can stay home from school to be with Isak. Isak talks to him about his schoolwork, praising him for being a “fine scholar” (192). Isak then tells him he must go to school, emphasizing that he must persevere despite their hardships: “The thing that would make your appa happy is if you do as well as you’ve been doing. Wherever you go, you represent our family, and you must be an excellent person—at school, in town, and in the world” (192).

Isak counsels him to learn to have compassion for everyone, even his enemies: “Men may be unfair, but the Lord is fair” (192). Noa does not want to leave his father, but obeys his wish.