Pachinko: Book 1, Chapter 14 Summary & Analysis

The next morning, Isak finds his way to Ikaino’s Hanguk Presbyterian Church, where he’ll be the associate pastor. There he meets Hu, a young Chinese man who’d been rescued and raised by Pastor Yoo as an orphan and now serves as the church’s sexton. Pastor Yoo, who’s suffering from severe glaucoma and can’t see well, is counseling a pair of young siblings in his office, but stops to joyfully greet and bless Isak.

Pastor Yoo is counseling a girl of about 20 and her younger brother. They’re from rural Korea and have come to Japan for work. The girl accompanies her married boss to restaurants for extra cash and sends the money home to her family; her younger brother says this is sinful. The sister maintains that she’s willing to be disgraced in order to honor her parents. Since they don’t know Japanese, they’re stuck in low-paying jobs that barely cover expenses and the brother’s schooling.

Listening to this discussion, Isak feels foolish, realizing he’s never had to worry about money. Pastor Yoo warns the girl that she needs to be careful of her virtue and that her boss might want more than dates later. Her brother can postpone his schooling and get a job to help so that his sister doesn’t feel the need to earn cash by questionable means. He asks Isak to pray for the young people.

As Pastor Yoo, Hu, and Isak eat lunch, Pastor Yoo talks to Isak about his wages, which will hardly be enough to support one man. He’d been counting on Isak’s family being able to support him, but Isak explains that his parents have had to sell off much of their land to pay the exorbitant colonial taxes. Isak feels ashamed by the realization that he’ll have nothing to contribute to Yoseb’s household. Pastor Yoo assures him that the Lord will provide for their material needs.