Deb JJ Lee, author of “In Limbo” / Courtesy of the author

Deb JJ Lee, a Korean American illustrator and author, has struck a chord with readers in the United States and even in Korea as the author's book “In Limbo” was recognized as Cartoon of the Month in September by the Korea Cartoonist Association (KCA).

The graphic memoir's raw, autobiographical portrayal of a young Korean American grappling with identity and belonging has been lauded for its emotional depth and universality since its publication in March 2023. It was translated into Korean in August, extending its reach to audiences in the author's homeland.

Lee, who is nonbinary and uses they/them, said they are pleased that the book is well-received as a good representation of the Korean diaspora struggling with their identity.

“I'm so thankful!” Lee told The Korea Times during a recent email interview. “While working on the book, I always hoped for a Korean translation, but I wasn't sure how it would resonate with readers in Korea. Most of my family isn't fluent in English, so this became a way for them to learn about my experiences after leaving Korea. That opportunity alone made me overjoyed.”

Although Lee lives in New York and works in the U.S., they maintain a strong connection to their Korean identity. This is evident not only in Lee's illustrations and graphic novels, but also on their website, debleeart.com, as they uses two "jieut" (a consonant of the Korean alphabet) in the logo instead of their English middle name "JJ” on the bio page. This subtle detail highlights the unique way Lee expresses their Korean American identity.

'In Limbo' and 'Oekkeopul'

“In Limbo” follows Deborah, whose Korean name is Jung-jin, a teenage girl navigating the turbulence of puberty while feeling out of place in her Korean American identity.

Set against a backdrop of cultural dissonance, familial tensions and teenage insecurities, the book delves into the universal struggles of growing up while highlighting the unique challenges of being part of the Korean diaspora.

It received the Young Adult Honor at the 2024 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature, an esteemed award, with the KCA praising the graphic memoir for its vivid portrayal of alienation and loneliness, especially during puberty.

However, Lee emphasized that the book isn't just for those who share their cultural background.

“I wanted the book to be known for its feelings of loneliness, anxiety and relationships,” Lee said. “There are so many books out there that effectively convey the feeling of Korean American diaspora, but the book is also meant for non-Koreans as well. I joke with people that the story is perfect for people who are either: Asian, depressed or both.”

The Korean edition of the memoir is titled “Oekkeopul,” meaning single eyelid in English. It is chosen by its Korea publisher Changbi Publishers to reflect Deborah's feelings of alienation in a society where double eyelids are seen as the norm.

Lee supports the decision, hoping that the Korean title will resonate more with Korean readers.

“At first I was told that a direct translation of 'In Limbo' doesn't exist in Korean, since it's more of an English expression that would not translate well directly. I trusted their judgement on it, since they know the audience better than I do!”

Cover of the Korean version of Deb JJ Lee's “In Limbo” / Courtesy of Changbi Publishers

From short comics to full-length memoir

The idea for “In Limbo” began with a short and deeply personal comic about the language barriers within their immigrant family. After posting it online, the piece went viral and the overwhelming response encouraged them to expand the concept into a full-length memoir.

"At first, when I moved to the Bay Area I felt out of place again. Now I was surrounded by a bunch of East Asian families, including Korean ones. Watching Korean families gathering in large spaces, I realized that I didn't have an 'in' this time because my parents weren't here to help me feel part of the community. I felt pretty self-conscious about it, so I vented this confusion into a short, two to four page comic that I posted online about language barriers between generations in my family,” Lee said.

"Michelle Zauner of 'Crying in H Mart' reposted it and it went viral! That's when my literary agent and I started working on a pitch of a bigger version of the original comic. This book would be my first full-length comic."

The process of crafting “In Limbo” was both cathartic and challenging, the author added.

“I tried to make it as real to the experience as possible. The story is very similar to how it was in real life, but to make it as readable to an audience as possible, I had to change the order of certain events, combine a bunch of characters and scenes into one, and remove a good amount of details as well,” Lee said. “When I first drafted the book, it was originally over 500 pages! I had to cut down on so much so it would be readable.”

Seen is a page from a Korean edition of “In Limbo” by Deb JJ Lee. Courtesy of Changbi Publishers

Embracing teens, immigrants

As someone who experienced severe growing pains during adolescence, the author offers heartfelt advice to teenagers feeling isolated.

“The world is so much bigger and more important than what is going on in middle or high school. Even in college I realized that my mental health soared when I found places to be that wasn't my immediate environment. I had places to be, people to meet. It's not so much running away from your problems as it is expanding your worldview,” Lee said.

The author added this perspective is also key for those struggling with their immigrant identity.

“This could be the same about being born into immigrant families; sometimes in an environment where you can't find people like yourself, you have to go out further to make your own community,” they said.

Art as lifelong passion

Lee, who introduces themselves as an illustrator, divides their time between commercial illustration and storytelling through comics and graphic novels.

“I think illustration encompasses all the arts I'm involved in, even cartooning! Half of my work life is spent on standalone pieces for book covers and other commercial work. For instance, I got to do illustrations for BMW, Johnnie Walker and McDonalds. They are definitely higher-paying jobs too,” Lee said.

“The other half is used for graphic novels, comics and now picture books. They pay much less but I think they have a longer life span and are in a better position to touch people's hearts.”

When asked about their connection to Korean comics, also called manhwa, Lee expressed admiration, naming some Korean cartoonists.

“I'm only a little familiar with Manhwa! The drawings that I see in manhwa in general (and in Korea, when I'm visiting) feel much more comedic and expressive than ones I see in Western drawings. There is so much originality and distinction between each character design that makes them hard to forget!,” Lee said.

“My favorite manhwas that I keep thinking about are ‘Umma's Table' by Hong Yeon-sik and ‘Grass' by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim. They're extremely good at portraying the heaviness of loss and injustice with little words. Especially with ‘Grass,' I have a hard time getting through 10 pages without needing to take a break.”