Perceived as a model immigrant by white standards, he built a successful life for his family in the United States but harbors anger from past hardships in Korea.

Emigrated to the U.S. with her husband, she struggled to integrate due to language barriers and had a complex relationship with Hong, impacting the author's perspective on maternal narratives.

An African American standup comedian known for tackling racial issues head-on, he inspired Hong to adopt a more confrontational approach in her work.

A Taiwanese American visual artist and Hong's college friend, who insists that her personal history should not overshadow her artistic identity.

A Korean international student and artist with a turbulent personality, whose volatile behavior impacts her friendship with Hong.

A Korean American poet and professor who played a pivotal role in mentoring Hong and encouraging her to embrace her cultural and linguistic identity in her poetry.

An avant-garde Korean American poet known for her multilingual work, who faced a tragic end and significantly influenced Hong's literary journey.