Peak

Until he meets Sun-jo, there is no mention of Peak having friends. It is unclear whether this is because of his isolated upbringing or because he doesn’t know anyone else who climbs, but friendship with people outside his family is not something Peak either has or needs at the beginning of the novel. His easy and immediate camaraderie with Sun-jo implies that this has been lacking, even if he has not consciously felt it.

On one hand, Peak feels camaraderie with Sun-jo because they are both climbers of the same age. On the other, this puts them in direct competition with one another. Peak realizes this when he sees that Sun-jo is a serious climber, and Peak is excited that there is someone on the trip who will challenge him. It brings out his competitiveness, which can be a positive quality between friends if it helps them both achieve their goals and have fun. However, friends in competition with each other risk resentment and jealousy—even a possible end to their friendship—and this is what Peak experiences when he loses his place in the media spotlight to Sun-jo. He is even more gutted when he learns, or assumes, that Josh brought Sun-jo as Peak’s replacement in case Peak cannot make the climb.