American Hagwon Characters

Mido is the youngest Koh daughter, a shy student who moves with her family from Sydney to Seoul and later to California. She is quiet and observant but speaks up when she wants to study with Yun, and she later becomes a tutor, playwright, and Fortress Academy administrator.

Arc: She grows from a girl relieved to avoid notice into a caregiver and wage earner for her family, postponing college and ending her relationship with Tek to stay with her work and family. After Helen's death she returns to Fortress and eventually decides she wants to return to school and California with Peter.

• Helen Koh — her mother
• John Koh — her father
• Bo — her older brother
• DH — her older brother
• Yun Kim — her best friend and co-worker
• Peter Son — her co-worker and secret boyfriend
• Tek — her former boyfriend
• Lion Han — her boss at Fortress
• Ginny Noh — her student and later co-worker

Helen Koh is John's wife and the mother of Mido, Bo, and DH; she manages the family's tight budgets, schooling, and moves. She works sales jobs and later becomes a home health aide, and she worries most about Mido's shyness and the children's education.

Arc: She pushes the family through returns and relocations, then is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and chooses palliative care at home. She dies in 2000 after distributing keepsakes and asking her family to care for one another.

• John Koh — her husband
• Mido — her daughter
• Bo — her son
• DH — her son
• Sonya Cho — her older sister
• Kenny — her younger brother
• Nari — her friend
• Mrs. Chung — her employer

John Koh, also called Koh Yohan, is Helen's husband and a former HRI manager who is ordered by Shin to fire Danbi Jung. After Danbi stages an assault, he is forced out and later works in restaurants and a nail salon.

Arc: He moves from corporate work to kitchen and salon jobs, refuses Shin's money and job offers, and becomes an elder and caretaker for Anna after Shin's death. He keeps a ledger to repay Sonya and believes Helen's death was his fault.

• Helen Koh — his wife
• Mido — his daughter
• Bo — his son
• DH — his son
• Sonya Cho — his sister-in-law
• Taehun Shin — his oldest friend and former boss
• Danbi Jung — his subordinate and accuser
• Nari — his employer
• Anna — his ward after Shin's death

Bo, also called Bo-hun, is the eldest Koh son, a determined student who fails repeatedly to enter Yonsei and later studies psychology at Fullerton and UCLA. He works long hours at Exodus to support the family and is serious about finishing a PhD.

Arc: He moves from repeated Suneung attempts to community college and doctoral study, learns to value growth over prestige, and begins dating Priscilla. He remains a steady family support and helps care for Anna.

• Helen Koh — his mother
• John Koh — his father
• Mido — his sister
• DH — his brother
• Sonya Cho — his aunt
• Isul — his gosiwon friend
• Priscilla Banks — his girlfriend
• Lion Han — his friend and employer
• Anna — a child he helps care for

Danbi Jung is Shin's mistress and later wife, John's subordinate at HRI, and a church elder and insurance business owner. She is ambitious, secretive, and willing to manipulate people and money.

Arc: She moves from pressuring Shin to leave Mary, to staging an assault against John, to secretly flipping houses and embezzling church and insurance funds. She is arrested, jailed, and asks John to care for Anna.

• Taehun Shin — her husband and former lover
• John Koh — her former manager and accuser
• Mary — Shin's wife and her rival
• George Hong — her lover and accomplice
• Anna — her daughter
• Frank Lim — her cousin

Mr. Na is Mido's homeroom and math teacher in Seoul who strikes her palms with a brass ruler for erasing a wrong answer. He believes students must admit errors and that girls should be stoic.

Arc: He visits Helen, tells her Mido is behind, and leaves his briefcase open so Helen can place cash in it. He does not change or express remorse in the notes.

• Mido — his student
• Helen Koh — Mido's mother
• Yun Kim — his student

DH is the second Koh son, a gifted soccer player and student who attends Andover and Yale and later Columbia law school. He is ambitious, financially anxious, and closely tied to Peter as his best friend.

Arc: He moves from scholarship student to corporate lawyer, then leaves a Los Angeles firm for Kim & Gong in Seoul. He grieves Helen, supports Mido, and eventually warns her about Tek and Peter.

• Helen Koh — his mother
• John Koh — his father
• Bo — his brother
• Mido — his sister
• Peter Son — his best friend
• Renee Cha — his secret benefactor
• Sonya Cho — his aunt
• Jack Pockett — his managing partner

Yun Kim is Mido's school friend and class president in Seoul, later a UCLA student, Exodus co-worker, and Lion's wife. She is warm, practical, and protective of Mido.

Arc: She moves from helping Mido survive Mr. Na's classroom to marrying Lion secretly, running Exodus and Fortress with him, and becoming a mother. She remains Mido's closest friend and co-worker.

• Mido — her best friend
• Nari — her mother
• Joonho — her father
• Lion Han — her husband
• Ginny Noh — her ward
• Michael — her son

Sonya Cho is Helen's older sister, married to Yong-gil and entangled with Chairman Mun, who chose her as Yong-gil's bride. She is pragmatic, status-conscious, and determined to protect and provide for her family.

Arc: She moves from advising Helen to becoming the Chairman's lover, leaving Korea for California, buying the Rose Salon, and building a business. She cares for Helen in illness and later offers work to John and Nari.

• Helen Koh — her sister
• John Koh — her brother-in-law
• Yong-gil — her husband
• Chairman Mun — her lover and employer
• Bo — her nephew
• Mido — her niece
• Nari — her employee and friend
• Mrs. Im — her housekeeper

Peter Son is DH's best friend, Renee Cha's son, a former Andover and Pomona student, and later a Fortress teacher and musician. He is private about his wealthy family and skeptical of marriage.

Arc: He moves from a restless student to a committed teacher and hagwon operator, becomes Mido's secret boyfriend, and follows her to Seoul for Fortress. He supports Mido's return to school and agrees to have children with her.

• Renee Cha — his mother
• DH — his best friend
• Mido — his girlfriend
• Lion Han — his bandmate and employer
• Ginny Noh — his student
• Tom Song — his former teacher

Taehun Shin is John's oldest friend and former boss at HRI, later an insurance broker and church elder. He is caught between Danbi, Mary, and his sons and is described as weak and ashamed.

Arc: He forces John out to contain the Danbi scandal, leaves Mary for Danbi, and eventually asks John to care for Anna before dying by suicide. His death leaves Anna with John's family.

• John Koh — his oldest friend and former subordinate
• Danbi Jung — his wife and former lover
• Mary — his wife
• Anna — his daughter
• Joey — his son
• Luke — his son
• Patrick — his son

Lion Han is Yun's husband, the owner of Exodus and Fortress, and a musician. He is idealistic about education, skeptical of test-driven prestige, and practical about building hagwons.

Arc: He moves from Yun's suitor to her secret husband, expands Exodus into Fortress, and becomes a father. He gives lectures against the Hong Gildong myth and eventually welcomes Nari and Joonho to live nearby.

• Yun Kim — his wife
• Mido — his employee
• Peter Son — his bandmate and employee
• Nari — his mother-in-law
• Joonho — his father-in-law
• Ginny Noh — his ward
• Michael — his son

Nari is Yun's mother, Joonho's wife, and the manager of Shrimp Castle and later the Rose Salon. She is hardworking, blunt, and devoted to Yun and her grandson Michael.

Arc: She moves from running Shrimp Castle and enduring Joonho's disappearance to working at the Rose Salon and bringing Joonho home from Brazil. She remains close to Helen's family and helps John.

• Joonho — her husband
• Yun Kim — her daughter
• Michael — her grandson
• John Koh — her employee and friend
• Sonya Cho — her employer
• Helen Koh — her friend

Mary is Shin's wife, mother of Joey, Luke, and Patrick, and a florist in New Jersey. She is religious, private, and determined to protect her sons from scandal.

Arc: She refuses divorce for years, then brings Shin divorce papers after Danbi's arrest, and later asks John to speak with Shin. After Shin's death she considers taking Anna but refuses to be his friend.

• Taehun Shin — her husband
• Joey — her son
• Luke — her son
• Patrick — her son
• Danbi Jung — her rival
• John Koh — her acquaintance through Shin and Helen
• Helen Koh — her friend

Chairman Mun is Yong-gil's uncle, Sonya's employer, and the controlling patriarch of the Mun family and company. He is powerful, possessive, and willing to arrange marriages and money to keep control.

Arc: He chooses Sonya for Yong-gil, becomes her lover, and refuses to allow divorce or scandal. He buys her an apartment and promises stock and money, but cannot keep her from leaving for California.

• Yong-gil — his nephew
• Sonya Cho — his lover and nephew's wife
• Mrs. Im — his housekeeper
• Seungman — his grandnephew
• Jiman — his grandnephew

Yong-gil is Sonya's husband and Chairman Mun's nephew, president of Mun Realty. He is suspicious of Sonya and the Chairman and uses hostess bars and sexual aggression to assert control.

Arc: He confronts the Chairman about Sonya's stock, forces himself on Sonya, and continues the family breakfast as if nothing changed. He is repeatedly described as having affairs and never opening Sonya's locked doors.

• Sonya Cho — his wife
• Chairman Mun — his uncle
• Boram — a hostess he uses at Sticks & Stones
• Seungman — his son
• Jiman — his son

George Hong is Sobin's husband, a church elder, and cohead of the Nominating Committee with Danbi. He becomes Danbi's lover and real-estate mentor and borrows from the church building fund for her.

Arc: He helps Danbi flip houses, takes church money, and is arrested after the Finance Committee discovers the missing funds. He confesses and implicates Danbi.

• Sobin Ha — his wife
• Danbi Jung — his lover and accomplice
• John Koh — fellow church elder

Ginny Noh is an eleven-year-old student at Exodus who is taken in by Yun and Lion. She is bright, lonely, and determined to become a doctor.

Arc: She moves from a precarious homestay with Mrs. Chiu to living with Yun and Lion, then works at Fortress Seoul and attends UCLA. She gives Yun a fake designer wallet and promises to repay her guardians.

• Yun Kim — her guardian
• Lion Han — her guardian
• Mido — her teacher and later co-worker
• Mrs. Chiu — her former homestay guardian
• Peter Son — her teacher

Tek is Mido's Australian boyfriend and later former boyfriend, a commerce and law student from Sydney. He is casual, persistent, and often misreads Mido's family and Korean social codes.

Arc: He follows Mido to California, proposes, and refuses to accept her decision to stay with her family; later he meets her in Seoul and again urges her to return to Sydney. Mido ends the relationship.

• Mido — his girlfriend and later former girlfriend
• Professor Yoon — his mother
• Professor Do — his father
• Peter Son — Mido's co-worker who meets him
• Bo — Mido's brother who meets him

Renee Cha is Peter's divorced mother, Tom Song's college friend, and the wealthy owner of the building housing Eagle. She secretly funds DH's scholarship and later backs Fortress Seoul.

Arc: She moves from arranging Peter's schooling to funding and organizing Fortress Seoul partly to bring Peter back to Korea. She advises Mido and Peter about reputation and meets Mido as Peter's girlfriend.

• Peter Son — her son
• DH — her secret scholarship recipient
• Tom Song — her college friend
• Mido — Peter's girlfriend
• Lion Han — her business collaborator

Tom Song is the owner and co-founder of Eagle Academy with Clara, and a former mentor to Peter and Mido. He believes education should make independent problem solvers rather than test performers.

Arc: He assesses the Koh children, arranges DH's anonymous Andover scholarship, and later proposes Fortress Seoul as a joint venture. He admits the subterfuge was worth it.

• Clara Song — his wife and co-founder
• Peter Son — his former student
• Mido — his former student
• Renee Cha — his college friend
• Lion Han — his business partner in Fortress Seoul

Sean Morgan is an Eagle Academy teacher and assessor who comforts Mido during her assessment and later accidentally reveals Yun's move to California. He values psychological resilience and caring guidance.

Arc: He assesses the Koh children, urges Eagle to accept all three, and remains a supportive teacher figure. He is partnered with Mark and will not leave him.

• Mido — his student
• Yun Kim — his student
• Tom Song — his colleague
• Clara Song — his colleague
• Peter Son — his student
• Mark — his partner

Clara Song is Tom's wife and co-owner of Eagle Academy. She interviews the Koh children and manages the waitlist and assessments.

Arc: She helps assess the Koh children and later, at Fortress, suggests keeping the program small and charging double. She leaves meetings for mother groups and asks for final numbers.

• Tom Song — her husband and co-founder
• Mido — prospective student
• Helen Koh — prospective parent
• Sean Morgan — her colleague

Joonho is Nari's husband and Yun's father, who runs Shrimp Castle until he leaves for Brazil after family strain. He is ashamed of his failures and tends to disappear.

Arc: He leaves for Brazil after Nari says she should never have married him, sends one postcard, and later runs a clothing store in Bom Retiro. Nari brings him home to meet Michael.

• Nari — his wife
• Yun Kim — his daughter
• Michael — his grandson
• Lion Han — his son-in-law

Kenny is Helen's younger brother living in Sydney with Lily and their children. He hosts Mido and Yun and later visits Seoul, urging Mido to finish her degree.

Arc: He helps the Koh family during their Sydney stay and remains a supportive uncle. He shares memories of Helen and tells Mido that Helen worried about her most.

• Helen Koh — his sister
• Sonya Cho — his sister
• Lily Hughes Cho — his wife
• Mido — his niece
• DH — his nephew
• Henry — his son

Lily Hughes Cho is Kenny's wife, works in the bursar's office at Erickson, and hosts Mido and Yun in Sydney. She urges Helen to call Mary and helps arrange the girls' exchange attendance.

Arc: She supports the Koh family during the Sydney stay and pushes Helen to confront Shin's wife. She remains a supportive sister-in-law.

• Kenny — her husband
• Helen Koh — her sister-in-law
• Mido — her niece
• Yun Kim — her guest
• Henry — her son

Mrs. Chung owns the Emporium and hires Helen on a commission arrangement. She is businesslike and dislikes sharing profits but respects Helen's poise.

Arc: She gives Helen a trial and later employs her through the family's financial struggles. She introduces Helen to Mrs. Kwon and observes Sobin Ha's frugality.

• Helen Koh — her employee
• Nari — her acquaintance
• Mrs. Kwon — her friend
• Sobin Ha — her customer

Mrs. Kwon owns the Rose Salon and is Marcus's mother. She is proud, wary of Danbi, and reluctant to retire.

Arc: She warns the church table that Danbi and her family are snakes, sells the Rose Salon to Sonya, and agrees to train John as manager. She remains protective of Marcus.

• Marcus Yim — her son
• Sonya Cho — the buyer of her salon
• John Koh — her salon manager
• Mrs. Chung — her friend
• Danbi Jung — a woman she distrusts

Marcus Yim is Mrs. Kwon's son and a doctor who attends church with her. He is drawn to Danbi and defends her to his mother.

Arc: He gives Danbi office information for Shin's checkup and questions his mother's condemnation of Danbi. He is pulled away by Mrs. Kwon and warned to stay away.

• Mrs. Kwon — his mother
• Danbi Jung — a woman who flirts with him
• Taehun Shin — Danbi's husband and his patient

Sobin Ha is George Hong's wife, a church elder, and a social leader. She nominates John Koh for the Nominating Committee and remembers Helen selling her a suitcase.

Arc: She supports John's nomination and rebukes Danbi's insult, while also complaining about Asian admissions disadvantage. She remains unaware of George's affair until the arrests.

• George Hong — her husband
• John Koh — her nominee
• Helen Koh — a former saleswoman she remembers
• Danbi Jung — her rival

Frank Lim is Danbi's cousin and the owner of a property and casualty brokerage in Orange County. He sponsors Danbi and Shin and advises them condescendingly.

Arc: He gives Danbi and Shin desks and business advice, then later refuses contact with Danbi unless under contract. He remains a condescending but useful relative.

• Danbi Jung — his cousin
• Bina — his wife
• Taehun Shin — Danbi's husband and business partner

Bina is Frank Lim's wife and Danbi's cousin-in-law, a church elder who keeps up with family news. She lunches with Danbi and Frank and advises Danbi on insurance.

Arc: She remains a conduit of family information and later, with Frank, refuses to take Anna. She is described as keeping up with everything back home.

• Frank Lim — her husband
• Danbi Jung — her cousin-in-law

Bonhwa Han is a vice-chairman of HRG, Kang Joonah's husband, and Danbi's former mentor and lover. He later tries to buy Danbi's Bear Creek house at a lower price.

Arc: He gives Danbi money and investment advice after Shin is fired, then becomes possessive until she ends it. He later delays the house sale and demands a price cut, leaving Danbi without the money she needs.

• Danbi Jung — his former lover and prospective buyer
• Kang Joonah — his wife
• Taehun Shin — his former subordinate

Kang Joonah is Mary's friend from school and church and Helen's Ewha classmate. She intervenes with her husband to offer John a team-leader job in Sydney.

Arc: She helps Mary by getting Bonhwa Han to arrange John's Sydney job with no contact with Danbi. She remains a behind-the-scenes fixer.

• Mary — her friend from school and church
• Helen Koh — her Ewha classmate
• Bonhwa Han — her husband

Mrs. Im is the longtime housekeeper for Sonya and the Chairman and knows their relationship. She is devoted to Sonya and protects the household's secrets.

Arc: She greets Yong-gil, watches him try the Chairman's locked door, and keeps quiet because she is on Sonya's side. She prefers the household as it is.

• Sonya Cho — her employer
• Chairman Mun — her employer
• Yong-gil — the Chairman's nephew

Boram is a hostess at Sticks & Stones whom Yong-gil takes upstairs. She works to repay loans and hopes a man like President Mun can support her acting career.

Arc: She is used by Yong-gil and dismissed after sex. The notes do not show her changing beyond this encounter.

• Yong-gil — her client at Sticks & Stones

Jack Pockett is DH's managing partner at Willings & Crane. He gives DH a $15,000 bonus and evades whether DH can make partner.

Arc: He limits DH's bonus and avoids a partnership promise, prompting DH to look for another job. He does not otherwise change.

• DH — his associate

Professor Kim is Sung's father and Dr. Gu's husband, who pressures Fortress Seoul to admit Sung after the lottery. He stresses Sung's achievements and criticizes Mido's lack of a degree.

Arc: He argues Fortress would benefit from Sung's acceptances but leaves after Dr. Gu asks him to wait outside. He does not get Sung admitted.

• Sung — his son
• Dr. Gu — his wife
• Mido — a Fortress administrator he criticizes

Dr. Gu is Sung's mother and Professor Kim's wife, who explains the family's pressure on Sung and offers Peter and Mido an envelope of tuition money. She apologizes for her husband.

Arc: She tries to buy Sung's admission, then apologizes and explains the family's expectations. She accepts Peter's refusal and Mido's return of the envelope.

• Sung — her son
• Professor Kim — her husband
• Mido — a Fortress administrator

Sung is Professor Kim and Dr. Gu's son, a Fortress Seoul finalist whose Ping-Pong ball is not selected. He feels pressured by his family and wants to go far away.

Arc: He sits through the admissions meeting, talks with Mido outside a convenience store, and accepts her free secret help with applications. He says he is learning to adapt to disappointment.

• Professor Kim — his father
• Dr. Gu — his mother
• Mido — his counselor

Isul is a gosiwon resident studying for civil service exams and working at her aunt's restaurant. She befriends Bo and calls him her little brother.

Arc: She is hospitalized after taking cold medicine, urges Bo to go to America, and promises to pass her exam and get eye surgery. She remains a gosiwon friend.

• Bo — her gosiwon friend
• Big Uncle — an older resident who favors her

Kim Teacher is Bo's hagwon instructor who gives him taffy and a 500-won coin before the Suneung. He believes Bo has prepared well and will do very well.

Arc: He supports Bo before the exam but does not otherwise change. His confidence contrasts with Bo's repeated failure.

• Bo — his student

Big Uncle is a longtime gosiwon resident and bank security guard who favors Isul and Bo. He carries Isul to her room and helps get her to the hospital.

Arc: He helps Isul during her collapse and asks Bo to stay with her. He remains a caretaker in the gosiwon.

• Isul — a favored younger resident
• Bo — a favored younger resident

Ara Yang is Bo's former girlfriend, accepted to SKKU, who offers to wait for him after his Yonsei failure. Bo breaks up with her.

Arc: She invites Bo to study and proposes sex, then offers to wait while he retakes the exam. Bo ends the relationship, and he later stops looking at her Cyworld profile.

• Bo — her former boyfriend

Priscilla Banks is a graduate student in psychology who becomes Bo's friend and later girlfriend. She is broke, direct, and willing to challenge Hattie Cho.

Arc: She jump-starts Bo's car, invites him to a movie, and begins dating him. Bo can see himself marrying her.

• Bo — her boyfriend
• Hattie Cho — a classmate she dislikes
• Dr. Rhoda Wilson — her professor

Hattie Cho is Bo's premed student in Statistics for Psychology who complains about a B and needs all A's for medical school. She seems to mock Bo's poverty.

Arc: She argues with Bo about grades and with Priscilla about her attitude. She remains a grade-grubbing student in Bo's recollection.

• Bo — her teaching assistant
• Priscilla Banks — a classmate who dislikes her

Mr. Shim is a Fortress teacher fired by Peter for using unauthorized SAT tests. Peter says he was providing for his family.

Arc: He is fired for cheating materials and does not appear again in the notes. His firing sparks Peter and Mido's argument about integrity.

• Peter Son — the director who fires him
• Mido — a former colleague

Mrs. Silars is Helen's elderly home health client with Alzheimer's who speaks only Korean. She fails to recognize Mido, screams at her, throws coffee, and slaps Helen.

Arc: She remains confused and aggressive in Hyde Park. Helen continues to care for her until the family leaves Sydney.

• Helen Koh — her caregiver

Scott Cudahy is Helen's manager at Crawford's who lays her off during the Asian financial crisis. He gives her severance and an exemplary reference and later hires her as Mrs. Silars's aide.

Arc: He cuts married salespeople but spares Akemi as a sole provider, then remembers Mrs. Silars and helps Helen find work. He is fair-minded and sorry to deliver bad news.

• Helen Koh — his former employee
• Mrs. Silars — his former client

Mrs. Ku is a customer at Mrs. Chung's Emporium who buys diamond studs for her son's future bride. She asks for a discount and invites Helen to borrow videos.

Arc: She buys the earrings after Helen's sales pitch. Her purchase helps demonstrate Helen's skill.

• Helen Koh — her salesperson
• Mrs. Chung — the shop owner

Mrs. Chiu is Ginny Noh's homestay guardian in Garden Grove who says Ginny's parents owe her $6,000. She refuses to let Ginny stay for free.

Arc: She closes the door on Mido and Peter, then accepts Lion's check for the full debt and lets Ginny leave. She cites the IMF crisis and her own expenses.

• Ginny Noh — her former boarding student
• Mido — Ginny's teacher
• Peter Son — Ginny's teacher
• Lion Han — the man who pays Ginny's debt

Professor Yoon is Tek's mother who suggests Mido join SUDS and tells Tek introverts can learn public speaking. She believes Mido will need oral communication skills.

Arc: She offers advice about theater and communication and remains a supportive professor. She is married to Professor Do.

• Tek — her son
• Mido — her son's girlfriend
• Professor Do — her husband

Professor Do is Tek's father who argues Korean education's memorization and ranking are foolish and that children should not be forced to study. He values intelligent schedules and consistent work.

Arc: He appears mainly through Tek's family background and does not change in the notes. He is married to Professor Yoon.

• Tek — his son
• Professor Yoon — his wife

Trevor Kimball is a SUDS student director who champions Mido's one-act and directs rehearsals. He recognizes Mido's writing and acting ability.

Arc: He pitches Mido's play, directs Cynthia and Harry, and asks Mido to read more. He remains a supportive director.

• Mido — the playwright whose play he directs
• Cynthia Hendrin — an actor he directs
• Harry Chang — an actor he directs

Cynthia Hendrin is an actor playing Mona in Mido's play and Harry's lover. She initially delivers lines coldly, then improves after Trevor's notes.

Arc: She takes direction and becomes curious rather than threatened by Mido. She remains a skilled but prickly actor.

• Harry Chang — her lover and co-star
• Trevor Kimball — her director
• Mido — the playwright

Harry Chang is an actor playing Otto in Mido's play and Cynthia's lover. He initially dismisses Mido but is startled by her reading.

Arc: He notices Mido after she reads Mona's lines and continues reading Otto's lines with her. He remains Cynthia's co-star and lover.

• Cynthia Hendrin — his lover and co-star
• Trevor Kimball — his director
• Mido — his reading partner and playwright

Sarah is Lion's sister and an immigration lawyer who advises Yun on citizenship and Bo's parents on immigration. She helps the family navigate legal status.

Arc: She provides legal advice for Yun's marriage and Bo's family immigration. She does not otherwise change in the notes.

• Lion Han — her brother
• Yun Kim — her client on citizenship
• Bo — her client on family immigration

Ray is Lion's brother in real estate who finds Bo's family a unit in Yun's building. He helps with housing.

Arc: He locates an available unit for Bo and his family. He remains a practical helper.

• Lion Han — his brother
• Bo — his housing contact

Sam Yi is the pastor who secretly marries Yun and Lion in the annex chapel. He respects their wishes but warns that secrets are not good.

Arc: He performs the private wedding and asks when they will tell their parents. He remains a quiet witness to their choice.

• Andrea Kim — his wife
• Yun Kim — a congregant he marries
• Lion Han — a congregant he marries

Andrea Kim is Sam Yi's wife who witnesses and photographs Yun and Lion's secret wedding. She is fond of the couple and jokes about her own early marriage.

Arc: She documents the wedding and refers to Lion as Yun's husband. She remains a supportive friend.

• Sam Yi — her husband
• Yun Kim — her friend
• Lion Han — her friend

Henry is Kenny and Lily's son who introduces Mido and Yun to Tek. He is proud to bring an older friend home.

Arc: He runs to Mido after school, imitates Tek's homework habits, and remains a cheerful cousin. He does not otherwise change.

• Kenny — his father
• Lily Hughes Cho — his mother
• Mido — his cousin
• Tek — his school buddy

Dr. Rhoda Wilson is Bo's Psychology 101 professor who lectures on Maslow's hierarchy and invites Bo to office hours. She values growth and process over outcome.

Arc: She discusses whether one can want esteem more than love and tells Priscilla that process matters. She remains a mentor figure for Bo.

• Bo — her student
• Priscilla Banks — her student
• Mr. Gonzalez — a counselor who contacts her about Bo

Mr. Gonzalez is Bo's counselor in the Transfer Alliance Program who advises him to work fewer hours. He sympathizes with Bo's need to support his family.

Arc: He meets with Bo about transferring to UCLA and contacts Dr. Wilson about Bo's questions. He remains a supportive counselor.

• Bo — his counseling student
• Dr. Rhoda Wilson — a professor he contacts about Bo