Casey is a 22-year-old Korean American woman who recently graduated from Princeton University with a degree in economics. Caught between her working-class family upbringing and the privileged world she experienced at college, she tries to find a fulfilling career path in New York City. She is resourceful, fiercely independent, and possesses a strong aesthetic sensitivity, particularly regarding fashion and designing hats.

Ella is a wealthy, beautiful young Korean American woman who works at an educational non-profit. She is the only child of a successful physician and embodies traditional standards of femininity and delicacy. Despite her highly privileged upbringing, she is deeply empathetic, compassionate, and nonjudgmental toward those who suffer hardship.

Leah is Casey's mother, a quiet, humble, and devoutly religious Korean American woman. She possesses a striking, modest beauty and finds deep joy in singing with her church choir. Within her family, she typically defers to her strict husband, though she fiercely loves her children and tries to maintain a connection with Casey despite the family fracture.

Unu is Ella's cousin, a Korean American man who works in finance. Calm, competent, and pragmatic, he lives a quiet life following an unhappy marriage. He struggles with a gambling compulsion, which gives him a nonjudgmental empathy toward the financial and personal mistakes of others.

Sabine is a wealthy, independent Korean American woman in her forties who runs a successful business selling expensive hats. She is ambitious, hard-working, and unafraid to take risks. Serving as a mentor figure, she is fiercely protective of Casey and eager to see the younger woman realize her potential, though she can be demanding and expects deference.

Joseph is Casey's father, a hardworking Korean American immigrant who runs a dry-cleaning business in Queens. He is a strict, traditional patriarch who prioritizes practicality, hard work, and financial security above personal fulfillment. His rigid expectations for his daughters often cause severe friction within the family.

Ted is Ella's fiance, an ambitious investment banker who grew up in a working-class Korean American family in Alaska. He has worked exceptionally hard to establish himself in the competitive world of New York finance. He values success and social status, often presenting a highly confident exterior that masks deep-seated anxieties.

Jay is Casey's college boyfriend, a popular and wealthy white man who works in investment banking. He possesses an unyielding American optimism and a sense of rugged individualism. His actions often reflect a pursuit of his own pleasure and a lack of understanding regarding Casey's cultural background.

Tina is Casey's younger sister, a student at MIT studying pre-med. She is much more docile than her sister and generally willing to live her life according to their parents' traditional values. Despite their differences, she cares deeply for Casey and quietly observes her sister's mistakes to avoid repeating them.

Delia is a white woman from a working-class background who works as a sales assistant at Kearns Davis. Independent and self-assured, she values her freedom and connects easily with colleagues who share her unpretentious background and straightforward attitude.

David is Ella's boss at an educational non-profit organization. He is a gentle, steadying presence in the workplace who provides a supportive environment for his employees.

Hugh is a confident white man who works in investment banking at Kearns Davis. He recognizes Casey's intelligence and engages in a flirtatious, occasionally transactional dynamic with her as she tries to advance her career in the financial sector.

Charles is the new director of the church choir, a man in his late forties who has been divorced twice. Coming from a wealthy family with a prestigious background, he is often frustrated by the trajectory of his career. He is demanding of his choir members and takes a particular, intense interest in Leah's musical talent.

Douglas is Ella's father, a successful physician who attends the same Korean Christian church as the Han family. He is a caring, wealthy patriarch who provides his daughter with a life of privilege and frequently extends his medical expertise to help members of his community.

Chul is Tina's boyfriend and a fellow medical student. Coming from a much wealthier and better-educated family than the Hans, his relationship with Tina highlights the class differences within their shared cultural community.

Virginia is Casey's best friend from their time at Princeton. A wealthy white woman studying art history, she represents the privileged, culturally refined world Casey was exposed to during college.

Isaac is Sabine's wealthy, significantly older white husband. He lives a comfortable life with his wife and often serves as a stabilizing, defusing presence when Sabine's demanding nature causes friction.

Joseph is the owner of a rare bookshop. He is an observant man who shares Casey's deep appreciation for 19th-century European realist novels, offering her a space to discuss literature and beauty.

Mary Ellen is Jay's mother. She is a kind woman who has developed a close, almost maternal bond with Casey, making the strain on their relationship deeply saddening for both of them.

Kevin is an executive at the investment firm Kearns Davis. He is initially skeptical of Casey's overqualified application for a sales assistant position but ultimately gives her a chance to enter the competitive finance industry.