Margot is a 26-year-old Korean American woman living in Seattle who struggles to understand her immigrant mother. She has always felt a disconnect from her Korean heritage and her mother's life in Los Angeles's Koreatown. Growing up without a father and frustrated by a persistent language barrier, Margot seeks a sense of belonging in mainstream American culture.

Mina is a Korean immigrant who arrived in Los Angeles following the devastating loss of her family in a car accident. She works tirelessly as a shelf-stocker at a supermarket and later runs a booth at a local swap meet. Deeply wary of emotional attachments, she intentionally isolates herself to avoid further heartbreak. She relies on Korean television and cuisine as a quiet refuge from a country where she feels unwanted.

Mrs. Baek is an educated and independent Korean immigrant living in the same apartment complex as Mina in 1987. Having studied English literature, she speaks fluent English but chooses to work in retail and restaurants. She maintains a firm stance against trusting men and insists she finds enough fulfillment in books and music to live alone comfortably.

Mr. Kim is a kind Korean immigrant working as a supermarket cashier after coming to America with a master's degree in economics. Having lost his own wife to cancer, he is empathetic toward the struggles of his fellow immigrants. He leaves small gifts for Mina at work and slowly draws her out of her self-imposed emotional isolation.

Mr. Park is the wealthy owner of the Koreatown supermarket where Mina works in 1987. He frequently stares at his female employees and uses his position of power to intimidate undocumented workers. He views his financial success as proof of his superiority and acts with a dangerous sense of entitlement.

Mrs. Kim is a wealthy woman living in Calabasas who maintains an open marriage with Mr. Kim. She dresses in expensive clothes and unapologetically pursues her own desires. Despite her affluent lifestyle and plans to travel the world, she harbors a deep wariness toward emotional vulnerability.

Miguel is Margot's loyal friend who accompanies her on a road trip down the West Coast. As a gay man in his twenties who has managed his own family secrets, he understands the feeling of existing on the margins of society. He provides a grounding presence for Margot as she explores Koreatown.

Lupe is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico working hard to support her family in Los Angeles. She quietly endures a precarious legal situation to keep her children safe. Her vulnerability in the workplace makes her a target for exploitation by her employer.

Officer Choi is a police officer who initially handles the investigation into Mina Lee's apartment incident. He advises Margot against pursuing certain emotional dead-ends. He eventually confides in her about his frustrations with police work.

Mario is a Mexican teenager who works as a bagger to help support his family. His sudden disappearance from the store highlights the constant threat of deportation faced by undocumented workers in the community.

Jonathan is an older, blind coworker of Margot's in Seattle. Their brief relationship and subsequent breakup left Margot heartbroken. This painful experience made her hesitant to share details of her personal life with her mother.

Alma is a vendor at the swap meet who has known Margot for two decades. She provides early clues about Mina's recent mood. She also offers to help Margot handle the logistics of the empty booth.

Consuela is a Latina immigrant working on the stocking floor of the supermarket. She helps teach Mina a few words of Spanish. She represents the cross-cultural solidarity among the store's laborers.

Hector is a long-term shelf stocker at Mr. Park's supermarket. He struggles to hide his disappointment when the newly hired Mina receives a quick promotion to the cashier register over him.

Mrs. Shin is an old friend of Mina's who attends the same Korean church. She enjoys sharing neighborhood gossip. She reflects the tight-knit but sometimes intrusive nature of the local immigrant community.

Daniel is a teenager hired by Mr. Park to replace Mario as a bagger. His quick hiring illustrates how easily the supermarket owner replaces his vulnerable workforce.

Sungmin works for Mrs. Kim as a driver. He forcefully but cleanly escorts Margot off the property when she asks too many questions about the family's past.