Miss Ma Character Analysis in The Girl with Seven Names

The owner of a “salon” in Shenyang, China. Hyeonseo meets Miss Ma in the streets of Shenyang after Hyeonseo runs away from Uncle Jung-gil and Aunt Sang-hee’s house, and she offers Hyeonseo a job as a stylist in her salon. Hyeonseo realizes immediately that Miss Ma’s establishment is no ordinary salon, and that Miss Ma intends on exploiting Hyeonseo as an illegal sex worker. Hyeonseo is able to escape Miss Ma’s salon; however, Miss Ma represents the constant dangers Hyeonseo is up against as a North Korean defector and illegal immigrant living in China. Human traffickers and conmen are always looking to exploit illegal immigrants, and as a defector afraid of being repatriated back to North Korea, Hyeonseo can’t possibly go to the authorities for help.

Miss Ma Character Timeline in The Girl with Seven Names

The timeline below shows where the character Miss Ma appears in The Girl with Seven Names. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...is looking for a job. Hyeonseo says she is, and the woman introduces herself as Miss Ma . She owns a salon in town and is looking for stylists. Training and lodging... (full context)

Oppression, Human Rights, and North Korea Theme Icon

Miss Ma ’s salon is unlike any salon Hyeonseo has ever seen. Leather sofas line the walls,... (full context)

The next morning, Hyeonseo tells Miss Ma that she must return to Xita to get some of her things. After much hesitation,... (full context)