Mr. Ahn Character Analysis

One of Mother’s Chinese business contacts and Mrs. Ahn’s husband. Mr. Ahn lives across the Yalu River from Hyesan in Changbai, China, and when Hyeonseo defects from North Korea, she goes to Mr. Ahn for help. Mr. Ahn doesn’t initially recognize Hyeonseo when she arrives, but he immediately agrees to help her, despite the fact that aiding North Korean defectors is highly illegal in China. Mr. Ahn gives Hyeonseo warm clothes, and he helps her get to Shenyang, which is eight hours away from Changbai. Afterward, when Hyeonseo tries to contact Mr. Ahn, his phone is disconnected, and while Hyeonseo doesn’t know it, he has been severely beaten by the North Korean secret police for helping her. He dies of diabetes near the end of the book. Mr. Ahn represents kindness within Lee’s book. His willingness to help Hyeonseo even though it is dangerous proves that there is compassion and kindness in the world, even though it often feels like a cold place to Hyeonseo.