Koh Hansu Character Analysis in Pachinko

Hansu is a native of the Korean island of Jeju but lives in Osaka, Japan. A fish broker with ties to the yakuza, the organized crime syndicate in Japan, Hansu is rumored to be “unimaginably rich,” and everyone calls him “Boss.” Hansu, who is 34 at the beginning of the novel, notices 16-year-old Sunja in the Busan market and rescues her from a group of Japanese boys who are sexually harassing her. He begins meeting with her in secret whenever he’s in Korea, and after he finds out she’s pregnant with his son, Noa, he offers to set up her and Yangjin in a nice house so they no longer have to work. But when Sunja hears about Hansu’s existing family in Osaka, she refuses his offer. However, Hansu remains an ongoing presence in Sunja’s life, keeping tabs on her after she moves to Japan and quietly intervening when she needs help—such as arranging a job for her in Kim Changho’s restaurant, enabling the family to flee to the countryside during the American bombing, and financing Noa’s university education. Noa doesn’t find out that Hansu is his father until he is an adult, at which point he cuts ties with his entire family and eventually kills himself, believing he can’t be cleansed of his “yakuza” blood. Though Hansu has ongoing feelings for Sunja, he mostly uses people for his own purposes, and he also has a violent side, unfeelingly beating a mistress, Noriko, nearly to death at one point. He and Sunja last see one another at Yangjin’s funeral; now a widower, he suggests marriage, which Sunja refuses.

Koh Hansu Quotes in Pachinko

The Pachinko quotes below are all either spoken by Koh Hansu or refer to Koh Hansu. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

“How did I know that you needed work? How did I know where Noa goes to school, that his math teacher is a Korean who pretends to be Japanese, that your husband died because he didn’t get out of prison in time, and that you’re alone in this world. How did I know how to keep my family safe? It’s my job to know what others don’t. How did you know to make kimchi and sell it on a street corner to earn money? You knew because you wanted to live. I want to live, too, and if I want to live, I have to know things others don’t. Now, I’m telling you something valuable. I’m telling you something so you can save your sons’ lives. Don’t waste this information. The world can go to hell, but you need to protect your sons.”

Related Characters: Koh Hansu (speaker), Sunja Baek, Noa Baek, Baek Isak

Page Number and Citation: 199

Explanation and Analysis:

After Isak’s death, when Sunja and Kyunghee are working as cooks in Kim Changho’s restaurant, Sunja receives one of the biggest shocks of her life—that Hansu, whom she hasn’t seen for over a decade, has been secretly keeping tabs on her all along. He even created her current job, so she’s been working for him without knowing it. Now, Hansu tells her that, contrary to propaganda, Japan is losing the war and will soon be subject to American bombing. He’s giving her the chance to flee to the countryside with her family, a chance she wouldn’t be likely to find Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimu

“I’m a businessman. And I want you to be a businessman. And whenever you go to these meetings, I want you to think for yourself, and I want you to think about promoting your own interests no matter what. All these people—both the Japanese and the Koreans […] keep thinking about the group. But here’s the truth: There’s no such thing as a benevolent leader. I protect you because you work for me. If you act like a fool and go against my interests, then I can’t protect you. […] You lived with that farmer Tamaguchi who sold sweet potatoes for obscene prices to starving Japanese during a time of war. He violated wartime regulations, and I helped him, because he wanted money and I do, too. He probably thinks he’s a decent, respectable Japanese, or some kind of proud nationalist—don’t they all? He’s a terrible Japanese, but a smart businessman. I’m not a good Korean, and I’m not a Japanese. […] So I’m not going to tell you not to go to any meetings or not to join any group. But know this: Those communists don’t care about you. They don’t care about anybody. You’re crazy if you think they care about Korea.”

Related Characters: Koh Hansu (speaker), Kim Changho

Page Number and Citation: 229

Explanation and Analysis:

After the war, Hansu takes his employee and protege, Kim Changho, out for a drink. Changho has been attending socialist meetings and contemplating a move back to the newly formed nation of North Korea to help rebuild it. Hansu tries to reason with him, and in so doing, he reveals much about both his personal philosophy and his character. Basically, Hansu only believes in himself and looking out for his own advantage, not adhering to any philosophy or pledging allegiance to a leader or nation. No matter what group or ideology people align themselves with, Hansu believes, their motivations ultimately Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas d

Hansu did not believe in nationalism, religion, or even love, but he trusted in education. Above all, he believed that a man must learn constantly. […] It thrilled him that Noa could read and write English so beautifully—a language he knew was essential in the world. Noa had recommended books to him, and Hansu had read them, because he wanted to know the things his son knew.

The young man’s extraordinary scholarship was something Hansu knew he had to nurture. Hansu was not sure what he wanted Noa to do when he graduated; he was careful not to say too much, because it was clear that Noa had some of his own ideas. Hansu wanted to back him, the way he wanted to back good business plans.

Related Characters: Koh Hansu, Noa Baek

Page Number and Citation: 303

Explanation and Analysis:

Though Min Jin Lee doesn’t give as many insights into Hansu’s mind as she does into other characters’, this quote offers a rare glimpse into his motivations. At this time, Mozasu is a English literature student at prestigious Waseda University, an education which Hansu has insisted upon financing. From Hansu’s thoughts on Mozasu’s schooling, it’s evident that he believes in education not as an end in itself, but as a key to success in the world—one that he himself has lacked, but which he now has the opportunity to nurture in his son. Not only that, but he wants Noa Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessi

“Yakuza are the filthiest people in Japan. They are thugs; they are common criminals. They frighten shopkeepers; they sell drugs; they control prostitution; and they hurt innocent people. All the worst Koreans are members of these gangs. I took money for my education from a yakuza, and you thought this was acceptable? I will never be able to wash this dirt from my name. You can’t be very bright,” he said. “How can you make something clean from something dirty? And now, you have made me dirty,” Noa said quietly, as if he was learning this as he was saying it to her. “All my life, I have had Japanese telling me that my blood is Korean— that Koreans are angry, violent, cunning, and deceitful criminals. All my life, I had to endure this. I tried to be as honest and humble as Baek Isak was; I never raised my voice. But this blood, my blood is Korean, and now I learn that my blood is yakuza blood. I can never change this, no matter what I do. It would have been better if I were never born. How could you have ruined my life? How could you be so imprudent? A foolish mother and a criminal father. I am cursed.”

Related Characters: Noa Baek (speaker), Sunja Baek, Koh Hansu, Baek Isak

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 311

Explanation and Analysis:

During his fight with Akiko, Noa’s girlfriend had pointed out how clearly he resembles Hansu, something he’d failed to recognize before. He goes straight to Osaka to confront Sunja with this realization, crushed to confirm that he’s the son of one of the “worst Koreans,” a gangster. This is especially devastating for Noa because of how hard he’s worked to be a “good,” unobjectionable Korean who’s not implicated in the “dirty” activities many Japanese people associate with them. He’s tried to exemplify the kindness and humility of Isak, the man he’d believed to be his father. Now he learns that, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perfer

He believed that she’d been foolish for refusing to be his wife in Korea. What did it matter that he had a marriage in Japan? He would have taken excellent care of her and Noa. They would have had other children. She would never have had to work in an open market or in a restaurant kitchen. Nevertheless, he had to admire her for not taking his money the way any young girl did these days. In Tokyo, it was possible for a man to buy a girl for a bottle of French perfume or a pair of shoes from Italy.

Related Characters: Koh Hansu, Sunja Baek

Page Number and Citation: 351

Explanation and Analysis:

Later in the novel, Hansu drops into Sunja’s life as he periodically does, picking up her and her little grandson Solomon from Solomon’s preschool one day. As he watches Sunja prepare their dinner at Mozasu’s house, he reflects on their history together. Even some 30 years after their affair, Hansu still thinks that Sunja should have agreed to be his “wife.” Though he still has feelings for her, this goes to show that Hansu still doesn’t fully understand Sunja and couldn’t have given her the kind of respectful devotion she wanted. Unless Hansu could have provided for her within a Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque

Koh Hansu Character Timeline in Pachinko

The timeline below shows where the character Koh Hansu appears in Pachinko. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...flashes back to six months earlier, when Sunja first met the new fish broker, Koh Hansu. While Sunja’s doing the marketing, Mrs. Jun, the seaweed seller, observes that Hansu is staring... (full context)

Sunja ignores Hansu’s stare and buys her seaweed. When she chats with Mrs. Jun about her mother Yangjin’s... (full context)

From then on, Hansu “seemed to be everywhere,” and he begins asking Sunja questions while she’s doing her marketing.... (full context)

...her basket and making suggestive remarks. After one of the boys starts aggressively fondling her, Hansu suddenly appears, gripping the boy by the hair and menacingly threatening their lives in perfect... (full context)

After Hansu forces the boys to formally apologize and sends them away, he tries to calm a... (full context)

The next market day, Sunja thanks Hansu, and he asks her to meet him on the beach where she does the laundry.... (full context)

For three months, Sunja and Hansu continue meeting on the beach every wash day, and Hansu tells her stories of his... (full context)

Sunja is puzzled by their outing and by Hansu’s continued interest in her, since Hansu seems like neither a friend nor a “sweetheart.” After... (full context)

Sunja wants to marry Hansu and is soon pleased to discover that she’s pregnant. After Hansu returns from a business... (full context)

Hansu, meanwhile, is excited about the possibility of a son, and he gives Sunja money for... (full context)

Hansu doesn’t understand why Sunja is upset. He assures her that he will honor his obligations... (full context)

That night, Sunja lies awake thinking about her baby and about Hansu, who has left Busan. She knows that if only she’d agreed to be Hansu’s mistress,... (full context)

...Sunja if she thinks she can love him, and if she can try to forget Hansu. Sunja tells him she will do her best to be a good wife. (full context)

...and Sunja sit at the ferry terminal while Isak goes through customs. Yangjin has seen Hansu’s gold watch, and Sunja ends up telling her the full story about him. Yangjin makes... (full context)

...travel toward Yoseb’s house by trolley, Sunja takes in the sights of Osaka and remembers Hansu telling her about all these things. Before long, they reach the “misbegotten village” of Ikaino,... (full context)

...this. Most Koreans rent, and Japanese landlords won’t rent them good properties. Sunja wonders how Hansu can afford to own many properties in Osaka. Kyunghee welcomes them warmly and ushers them... (full context)

...to the gentleness of Isak’s touch. She can’t help comparing it to her times with Hansu, which were always hasty and focused on Hansu’s needs, and Sunja had never been sure... (full context)

Sunja and Kyunghee go to a Korean pawnbroker’s office. Sunja gives the pawnbroker Hansu’s gold watch and negotiates for a good price, remembering what Hoonie had taught her in... (full context)

...to accompany him to the market. While they’re gone, someone unexpectedly enters the restaurant. It’s Hansu. Sunja asks him what he’s doing there, and almost faints when Hansu tells her, “This... (full context)

Hansu had tracked down Sunja over ten years ago after she pawned the gold pocket watch.... (full context)

Sunja feels angry, realizing that Hansu has followed her like an invisible, “watchful shadow” all these years. She also realizes that... (full context)

...his sweet potatoes on the black market since the war started, hence his connection with Hansu and his agreement to take in the Korean boarders. He quickly discovers that Sunja and... (full context)

Four months after their arrival on Tamaguchi’s farm, Hansu arrives with Yangjin, who looks frightened, tired, and malnourished. Soon Sunja and Yangjin have a... (full context)

Hansu sits and talks with the boys: formal, studious Noa is twelve, and chatty Mozasu is... (full context)

While the others are occupied with the comic books, Hansu and Sunja talk. Hansu explains that instead of just tracking down news of Yangjin, he’d... (full context)

...bombing, Yoseb is struck and horribly burned by a falling wall from a nearby building. Hansu’s men finally track him down in the hospital and bring him to Tamaguchi’s farm on... (full context)

...he’s in too much pain to contribute to the work on the farm. One day Hansu visits and finds Yoseb resting alone in the barn. Yoseb asks him, “You’re the father... (full context)

Yoseb tells Hansu that they’ll pay him back for everything he’s done and that they’ll return to Korea.... (full context)

When Hansu coldly tells Sunja about the alleged fate of Yoseb’s and Kyunghee’s parents, Sunja finds him... (full context)

In 1949, after everyone has resettled in Osaka, Hansu gives Kim Changho the job of collecting fees from merchants in the market by the... (full context)

One night Hansu takes Changho out for a drink. He tells him that he knows Changho has feelings... (full context)

Hansu goes on to say that Changho must always think about “promoting [his] own interests,” never... (full context)

...house in Osaka had been destroyed in the bombing. When they returned from the countryside, Hansu’s lawyer made sure that Yoseb’s property rights were respected, and his construction company rebuilt their... (full context)

...and board, they’re just barely getting by. Yoseb still won’t let them accept money from Hansu for Noa’s schooling. (full context)

When Sunja again raises the possibility of letting Hansu pay for Noa’s schooling, Yoseb is furious, reminding Sunja that he thinks Hansu’s money is... (full context)

The next day, Hansu asks Noa and Sunja to come to his office in Osaka. Hansu is beaming with... (full context)

...asking Noa questions about his family. Noa resents her curiosity. Akiko is especially curious about Hansu, but Noa doesn’t think it’s appropriate for them to meet. (full context)

Noa meets monthly with Hansu over a fancy meal of sushi. Hansu, who never went to university, asks him questions... (full context)

...Noa’s surprise, Akiko comes to the restaurant and invites herself into his private meal with Hansu. She claims Noa had insisted on her dropping by to meet his benefactor. Hansu is... (full context)

After Hansu leaves, Noa and Akiko have a fight. Akiko doesn’t understand why Noa is upset that... (full context)

...want me to meet your yakuza papa.” She asks Noa how else he could explain Hansu’s chauffeur or the swanky apartment he rents for Noa. Noa just walks away from her,... (full context)

...goes to his mother’s house and asks her for the truth about his relationship to Hansu. Sunja realizes that Yoseb had been right all along about the danger of Hansu’s presence... (full context)

Sunja tries to explain that she has little contact with Hansu and doesn’t know what he does for a living, but Noa insists that he’s a... (full context)

...to look for him and promises to continue to send them money and to repay Hansu as he’s able. (full context)

Sunja goes to Hansu’s mansion and asks Hansu’s wife, in broken Japanese, if she can speak to Hansu. Sunja... (full context)

Hansu comes to Yumi’s funeral to pay his respects. His driver interrupts him to say that... (full context)

Sunja and Solomon ride home in the backseat of Hansu’s big sedan. Three-year-old Solomon invites Hansu to stay for dinner, to Sunja’s displeasure. At Mozasu’s... (full context)

Sunja notices that Hansu has aged well; he looks like a “handsome grandfather,” not a yakuza boss. Meanwhile, she... (full context)

Haruki has come for a weekend visit, and over dinner, Hansu offers Haruki his business card in case he’s interested in transferring to a job in... (full context)

...Japanese, and running the business office of Cosmos Pachinko for seven years. He has paid Hansu back for his Waseda education and continues to send money to his family. He has... (full context)

In 1978, Hansu picks up a well-dressed but matronly 62-year-old Sunja. He has located Noa, who has been... (full context)

...is surprised by the relief he feels after all this time. He refuses to see Hansu, and the two of them go into Noa’s office and talk. Sunja begs Noa to... (full context)

...promises to call Sunja later and to visit the family next week. The next morning, Hansu calls Sunja to tell her that Noa shot himself a few minutes after she left... (full context)

...thinking about Noa. She tells Sunja that Sunja brought suffering on herself by being with Hansu. She says that Mozasu has been more blessed in his life because he came from... (full context)

Hansu, walking with a cane, approaches Sunja after the funeral. Sunja doesn’t want to hold anything... (full context)

Sunja, who’s now 73, still dreams about Hansu and wishes she’d forgotten him by now. She also still visits Isak’s grave, finding him... (full context)

Koh Hansu Character Analysis

Koh Hansu Quotes in Pachinko

Book 2, Chapter 6 Quotes

Book 2, Chapter 9 Quotes

Book 2, Chapter 18 Quotes

Book 2, Chapter 19 Quotes

Book 3, Chapter 4 Quotes

Koh Hansu Character Timeline in Pachinko