Yeong-hye
The primary protagonist of The Vegetarian. Yeong-hye is a young woman living in Seoul, South Korea, with her husband, Mr. Cheong. When Han first introduces Yeong-hye and Mr. Cheong, they have a normal…
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In-hye
The brother-in-law’s wife and Yeong-hye’s older sister, who provides the narrative perspective for the third section of the book. In-hye is four years older than Yeong-hye and is at first described as the…
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Mr. Cheong
Yeong-hye’s husband, who narrates the first section of the novel. Mr. Cheong is an average businessman who expects Yeong-hye to cook and clean for him. They have a relatively normal, if loveless existence, though…
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The Brother-in-Law / In-hye’s Husband
Yeong-hye’s unnamed brother-in-law and In-hye’s husband, who provides the narrative perspective in the second section of the book. The brother-in-law is a video artist, while In-hye is both the primary breadwinner and the…
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Yeong-hye’s Father
Yeong-hye, In-hye, and Yeong-ho’s father. Yeong-hye’s father is described as a strict and violent Vietnam War veteran. At the end of the novel, In-hye reflects on the fact that Yeong-hye is the…
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Yeong-hye’s Mother
Yeong-hye, In-hye, and Yeong-ho’s mother. When Mr. Cheong calls and informs Yeong-hye’s mother that Yeong-hye is refusing to eat, she grows furious at her daughter’s disobedience, thinking it reflects poorly on her…
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Ji-woo
In-hye and her husband’s young son. In the first section, Ji-woo is three, and by the end of the story he has turned six. In-hye primarily takes care of Ji-woo, while the brother-in-law frequently…
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J
An artist friend of the brother-in-law’s who agrees to be painted and to model with Yeong-hye. Over the course of the film shoot, however, he becomes increasingly aroused by but also increasingly uncomfortable…
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Minor Characters
Yeong-ho
Yeong-hye and In-hye’s brother. Yeong-ho joins the rest of the family to hold an intervention for Yeong-hye, and helps hold Yeong-hye’s arms when his father tries to force-feed her. After this incident, Yeong-ho does not remain involved in Yeong-hye’s life.
P
An ex-girlfriend of the brother-in-law’s and a fellow artist. He goes to her when he needs his own body painted in flowers.
Hee-joo
Another patient at the psychiatric ward where Yeong-hye is staying, who helps to take care of Yeong-hye.
