Necessary Roughness

Chan’s father, whom he calls Abogee (the Korean word for father), serves as an antagonist for most of the novel but becomes a much more complicated character than that. He is first introduced as the strict patriarch of the Kim family, constantly butting heads with his son and often overpowering his wife’s voice. He is averse to most aspects of American culture, remaining very attached to his Korean roots. Abogee is a Christian who keeps a Korean-English Bible on him nearly constantly, but he keeps aspects of Buddhism in his life as well. He is an immigrant with a high level of education who sacrificed a lot for his family to have a better life. Abogee is loyal to his family to a fault, covering for his brother’s lifelong mistakes.

Abogee changes for the better as the novel progresses, slowly learning to accept differing viewpoints and eventually coming to understand Chan’s love of football. This is not a linear arc, however; in fact, much of Abogee’s character development is just Chan’s perspective on his father changing. Chan goes from viewing his father as an enemy to viewing him as a whole human being with his own emotions and history.

Young is Chan’s twin sister, though she was born a few minutes after him, so she refers to him as “Oppa,” the Korean term for big brother. She has a pretty face with high cheekbones, her black hair mirroring Chan’s cowlick. Young is a very smart girl; she is a straight-A student and especially excels in math. Young is also a talented musician who loves to play the flute. She is set up as a foil to Chan, who views her as the golden child to his disobedient troublemaker.

While Young is characterized in contrast to Chan, their close friendship is a constant throughout the novel. They act as each other’s confidants, the only two people who understand their path from Korea to Los Angeles to Iron River. Young remains dedicated throughout the book to her two loves, flute and mathematics, but she goes through personal changes. She falls in love with Mikko, Chan’s best friend, and stands up to her father for the first time when he doesn’t let up on his strict rule of no dating until college. In this conversation, she reveals that she’d like to be more like her Minnesotan friends, instead of the perfect daughter who only studies and practices and works at the family store. After settling into Iron River, she expresses relief to Chan about being away from the highly competitive Korean immigrant community in L.A, showing her ability to view her complicated situation with gratitude rather than resentment. Her arc shows Young becoming more strong-willed and independent, willing to stand up to her father. Her life is cut short toward the end of the novel when she is killed in a car crash, leaving her family devastated.

Mikko is the son of the principal of Iron River High School and Chan’s best friend in Minnesota. He is athletic and outgoing, the first person to approach Chan about trying out for the football team. He lives in a big house on the nice side of Iron River. Mikko also works extremely hard—he’s the talented junior quarterback of the team and runs extra laps after every practice. He is comfortable with his feelings and expresses to Chan how important their friendship is to him. Mikko positively influences Chan because he is not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and he expresses his disappointment when Chan betrays his true character in response to taunting.

Mikko falls in love with Young over the course of the novel and is devastated by her death. After Young passes away, Mikko tries to be there for Chan, but Chan rebukes Mikko’s attempts to bond over their heartache. Mikko represents the good in Iron River; he invites Chan into a space and makes Chan feel like he belongs. He shares some traits with a stereotypical popular, all-American boy—athletic ability, popularity—but he does not have the typical arrogance.

O-Ma is the matriarch of the Kim family; she is a quieter, more amenable counterpart to Abogee’s strict persona. A gentler parent than her husband, she represents comfort to Chan. She is open to American culture and works closely with Mrs. Knutson, constantly preparing meals with Korean and American cuisines for the entire family. While Abogee acts as “the boss” most of the time in their relationship, O-Ma chooses important moments to put her foot down and stand up for her children, like when Chan first told the family about football. She is also a smart businessperson: She found them an apartment, and her suggestions for the store, though initially ignored by Abogee, turn out to be some of their most successful products. O-Ma is somewhat of a constant in Necessary Roughness—she begins the novel as a quiet, kind woman who loves her son and ends it much the same.

Mike Thorson is the tan, blue-eyed coach of the Iron River football team, as well as the high school calculus teacher. He is a well-meaning, firm but kind figure who serves as an all-American contrast to Abogee throughout the novel. Thorson played football in high school and takes the sport very seriously; he pushes his team hard because he knows they can be great. He is patient and understanding with Chan, and he speaks highly of him—at times, Chan even imagines what life might be like if Thorson were his father, though he feels guilty for having the thought. Thorson displays his integrity by kicking the valuable Rom off the team after the bully attacks Chan in the locker room.