Young Ju is a baby when her father encourages her to be brave. The encouragement happens when the family is swimming in the sea. The occurrence takes place before the family immigrates to America. Later in America, the conflict would emerge between the members of the family, and Young Ju’s father, Apa, is arrested. The following day after the arrest Apa is released but chooses to return to South Korea. Young Ju studies up to college in the absence of a father figure. At some point, she decides to make peace with her father’s memories after her mother, Uhmma, narrated how her father encouraged her to be brave while still a toddler.
Uhmma argues that Young Ju’s braveness was initiated by her father and he was a different man during that time. The statement is contrary to Young Ju’s perception of her father. Young Ju has known her father as a violent and drunkard person without empathy. Therefore, the statement aligns with South Korean traditions where mothers are culturally barred from portraying fathers as bad. South Korean women are supposed to talk well about their husbands. Uhmma is not ready to detach herself from the toxic marriage.
Apa is portrayed as abusive, irresponsible, and an alcoholic who doesn’t give his family peace of mind. Additionally, he is a sexist who values his son and ignores his daughter. When he spots Young Ju being dropped off at the library, he gets mad at her. Apa beats both Young Ju and Uhmma until police officers come to their rescue. The conflict makes Apa disown his family and gets back to South Korea. Years later, Uhmma still portrays Apa as a good person who taught Young Ju to be brave.
