Yumi's description of being Korean

It seems as though Yumi is struggling with the complexities of identity and belonging. Especially when considering the difficult political, economic, and social relationship between Korea and Japan. Yumi's characterization of being Korean as a "horrible encumbrance" speaks to the deep-rooted discrimination and marginalization the Korean population in Japan faces—both from Japanese people, but also we seem to see some Koreans as feeling a level of inferiority or embarrassment as well. I wonder if that is because there is more economic opportunity, mobility, and stability in Japan or if it is a cultural disdain. 

For many Koreans in Japan, their identity is often seen as a liability rather than a source of pride. We see this when Sunja was initially embarrassed to sell Korean food at the market, her heritage was a source of embarrassment until she embraced it—then it became a source of pride. This is seemingly due in large part to the historical and political tensions between Korea and Japan—as well as Japan's poor treatment of its Koreans in Japan. For example, when Sunja and Isak first moved to Japan and were warned that the Japanese police do not always take Korean complaints seriously. Koreans are denied equal access to education, employment, and other basic rights, and are often treated as second-class citizens. As a result, many Koreans in Japan feel a sense of shame and inferiority, which is reflected in Yumi's description of being Korean as a "horrible encumbrance."