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6. Ali's Immigrant Woes

Another of the series's pointed references to real life social ills, Ali clearly represents how vulnerable immigrants can be.

Ali appears to be undocumented, which makes his situation even more terrifying, but even as a legal worker on EPS (Employment Permit System), Ali would be restricted to one employer only. Even with his employer in the show actively withholding money from him, he can't even change jobs. Even if he had come as a legal worker, Ali would have become illegal by virtue of leaving an abusive job.

Numerous immigrant workers in South Korea are exposed to terrible working conditions, including sleeping on site at factories at risk of freezing to death, and like Ali, losing fingers or gaining other disabilities without receiving compensation for workplace injury.

Though Ali is often being overly respectful in his language and how he addresses the Koreans he speaks to, it's clear from his fight with his boss and his mockery of Han Mi-nyeo that he doesn't have a passive personality at all. The way he calls people "sir" until he's given leave to call Sang-Woo "big brother" (hyung) shows just how even social situations can be a minefield for him.