2 Broke Girls - Walking Joke Han Lee

Written by Xue Li

Han Lee is the Korean American immigrant owner of Williamsburg diner in 2 Broke Girls played by Matthew Moy. Max Black and Caroline Channing are two girls who work for Han Lee’s diner and they like to tease Han because of his height. His character is very controversial to the audiences, because many people feel like Han is being made fun of because of race but actually most of the jokes of Han is based on his height and small he is. Han is an immigrant from Korea so he constantly tries to fit in to the American society to prove he is indifferent. In fact, it’s not hard to tell that Han is an immigrant because the way he portrays the character with an accent. Han always likes to makes joke that no one can understand and he is sometimes being made of fun of because he tries so hard to be “hipster”.

Han has some typical and stereotype Asian characteristics that was presented throughout the show. He is known for being small, cheap, greedy, weird and awkward with a thick Korean accent. Han is considered as one of the most racially stereotyped character on television because all of the characteristics that is listed above. Han successfully showed a uncool Asian American immigrant that tries very hard to fit in the American society, but there are also other sides of him that is different from the stereotyped Asian American because in one of the episodes he helped out Caroline Channing when there was a thief in the diner and Han had a gun that was being used to defeat the thief. Although Han is seen as a stereotyped Korean American immigrant but he can also be very brave and courageous when it comes to the moment of truth. Overall, Han is one the character that appears to be a walking joke, because wherever he goes there will be laughter.