Korean-Uzbeks in New York generally don’t identify with other Asian-Americans, but rather the Russian-Americans, due to their similar language and worldview. Many are drawn to neighbourhoods and areas where there is already a Russian community that exists, such as Brighton Beach in Brooklyn and Rego Park in Queens.

How each person identifies often depends on their generation they belong to, says Hahn. The older people he spoke to felt more in touch with their Korean identity because they still had access to the culture and language of their ancestors. By comparison, younger Korean-Uzbeks share more in common with other Russian-language immigrants, and approach their Korean identity more from the standpoint of curiosity. With Russian as their mother tongue, Korean is seen as a foreign language.

“Many people I spoke to seemed to derive a lot of their worldview from Russia; in their mannerisms, behaviour, and beliefs. They have familial and economic ties to Russia and are still connected in that way,” says Hahn.

But even if explaining to confused New Yorkers that you are both of Korean-Uzbek descent and a Russian-speaker is perhaps not the easiest introduction to the United States, it is a small price to pay for freedom, they say. “Korean-Uzbeks are a group of people who have been oppressed since the 1930s and immigration is often the only way out of poverty and a difficult life,” Hahn says, reflecting on his time spent shooting the series. “They are some of the most resilient people I’ve met because they’ve been through so much.”