zainichi identity

His films like 'Broker' and 'Palak Palak' explore marginalized communities and outsider perspectives that resonate with zainichi Korean experiences of displacement and belonging.

Through works examining identity, family secrets, and cultural hybridity, Iwai captures the emotional complexity of living between worlds that defines zainichi experience.

As a zainichi Korean director himself, Lee directly addresses the community's history and identity struggles in films like 'A Devoted Life' and 'Battlefield Heroes.'