Kim's Convenience: where did the cast go after the show?

‘Kim’s Convenience’ was a hit CBC comedy sitcom that centered around a Korean-Canadian family, running a convenience stall in Toronto. The show was praised for its portrayal of Asian-Canadian contemporary life and for featuring a diverse cast and storyline - something that was rare in North American television at the time of its release in 2016.

The series 'Kim’s Convenience' ended in 2021 after five seasons. Let's have a look at what the cast are doing today.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee played the patriarch, Mr. Sang-il Kim, also known as 'appa,' in ‘Kim’s Convenience’. He won several awards for his role.

Since the end of the show, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee has been primarily focusing on his podcast work, ‘Bitter Asian Dude’, and on some projects that he is at no liberty to name. His last on-tv work was in voiceover roles with ‘Abby Hatcher’ and ‘The Bravest Knight’ - both of which are hit children’s TV animated shows. According to the South China Morning Post, Paul might be featured in an upcoming Disney+ series, ‘Rangers of The New Republic’.

Image: @angryappa / Instagram

Jean Yoon played the family matriarch, Mrs. Yong-mi Kim, and is also known as 'umma,' in ‘Kim’s Convenience’. Like co-star and on-screen husband Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon was also nominated for and won awards on Canadian television for her role as 'umma' - talk about an onscreen power couple!

Jean Yoon had an interesting supporting role in the 2023 Amazon Prime series 'The Horror of Dolores Roach'. Fans can also catch her in the SYFY’s science fiction series ‘The Expanse’ as Captain Theresa Yao or CBC’s science fiction thriller ‘Orphan Black’, where she plays Janis Beckwith.

Andrea Bang played the daughter of the Kim family, Janet Kim. Her character was constantly frustrated by her parents’ lack of support for her art and their overbearing parenting styles.

Image: 'Kim's Convenience,' CBC

After 'Kim's Convenience,' Andrea Bang appeared in CBC's thriller movie 'A Small Fortune.' She also participated in the ABC series 'A Million Little Things' from 2021 to 2023.

Simu Liu played Jung Kim, the estranged son of the Kim family in the CBC sitcom. Despite having been kicked out of the family for stealing from Mr. Kim, Jung reconciled with them over the span of the series. Sadly, the show was canceled before they could have a full reconciliation, though.

Other than famously becoming the first Asian actor to lead a Marvel Studios production by starring as Shang-chi in ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’, Simu Liu is also currently working with Mark Wahlberg on the adventure film ‘Arthur The King’. In addition, Simu Liu fans, rejoice because he was one of the Ken dolls in the famous 'Barbie' movie in the summer of 2023.

Andrew Phung played Arnold Han, also known as 'Kimchee' in ‘Kim’s Convenience’. He was Jung Kim’s best friend, roommate, co-worker, and ex-partner-in-crime.

After ‘Kim’s Convenience’, Andrew Phung began starring in another CBC sitcom: ‘Run the Burbs.' In fact, he is the co-writer of that show.

In ‘Kim’s Convenience’, Nicole Power played Shannon Ross. She was the boss of 'Kimchee' and Jung Kim and later entered into a relationship with Jung Kim.

Despite the cancellation of ‘Kim’s Convenience’, Nicole Power reprised her role as Shannon Ross in a spin-off by CBC, titled ‘Strays’ (2021). She also appeared in the Netflix series 'Glamorous' in 2023.

‘Strays’ centered around the life of Shannon Ross after she left Toronto to embark on a new career in Hamilton, Ontario. The show was developed by ‘Kim’s Convenience’ co-showrunner Kevin White.

Of course, there were questions about whether Simu Liu would reprise his role as Nicole Power's on-screen boyfriend. While it was a logical route, the cancelation of 'Kim's Convenience' had not been without its struggles, and Simu Liu had been one of the actors critical of its creators.

In a highly publicized Facebook rant, Simu Liu wrote the following about ‘Strays’: “I love and am proud of Nicole, and I want the show to succeed for her… but I remain resentful of all of the circumstances that led to the one non-Asian character getting her own show. And not that they would ever ask, but I will adamantly refuse to reprise my role in any capacity.”

Therefore, the much-loved couple from 'Kim's Convenience' did not continue in the spin-off 'Strays.' For Simu Liu, that was not a problem at all, however, because he would go on to do much bigger things - including Marvel and Barbie movies!