Balancing both lighthearted charm and occasional drama, CBC’sKim’s Conveniencewas a breath of fresh air when it premiered on Canadian television in 2016.Kim’s Conveniencetold the story of a Korean-Canadian family and their small business in Toronto. The series, which was adapted from a play by future showrunner Ins Choi, featured, among others,The Mandalorian’s Paul Sun-Hyung Lee andShang-Chi’s Simu Liu. It quickly became one of Canada’s most beloved sitcoms and even acquired an international appeal following its debut on Netflix in 2018. With sky-high ratings, a devoted fan base, and a growing viewership to boot, the show was renewed successfully for Seasons 5 and 6 in March 2020.
Update June 13, 2025: If you’re a fan ofKim’s Convenience, then you’ll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional material about what happened to the series.
To the outside world, it appeared as ifKim’s Conveniencehad a bright future ahead. Unfortunately, development behind the scenes was not nearly as smooth. This would soon spell the downfall of the beloved series. Halfway through the show’s fifth season in 2021, CBC revealed that the final pre-approved season was no longer in the works. Almost immediately, campaigns to saveKim’s Conveniencewere started by fans, but to no avail.
Why Kim’s Convenience Ended So Abruptly
The sudden change of heart was not due to the show’s ratings, but rather due to the departure of the show’s two creators – Ins Choi and Kevin White. ProducerIvan Fecan told The Globe and Mailthat “from the start of Season 5, Ins wasn’t sure he wanted to go beyond that.” The cast was told of the departure two months prior to the show’s cancelation.
Simu Liu, who played Jung on the show, also confirmed this in a (since-deleted) post, saying that the producers were “the ones who chose not to continue” the show from there. Despite both the cast and the fans wanting the closure that one final season would bring, Choi just wasn’t interested in coming back. And, without Choi, the producers didn’t see a future for the series.
The Mystery Behind Choi’s Departure
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, who plays the family patriarch, worked with Choi for more than ten years, having appeared in the original play. Like the rest of the cast, Lee was blindsided by the show’s sudden cancelation. This prompted him to reach out to Choi before learning that Choi was no longer interested in talking to him.As Lee told The Canadian Press,
He ghosted me. He wouldn’t return my calls or my texts, and finally he responded via email saying he wasn’t comfortable talking about it. And that was it.
From there, Lee added, it was nearly impossible to continue the series. “Unfortunately, the industry, the way it is, it’s very difficult to find somebody of that caliber to step in and replace someone like Ins Choi.” From what theKim’s Conveniencecast have said about Choi, it seems that none of them were particularly close with the series creator. Liu has described Choi as epically reclusive. Whether Choi was just introverted or perhaps didn’t get along with his cast remains unknown.
Although the way Choi pulled the plug onKim’s Conveniencehas not portrayed him in the most favorable of lights, without him, there never would have been aKim’s Convenienceto begin with. Choi based much of the conceptonhis own personal experiences. He even played Jung in the original play.
The Controversy Behind Kim’s Convenience
While the cast ofKim’s Convenienceexpressed their love and gratitude for the show, they revealed that working on it wasn’t always a pleasant experience. First, there was the issue of payment for services, which some on the cast were willing to work with. Liu for one, wanted to continue his work onKim’s Conveniencedespite the cast being paid “an absolute horsepoop rate.”
Then there was the Writer’s Room. Actress Jean Yoon revealed on Twitter that although the show was about a Korean family, there were neither Korean writers nor Korean cultural resources in the writer’s room. Choi, who is Korean-Canadian, may have written the original play and created the show, but, as Yoon put it, “Kevin White was the showrunner” and “clearly set the parameters.” As a result, some of the storylines presented were outrageously inaccurate from a cultural perspective.
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Liu echoed many of Yoon’s comments while still iterating that he loved the show.Liu told The Hollywood Reporterthat the way the showended felt like a “betrayal” and that he felt other voices of color could have continued the series. In a now-unavailable post on Facebook, Liu wrote about being frustrated by all the missed storytelling opportunities. Liu said the cast had even offered to step in to help.
“Many of us in the cast were trained screenwriters with thoughts and ideas that only grew more seasoned with time. But those doors were never opened to us in any meaningful way.”
What Happened After Kim’s Convenience?
Following the end ofKim’s Convenience, White helped develop a spin-off series for the show calledStrays. The series centered onKim’s Conveniencecharacter Shannon Ross, who left the city of Toronto, her job at Handy Car Rentals, and her relationship with Jung behind by the series' end. Working as the executive director at an animal shelter in Hamilton, Ontario, Shannon transformed from aKim’ssupporting character into the lead of her own Canadian show.
Early on, fans ofKim’s Conveniencecriticized the spin-off for prioritizing one of the show’s only non-Asian characters. WhileStrayshas yet to become anywhere near as popular asKim’s Convenience, it does have two seasons under its belt. However, CBC has now announced that the second season will be the last season ofStrays,with the show not being renewed for a third season.
The Play Behind the Series
For fans who still can’t get enough of the show, and are yearning for something more,Kim’s Convenienceis back, albeit not in the way that fans were expecting it to make a return. Ins Choi, together with the Grand Theatre, has brought the play behind the series back to life in London. The play is being directed by Esther Jun, with Choi taking on the character of Appa.
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Choi has remarked on how important the play still is in terms of representing Asian narratives. He has also acknowledged that there is more to be done in creating spaces for the stories of Asian artists to be heard. However, the writer has also expressed his excitement for fans who got to know the story ofKim’s Conveniencethrough the TV show to experience the story as a play. “I think the London audience is going to love it," said Choi,as per the London Free Press, adding that he hoped audiences will know that it was the play that paved the way for the series. The play, which began on July 01, 2025, runs until July 02, 2025.
The Cast Has Moved On
Kim’s Convenienceis now likely best known as the launching pad for many successful careers. The biggest is, without a doubt, Simu Liu. Liu plays the role of Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsis one of the most beloved entries in the franchise’s current slate of releases, andfans are waiting for his character to return in a future installment. Liu also recently appeared in Barbie as one of the many Kens.
Paul Sun-Gyung Lee has become a regular fixture on various Star Wars series on Dinsey+. He plays the role of Carson Teva, a New Republic officer in bothThe Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett,andAhsoka. He will next be seen in Netflix’s live-actionAvatar: The Last Airbenderin the role of Uncle Iroh.Kim’s Convenience, likeFriendsandHow I Met Your Mother, have launched the careers of some big stars that might be one of its most significant lasting legacy.
