Why ‘Kim’s Convenience’ Was Canceled

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When it first aired on Canadian television in 2016, Kim’s Convenience was a delightful and refreshing show. This comedy series followed a Korean-Canadian family running a small store in Toronto. Based on a play by Ins Choi, who later became the showrunner, it starred Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (known for The Mandalorian) and Simu Liu (Shang-Chi). Kim’s Convenience quickly became a Canadian favorite and gained fans around the world after becoming available on Netflix in 2018.

From the outside, it seemed like Kim’s Convenience was set for continued success. However, things weren’t going well behind the scenes, and this ultimately led to the show’s cancellation. In 2021, during the fifth season, CBC announced that the sixth season, which had already been planned, would not be made. Fans immediately started trying to save the show, but their efforts weren’t successful.

Why ‘Kim’s Convenience’ Ended So Abruptly


CBC

The show wasn’t canceled because of low ratings. The real reason was that its creators, Ins Choi and Kevin White, decided to leave. Producer Ivan Fecan explained to The Globe and Mail that Ins Choi had been considering ending the show after Season 5 from the beginning. The cast found out about the creators’ departure two months before the cancellation was announced.

Simu Liu, who played Jung, also shared that the show’s creators decided not to continue with it. Although the cast and fans hoped for one last season to wrap things up, creator Chris Choi wasn’t willing to return. Without Choi’s involvement, the producers felt the series couldn’t go on.

A Disappointing Finale Hangs Over the History of ‘Kim’s Convenience’


CBC

The final episode of Kim’s Convenience aired on April 13, 2021, and was titled “Friends and Family.” Sadly, the episode proved to be a disappointing end to the series for many fans, feeling hurried and incomplete. Key storylines were left unresolved, including the long-awaited reconciliation between Jung and her father, Appa, and the potential romance between Jung and Shannon. The ending left viewers feeling unsatisfied, as important plot threads were never properly concluded.

It’s unusual for a TV show to have a truly satisfying final season, but this one’s abrupt ending was particularly frustrating. Knowing the series was ending, it felt like there was no effort to give it a proper conclusion. Behind-the-scenes issues cut the fifth season short, preventing the show from having the impactful farewell fans and those involved had hoped for. While the show will always be remembered as a pioneering Canadian comedy, the disappointing finale remains a sore spot, leaving many plot points unresolved and open to interpretation.

Why Ins Choi Left ‘Kim’s Convenience’


CBC

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, the actor who plays the father in the show, had worked with the creator for over a decade, even appearing in the original stage production. He was completely surprised when the show was cancelled, just like the rest of the cast. He tried contacting the creator afterwards, but discovered the creator didn’t want to talk to him, as Lee explained to The Canadian Press.

He suddenly stopped responding to me. He ignored my calls and texts, and when I finally got a response, it was just an email saying he didn’t want to discuss it. That was the end of it.

Lee explained that after Choi’s departure, continuing the show became almost impossible. He noted the difficulty of finding someone with similar talent to replace him. The cast of Kim’s Convenience has described Choi as extremely private. Liu even called him ‘epically reclusive.’ It’s unclear whether Choi was simply introverted or if he had strained relationships with the cast.

While the way Andrew Choi ended Kim’s Convenience has been controversial, it’s important to remember the show wouldn’t exist without him. He originally created the concept based on his own life and even starred as Jung in the very first production.

The Controversy Behind ‘Kim’s Convenience’


CBC

The actors of Kim’s Convenience shared their affection for the show, but also admitted that the work environment wasn’t always positive. A key issue was fair compensation, though some were open to finding a solution. For example, actor Andrew Liu was willing to continue with the series even though the cast was paid very little.

Actress Jean Yoon shared on Twitter that despite the show focusing on a Korean family, the writing team lacked Korean writers and cultural experts. While Korean-Canadian Choi created the original play and the show, Jean Yoon explained that Kevin White, as showrunner, ultimately guided the creative direction. This led to storylines that, from a cultural standpoint, were noticeably inaccurate.

Simu Liu agreed with many of Kumail Nanjiani’s points but emphasized that he still enjoyed the show. He told The Hollywood Reporter that the ending felt like a letdown and wished the series had continued with more diverse voices. Liu also expressed his frustration with lost storytelling potential in a now-deleted Facebook post, adding that the cast had even offered to contribute to the writing process.

A lot of us actors had experience as screenwriters and developed strong ideas over the years. However, we were never given a real chance to share those ideas or contribute to the writing process.

What Happened After ‘Kim’s Convenience’?


CBC

After Kim’s Convenience wrapped up, I was really excited to hear about Strays – a spin-off that followed Shannon Ross. You remember her, right? She left Toronto, her job, and even Jung by the end of Kim’s Convenience. Well, Strays picked up with her moving to Hamilton, Ontario, where she was running an animal shelter. It was cool to see her go from a supporting character to the main star of her own Canadian series – a total glow-up!

When the spin-off series Strays was first released, some fans of Kim’s Convenience were unhappy that it focused on one of the few characters who wasn’t Asian. Although Strays didn’t become as popular as Kim’s Convenience, it lasted for two seasons. Unfortunately, CBC announced that the second season would be the last, and the show was canceled after airing from 2021 to 2022.

The Play Behind ‘Kim’s Convenience’


CBC

Good news for fans of Kim’s Convenience! While the show isn’t returning as a TV series, the original play that inspired it is back on stage in London. Ins Choi, who created the series, is partnering with the Grand Theatre to bring the play back to life, and he’s even reprising his role as Appa. Esther Jun is directing the production.

Choi has highlighted the play’s ongoing significance in portraying Asian stories. He also believes more opportunities are needed to showcase the work of Asian artists. However, he’s thrilled that fans who discovered Kim’s Convenience through the TV show are now seeing the original play. According to the London Free Press, Choi predicts the London audience will enjoy it and hopes they recognize the play as the foundation for the popular series.

The play’s UK tour started on October 17, 2023, and ran until November 4, with extra shows added later. Then, in early 2025, it will be revived in Toronto at Soulpepper, the theater where it first premiered in 2011. Following the Toronto run, the play is scheduled to tour internationally.

The Cast Has Moved On


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

While many remember it fondly, Kim’s Convenience is now largely recognized for launching the careers of its actors, most notably Simu Liu. Liu has become a major star thanks to his role as Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a fan favorite, and audiences are eager to see what happens with his character next. He also recently had a memorable role as one of the Kens in the hit movie Barbie.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is becoming well-known for his appearances in several Disney+ Star Wars shows. He plays Carson Teva, a New Republic officer, in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka. He also stars as Uncle Iroh in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender. But he first gained recognition for his work on Kim’s Convenience, a show—much like Friends and How I Met Your Mother—that has helped launch the careers of many successful actors, and that may be its most important contribution. You can currently watch Kim’s Convenience on Netflix.

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2025-11-12 06:35