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Editor, Secret Los Angeles
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March 18, 2026
What began as a small Canadian story has become a cultural phenomenon – and Angelenos can soon experience it in person.
Kim’s Convenience first debuted on CBC Television in 2016. The story follows a multigenerational Korean family that owns and operates a corner store, and we see them through all the social and familial challenges that come with it. The series became a global hit after it was picked up by Netflix and binge-watched worldwide.
But many don’t know that the story was actually a stage play before it was a TV show. That play is heading to Los Angeles, with the original playwright, Ins Choi, in its starring role.
Choi stopped by L.A.’s Korean Culture Center to chat about the upcoming L.A. run alongside castmates Kelly Seo, Esther Chung, Ryan Jinn, and Brandon McKnight.
Jinn, who plays the son character Jung, believes it’ll resonate with L.A.’s large immigrant communities, Koreans and beyond.
“Touring a show about immigrant families, specifically Canadians, who look like us all of a sudden carries a different sort of weight to it,” Jinn explained on the panel. “Even though it’s a bunch of Koreans up here, there’s something in it for everybody that resonates deeply, that makes you think, ‘hey, we’re all in this together.’ These stories on the ground level are what really help define these connections, despite all of our differences.”
Seo, who plays Janet, echoed the sentiment.
“It’s an immigrant story, so you see the intergenerational viewpoints. Everyone can relate to someone. The Umma and Appa, the first generation, moving their entire lives for a better future for their children, or whether it’s the Janets and Jungs. They are not there to survive, they’re here to thrive in the land that they are born in.”
Audience members have responded positively to the production. “A lot of people have resonated with the story, and it’s fun,” added Seo. “It also starts conversations with people after the show.”
Kim’s Convenience opens March 21, 2026, and runs through April 19, 2026.
📍 Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012