‘Kim’s Convenience’: A heartwarming comedy
The Huntington puts on a moving performance filled with laughter
Photo courtesy of Dahlia Katz
Kim’s Convenience
Written by Ins Choi
Directed by Weyni Mengesha
Calderwood Pavilion
Nov. 6 – Nov. 30, 2025
Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi tells the story of Mr. Kim, a South Korean immigrant who runs a convenience store in Toronto. If the title sounds familiar, it’s because the play was adapted into a TV show in 2016 that ran for five seasons. The play authentically represents the immigrant experience that many relate to, encompassing themes of family obligation, differing cultural values, and sacrifice.
Choi stars as Mr. Kim, also known as Appa (father), who begins the play by opening his convenience store for the day. The set design is realistic, as my friend from Toronto confirmed by pointing out the milk bags in the fridge and the Ontario lottery posters. One strength of the storyline is how each event leads naturally to the next. For example, a wealthy businessman named Mr. Lee offers to purchase the store, causing Mr. Kim to wonder whether he should continue operating it, since his daughter Janet (Kelly Seo) is a photographer who does not want to take over. Instead of instantly conceding his store to Mr. Lee, Appa calls the police about Mr. Lee’s car parked in the no parking zone, and a policeman named Alex (Brandon McKnight) arrives. Alex recognizes Janet as the younger sister of his childhood friend Jung (Ryan Jinn), and the audience learns that Jung ran away from home at age 16 after a fight with Appa left him hospitalized.
The play displays the clash of social norms, such as the expression of love, in differing cultures. In one scene, Janet has an intense argument with Appa about how she wants him to simply show appreciation for the unpaid hours she has worked at the store for years; however, Appa feels that she is ungrateful for what he and her mother, Umma (Esther Chung), have provided. The actors portray the conflict very realistically, with Janet preparing to take out the trash but stopping midway because of the argument, and Appa ultimately throwing Janet’s planner out of the door.
Besides differences in culture, Kim’s Convenience also discusses racial and ethnic topics in a lighthearted but direct manner. For instance, Mr. Kim banters with customers about using the Korean word insam instead of the Japanese word ginseng due to the Japanese colonial period in Korea. He also describes the tensions between the black and Korean communities during the LA riots in the 90s, but includes a heartening story of black customers protecting a Korean convenience store from looting. These historical snapshots are then used warmly, as he directly tells Janet that it is okay for her to marry Alex, who is black. Since Janet is 30 years old and single, Appa wants her to have a boyfriend. Appa even comedically instructs Alex to propose to Janet by twisting his arm using a taekwondo move.
Janet then uses the same move on Appa to make him say “I love you Janet” before she reciprocates that statement and that no one is twisting her arm to say that. They hug, and Appa recalls when Janet interviewed Appa for a school project about who she was proudest of. Many people in the audience teared up at this moment, moved by the mutual understanding between Appa and Janet.
Finally, the play discusses sacrifice, a common theme across immigrant stories. Jung tells Umma that he has a baby named Sonam, but feels insufficient as a father. Umma then tells Jung the backstory of Appa, who was a teacher in Korea but immigrated to Canada to work at a store, all for Jung and Janet’s future. This story inspires Jung to return to the store so he can reconcile with Appa. Ultimately, Appa asks Jung to take over the store and leaves him alone so he can begin working. Although this is a seemingly stoic gesture, the audience can sense how much Appa cares about Jung, ending the play with an affecting father-son moment.
Kim’s Convenience is an unexpectedly touching play full of infectious humor that quickly takes hold of the audience.