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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

Kim's Convenience

Kim's Convenience is a Canadian television sitcom that aired on CBC Television from 2016 to 2021.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Kim's Convenience is a Canadian television sitcom that aired on CBC Television from 2016 to 2021. It follows a Korean Canadian family running a convenience store in Toronto, exploring family relationships, immigrant experience, and generational tension.

What it is

The series centres on the Kim family, who run a convenience store in downtown Toronto. Its stories focus on family dynamics, work, and the cultural gap between immigrant parents and their Canadian-born children. The show was adapted from Ins Choi’s 2011 stage play of the same name.

Key details

Kim's Convenience premiered on CBC Television in October 2016 and concluded in April 2021 after five seasons and 65 episodes. The main cast includes Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Andrea Bang, Simu Liu, and Andrew Phung. It later reached international audiences through Netflix and CBC Gem.

Why it matters

The series was widely recognized as an important Canadian comedy, particularly for its primarily Asian Canadian cast and its depiction of Korean Canadian life. It won multiple Canadian Screen Awards and became a distinctly Canadian series set in Toronto, produced for CBC.

In short

  • A Canadian sitcom about a Korean Canadian family running a convenience store in Toronto.
  • Aired on CBC from 2016 to 2021, with five seasons and 65 episodes.
  • Based on Ins Choi’s 2011 stage play.
  • Notable for its primarily Asian Canadian cast and portrayal of immigrant family life.
Canadian angle

It is a distinctly Canadian series set in Toronto, produced for CBC, and notable for its depiction of Korean Canadian family life and immigrant experience in Canada.

Quick questions

What is Kim's Convenience about?
It is about a Korean Canadian family that runs a convenience store in Toronto and deals with family, work, and cultural change.
Who created Kim's Convenience?
The television series was created by Ins Choi and Kevin White, and it was based on Choi’s earlier play.
When did Kim's Convenience air?
It aired on CBC Television from 2016 to 2021.

Sources

  1. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kims-convenience
    Supports: Series overview, source play, broadcast period, cast/cultural significance, awards, and Netflix availability.
  2. CBC — https://www.cbc.ca/comedy/kim-s-convenience-surprising-facts-easter-eggs-and-stories-every-fan-should-know-1.5873579
    Supports: Premise, setting, and CBC association.
  3. CBC — https://www.cbc.ca/comedy/kim-s-convenience-facts-every-fan-should-know-1.6031128
    Supports: Premise and series facts.
  4. CBC Gem — https://gem.cbc.ca/kims-convenience
    Supports: Series description and Canadian streaming availability.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5912064/
    Supports: Run dates, format, and cast listing.
  6. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80199128
    Supports: International streaming availability, creators, cast, and genre.