"'Kim's Convenience' is a testament to the bravery shown by our parents"
Kim’s Convenience season 3 has won the Most Popular Foreign Drama at the 2019 Seoul International Drama Awards.
US series The Good Doctor starring Tamlyn Tomita and Christina Chang as well as Chinese series Ashes Of Love were also winners of the award.
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon and Andrea Bang who play Appa, Umma and Janet respectively in Kim’s Convenience accepted the award in Seoul.
In his acceptance speech, Lee thanked his parents. “Decades ago, our parents left the comfort of their homeland to immigrate to North America to start a new life – ostensibly to give us, their children, better opportunities.” The Canadian actor said. “While their bravery, courage and sacrifice were much appreciated, it has left a weight of expectation on all of us to succeed.”
The 47-year-old went on to say that the strength of Kim’s Convenience stems from the generational pressure.
“This clash of generational expectation, familial sacrifice, love and humour authentically and honestly portrayed is the very heart of what makes Kim’s Convenience so special, not only to the Korean-Canadian experience in general but the immigrant experience in particular,” he said.
Lee added that the cast and crew of the Toronto-based show were proud to share their stories.
“Kim’s Convenience is a testament to the bravery shown by our parents decades ago and we are honoured to share their stories, our stories, to people around the world,” Lee said.
“We are equally proud of our Korean heritage as we are our Canadian home, and this award is received with much humility gratitude and respect,” he concluded.
In related news Canada recently presented a Kim’s Convenience shirt to South Korea at the G20 in Osaka.
Elsewhere, Kim‘s Convenience star Simu Liu has responded to claims that he is “too ugly for Chinese people” to star in Shang-Chi.
US Kimbits are SO PROUD too!!! Captured @bitterasiandude giving the acceptance speech! Still trying to catch everything he said as it was hard to hear with the Korean translator speaking over him. #okseeyou pic.twitter.com/MNaorELphu
— Eugene Byon (@eybyon) August 28, 2019
For those who asked, here’s a transcript of the acceptance speech I wrote for the Seoul International Drama Awards. #okseeyou pic.twitter.com/loixchcVJ1
— Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (@bitterasiandude) August 28, 2019