‘I get to die!’: Jean Yoon from Kim’s Convenience on new Netflix sci-fi role, her love for Yoko Ono and the show that left her filled with ‘immense pride’

Jean Yoon, who played Umma in Asian-American show Kim’s Convenience, talks to the Post about her coming Netflix role on Code 8: Part II, Yoko Ono and more

She reveals which series filled her with ‘immense pride’ and why ‘love got beaten out of’ Kim’s Convenience towards the end of the show’s run

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From a corner shop to outer space, Korean-Canadian actress Jean Yoon’s career trajectory has been out of this world. She’s gone from playing Umma in Asian-American show “Kim’s Convenience” to a role in sci-fi action thriller “Code 8: Part II”. Photo: Denise Grant

Published: 11:15am, 19 Jan 2024Updated: 11:49am, 19 Jan 2024

Dying, in theatrical terms, is not every actor’s ambition. But for Jean Yoon, buying the farm was the biggest pull when it came to choosing her latest role – which in itself would not be what you would expect.

“Code 8: Part II – it’s about to drop on Netflix,” says Yoon on a video call from her home in Canada. “It’s a science-fiction, dystopian thriller from Canadian director Jeff Chan. Following part one [2019], it’s set in a police state with AI robot enforcement machines.

“I took the part because I get to die on screen!” says Yoon, laughing. “And it’s the way it happens – defiantly. But in one draft script that scene was cut, and I told Jeff, ‘You gotta put that back!’

“What was really fun for me, though, was playing a completely different character in a different genre – action.”

A still from “Code 8: Part II”. Photo: Netflix

The film is not Yoon’s first sci-fi rodeo. “I was in The Expanse, on Amazon Prime, which is really good. The writing is fantastic, the scope of the production – everything. And my character [captain Theresa Yao] was written Asian and the producers were determined to keep it so.