| “ | "Cool Christian Korean boy." That’s all I’ve heard my entire life. And she was engaged to a white guy. | ” |
— Janet Kim
| ||
Janet Kim is the daughter of Appa and Umma, the sister of Jung Kim, and a graduate of
OCAD University. She is portrayed by Andrea Bang.
Character Description[]
Janet is a 20 year-old photography student currently in first year at Ontario College of Art and Design University. Janet is very much her father’s daughter, and they often butt heads because they are so alike. She still lives at home, which saves her money, but puts her far more in the spotlight of her parents’ attentions. She loves her big brother, but she’s getting tired of the Jung/Appa drama. Janet also loves her Umma, but wishes her mother would stop trying to set her up with cool, Christian, Korean boys.[1]
Throughout Kim's Convenience[]
Gay Discount[]
Umma and Janet discuss finding a boyfriend at church
While the Kim family is getting ready for the day, Janet asks Appa if she can borrow the van, who leaves without answering. Umma asks Janet when she is going to church in the prospect of looking for a "cool Christian Korean boyfriend," which Janet denies the existence of. Umma reminds Janet that Jung is cool, Christian, and Korean which Janet rebuffs as he is her brother. Umma then reminds Janet that if she didn't meet Appa, she wouldn't have been born. Janet leaves for university.
At Handy, Jung and Kimchee are standing over a dead animal in one of the rental cars, telling each other to pick it up. Janet invites them to lunch, only on the condition that Jung lets her use his family employee discount card. He asks her what is wrong with Appa's van, and she replies with Appa himself, who refused to let her drive the van at age 20. Jung replies that he drove the van at 13, and Janet replies that it was more like stole the van. Kimchee adds that they both stole it together. Janet protests that she is overparented by Appa. Shannon, the Handy manager, walks in and sees Janet, and is displeased, assuming that she is Jung's girlfriend. When she learns that Janet is Jung's sister, she is relieved, but regrettably informs them that it is employees only back there.
Janet and the "job applicants"
Two Asian males give their job resumes to Janet, who is confused because the store isn't hiring. Umma tells them that there is a job opening, and asks them if they go to church. They say yes, since that is where they saw the ad. Umma checks off cool, Christian, and Korean on her clipboard. Janet realizes what Umma is doing, and storms off. Umma follows her, and tells her that she should be grateful that she is doing this. Appa enters and tells Umma that Janet doesn't need a boyfriend because she will be busy taking over the store, which Umma protests because she says that Janet will be busy having many babies. Janet says she doesn't want to take over the store and she is not having many babies. She tells the two Korean males that the opening is now closed.
Umma and Appa knock on Janet's door to apologize, and she says that she isn't Jung, and she didn't steal anything but is the one being punished. Appa says that he isn't punishing her, just talking, and Janet says that he is talking to the wrong person, and grabs the rental car keys. Umma says that she is sorry and who Janet hooks around with is up to her. Janet thanks Umma and hands the car keys to Appa, saying that returning the car is how he can apologize. When he leaves, Janet tells Umma that she sent Appa to return the car so he would have to talk to Jung.
Janet and her date
Umma and Janet ask Appa if he saw anyone important, and Appa replies with Shannon. Umma and Janet turn away, disappointed. The door opens and another young Asian male steps through. Appa stops him and tells him that even if he is cool, Christian, and Korean, Janet has to like him. Janet ignores Appa and discusses dinner plans with the man, and they leave to go on a date. Appa stops them and asks Janet's date what the Korean day of independence is, and lets them go when he replies with the correct answer. Outside the store, Janet says that she told him that Appa would ask.
Janet's Photos[]
Umma admires Janet's photos
Umma and Janet are looking through Janet's photos, which she has received a top mark in class for. Umma calls Appa over to take a look, and Appa tells Janet to celebrate by taking out the garbage. Janet moves to put away the photos, but Umma puts them back, beckoning Appa to come see them again. Appa takes a look at them disapprovingly: there are pictures of old shoes, and a telephone pole. Appa tells here that people like looking at pictures of nice things, and shows her his own cherry tree photo as an example. Janet says that it's very centered, and Appa is offended, saying that Janet thinks her work is better than his. Umma says yes, it's much better, and Appa says art school is a scam, because in real world people like to see beautiful things. Janet leaves to take out the garbage, and Appa tells her to take out the garbage, not to take pictures of garbage. Umma places Janet's photo on the shelf, and when she leaves Appa replaces it with his own photo.
Janet speaks with Ms. Murray
Ms. Murray is instructing a student on their photo collage when she stops Janet, inviting her to showcase her photos at the school's open house. She emphasizes that it's rare that a student's work really impresses her and she says Janet's comes really close. Janet remembers that the open house is tomorrow and points that out, and Ms. Murry reveals that she had a dropout which is why Janet has this opportunity. Janet thanks Ms. Murray and leaves, excited.
At the store, a woman is admiring Janet's photo. Appa tells her to take two photos of his but she declines. Janet comes in and the customer says that she really likes her photos. Appa shows Janet the money he made from her photos, which makes her angry because she needed them for school. Appa says that their things are his things and Janet says that her eye and her finger took the photo. Appa asks her who gave her the eye and the finger, and Janet says that God did. Appa concedes, but Janet is still angry that he sold her work. Appa says that Janet owes him for what he and Umma have done for her. Janet yells in frustration and leaves.
Janet's new tripod
Janet is coming back from her school's open house where Gerald had an exhibit because his father didn't sell all his photos. She is about to go upstairs to bed, and Appa stops her to tell her her photos are good, but could be better. He gives her a second hand tripod which he bought with the money he got from her photos. Janet thanks him, and as Appa is putting them away, takes one of Appa's photos, and says that an anonymous buyer is interested in one. Appa smiles and puts them back up. She later gives his photo to Jung.
Ddong Chim[]
Appa tells Janet to call the police
Appa tells Janet to tell the police because a car is out front, and Janet asks if it's a Honda or a Mitsubishi, both Japanese car brands. Appa says no to both, but Janet gives him a stern look, and he admits that it's a Toyota (which is also a Japanese car). Janet reminds Appa that Japanese people aren't the only ones driving Japanese cars. Appa states that in 1910, Japan attacked Korea, and that by buying Japanese products, one is guilty by association. Janet asks Appa about his Canon SLR camera, which is Japanese. Appa says that he got it for half price, which meant he ripped off Japan, and tells Janet to call the police again. Janet asks him why he can't call them himself, and Appa says that if the police hear the accent, they won't take him seriously. Janet protests this, and Appa restates more loudly that in 1910, Japan attacked Korea. Janet relents and picks up the phone, and Appa tells her to cancel because it's a Hyundai, a car from a South Korean company.
Gerald has taken a photo of Umma for his assignment. Janet comes in and sees the photo of Umma. Gerald suggests that Janet can take a photo for Appa instead but he blows her off.
Janet and Umma look at her photo
Janet is looking at the photo Gerald took of Umma, and says that it would be perfect for her "don't touch" wall. Umma asks what that is, and Janet reaches for a wall of photos to make a point, which Umma tells her not to touch. Appa says that the "don't touch" wall is too full, and takes a photo of Umma that Janet took off. He hangs up the new photo, and says that it would be the best funeral photo, and makes a comment about Mr. Chang's funeral photo which was taken from a roller-coaster ride at Canada's Wonderland. Appa and Umma continue to praise Gerald's photo, and Janet walks away with her photo.
At the store, Gerald asks if Janet is mad at him, and she responds with no, and asks if she is mad in general, and she responds with a more forceful "no," He looks at her, and she agrees, and says maybe she's been focusing too much on photography. Gerald says that she is a much better photographer than he is, and Janet says that apparently, she isn't. Appa comes in with makup, a fancy outfit, and a golfing trophy telling Gerald he is ready for the photo shoot. Janet says to Gerald that she hopes that the bag of chips was worth it.
Janet takes a candid shot of Appa
Appa is back at the store, again creeping out the customers with his fake smile to look good for the candid shot. A dad and his son leave the shop. Appa yells at Gerald to take a time out. and Janet comes back to the store, asking Appa what he's yelling about. Janet says that Gerald is at school, and that she was just with him. She suggests that Appa sits to take a break while she gets him some tea, and he obliges. From across the shop, she takes a photo of him.
Gerald gives Janet a chip
At their residence above the shop, the Kim's are admiring a photo Gerald supposedly took of Appa. Umma tells Gerald that he has great talent. Gerald whispers his thanks to Janet, and says that maybe she should just tell them that she took the photo. She shrugs, and says that it's working for her. Appa says that he feels he is ready to die, and Umma agrees. Gerald says he feels like he shouldn't be here, and Janet says that she feels like that most of the time. He offers her a chip from the bag he's eating.
Kimchee is vacuuming out a car in a bent-over position, Janet is telling Jung about the photo incident at work, and he says that it doesn't matter what Appa and Umma think. Janet comments that Kimchee's position must be killing Jung, who says that ddong chim is for children and that he'll get fired if he does it again. Janet notes that she doesn't work at Handy, and rubs her hands together, approaching Kimchee. Jung tells her to gun it.