Ddong Chim

...I'm not explaining this right.

"**Ddong Chim**" is the third episode in the first season of *Kim's Convenience*. It first premiered on CBC on October 18, 2016.

## Synopsis

Jung draws the wrong kind of attention from his boss when he gives Kimchee a *ddong chim* (Korean "wedgie") at work, which Kimchee takes exception to. Mr. Kim commissions Janet's friend, Gerald, to take his photo instead of asking Janet.

## Plot

A customer asks Appa, who is looking out the shop window, for a scratch and win. Appa asks the man if the car outside is his, and the customer asks which one, and Appa says the red Toyota outside in the no-parking zone. The customer says that he doesn't own a car, and Appa asks why he asks which one if he didn't own a car. The customer shrugs and takes his scratch and win. 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 comes to the store and Appa dismisses him, telling him that Janet isn't here at the moment. Gerald tells him that he has a very interesting face, and that he's actually here to take a photo of Appa. Appa is suspicious, saying that he has seen Gerald's pictures before, and that they were photos of naked subjects. Gerald tries to tell him that that was just for one assignment, and Appa insists that he would never do a naked photo. Gerald assures him that it would only be from the neck up, and Appa says that Gerald will try to seduce him to take off his clothes to sell to a pornography magazine, Appa tells Gerald that magazine like naked everything, and that once he saw one full of feet pictures, and tells Gerald to get out. Gerald leaves gladly.

Kimchee is on the phone with someone named Phil in Jung's office. Jung tries to get his attention but he waves him off, continuing to speak to the phone. Jung sneaks up on Kimchee and gives him a *ddong chim*, and Kimchee jolts upward, telling the person on the phone that he'll call them back and hangs up. In pain, Kimchee, in pain, asks Jung what that was for, and Jung asks Kimchee to tell him about Phil. Kimchee had been trying to get Phil to chamois the cars, and Jung tells him that it isn't Phil's job, it's Kimchee's. Kimchee says that by disrespecting him, Phil is disrespecting Jung, because he is the assistant to the assistant, which Jung rebuffs the existence of. Jung says that they're friends, but Kimchee needs to stop taking advantage of his position, and Kimchee says that he's just having Jung's back. Kimchee reminds Jung that he wouldn't be working at Handy if it wasn't for him, and Jung agrees, but he isn't letting Kimchee screw up his hard work. Kimchee is offended at this, and tells Jung that it's funny coming from a guy who stole cell phones for a living. Jung argues that Kimchee stole cellphones too, and Kimchee says that he didn't get caught. Jung puts Kimchee on urinal cake duty for the rest of the week, and kicks him out of his office.

Appa is ordering 12 cartons of eggs on the phone when Gerald comes back into the store, looking for Umma. Appa tells him that she is definitely not interested in posing for his "naked picture" and Gerald tells him that he already took a photo of her and would like to show her. Appa snatches his phone to look for the photos of Umma, thinking that they are naked pictures. Appa is surprised, as the photo of Umma is a nice one. Appa then tells Gerald that he accepts his previous offer and now wants him to take a photo of him. Gerald tells him that it's okay, and he already completed his assignment. Janet comes in and sees the photo of Umma. Gerald suggests that Janet can take a photo for him instead but Appa blows her off. Appa offers to commission Gerald with a small bag of chips for the rest of his life. Appa leaves to practice his face exercises.

Shannon is in her office with Jung (because Kimchee reported the *ddong chim* incident to her) and says that one of the coworkers complained of Jung sexually harassing them. Jung asks her where it's coming from, and Shannon says that it's an anonymous complaint, but still coming from a serious place. Jung realizes that Kimchee is the reporter. and tells her that there has been a misunderstanding. Shannon says that she understands that he has never been inappropriate with anyone at work, Jung explains that he gave Kimchee a *ddong chim*, with "ddong" meaning "poop" and "chim" meaning needle in Korean, and that it was the Korean equivalent of a wedgie. Shannon says that she understands, but if Kimchee filed a complaint directly to head office, it could be considered harassment. Jung says that Kimchee gives him *ddong chim's* all the time. Shannon tells him to find Kimchee to resolve this, without using anything sexual.

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.

Kimchee is in the staff room at Handy, icing with Jung used *ddong chim* on him, and Jung comes in, offering to get that icepack up a little further. Kimchee shows him a pamphlet for harassment, and Jung asks him if he's serious as this is a fireable offence. Kimchee threatens Jung with several quotes from the pamphlet. Jung protests that it was just a *ddong chim*, and Terence and Esi, another Handy worker, walk in. Kimchee raises his voice, pretending to be intimidated, asking Jung to not *ddong chim* him again. Jung turns to tell Terence and Esi that Kimchee wasn't really being serious, and it was just for fun.

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. Appa says that it's one bag of chips for the rest of his life, and Gerald says that he thought it was for the rest of his life, and Appa says it's for the lifetime of whoever dies first.

Shannon has gathered the Handy employees for the meeting about harassment. Terence asks what it's about, and Shannon says that two of the Handy workers are having an argument. Terence says that he thought it was a lover's quarrel, and Jung affirms that he and Kimchee are not a couple, and that it was just a *ddong chim*. Shannon says that this is an opportunity to be more inclusive about each other's cultures, and states that when she was younger, her family used to pass oranges around the room with only their necks. Esi asks why Shannon is looking at her, and she says that there are only 5 people in the room, and that she needs to look at someone. Shannon restates that they need to respect each other racially and sexually, and tells Jung and Kimchee to just make amends with each other. Jung says that he's sorry, and Kimchee beings to thank him. Jung interrupts, and says that he is apologizing to everyone else in the room, not Kimchee. Esi suggests that they should just break up. Jung says they're not a couple, and Shannon says that maybe as friends, they should find some common ground. Kimchee says thay're not friends. Shannon calls a break and everyone leaves.

Appa is posing for photos, smiling manically at Gerald. Gerald tells him to just relax and pretend he isn't here. Appa decides to get some action shots when Mary, a customer comes in to get chocolate milk. Appa continues acting maniacal for Gerald and hands Mary whipping cream instead. He says there is no chocolate milk and that he is sorry, and Mary says he doesn't look sorry, he looks uncomfortable, and leaves.Appa sighs and tells Gerald to not use that photo. Gerald suggests that maybe they should do this another day, and that he gets nervous around Appa. Appa says that Gerald should take a "sneak attack photo" (a candid shot).

Kimchee shines a flashlight in Jung's room late at night to discuss what happened at work that day. He says that Jung just came home and ignored him, and Jung reminds Kimchee that he was the one who said that they weren't friends anymore. Jung apologizes to Kimchee, who says that it's weird that they're dynamic has shifted. Jung says it's weird for him too, but at work Kimchee needs to respect his position. Kimchee says that Jung needs to respect him in return, and he agrees. They hug it out. Kimchee asks Jung if he's hungry, as he's making eggs. Jung goes back to sleep.

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.

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.

## Cast

### Starring

* Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Appa
* Jean Yoon as Umma
* Andrea Bang as Janet Kim
* Simu Liu as Jung Kim
* Andrew Phung as Arnold "Kimchee" Han
* Nicole Power as Shannon Ross

### Recurring

* Ben Beauchemin as Gerald Tremblay
* Marcel Stewart as Scratch and Win Customer
* Diana Leblanc as Mary
* Michael Musi as Terence
* Sarena Parmar as Esi
* Dylan Casanova as Little Kid (Noah)
* Zach Smadu as Dad