Jean Yoon talks about starring in ‘Code 8: Part II’

Jean Yoon of ‘Code 8: Part II.’ Photo Credit: George Pimentel, Netflix.

Actress Jean Yoon (“Kim’s Convenience”) chatted about starring in the film “Code 8: Part II” as Mina.

‘Code 8: Part II’

Jeff Chan directed the thriller from a script that he co-wrote alongside Chris Paré, Sherren Lee (“Float”) and Jesse LaVercombe.

Aside from Yoon, “Code 8: Part II” stars Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell, Sirena Gulamgaus, Altair Vincent, Alex Mallari Jr., Moe Jeudy-Lamour, and Aaron Abrams.

The synopsis is: Connor Reed (Robbie Amell) is out of prison and working as a janitor at the Lincoln City Community Center, after he cut his ties with his former criminal associate Garrett (Stephen Amell).

Connor’s attempt at staying out of trouble is destroyed when he is forced to help 14-year-old Pavani “Pav”(played by Sirena Gulamgaus) escape from a pack of corrupt officers led by Sergeant “King” Kingston (Alex Mallari Jr.).

Working with the cast

On being a part of “Code 8: Part II,” she said, “It was really fun. It’s a great team. Chris Paré, Jeff Chan, and Robbie Amell are a really good team together. It was really fun to be something in the action/drama genre after doing so much comedy for so many years.”

“Sirena and I spent a day in the car, and we ended up stashing a lot of candy in the glove compartment,” she said with a sweet laugh.

“I really enjoyed working with Alex Mallari Jr., who I adore,” she admitted. “It was a good experience.”

Playing Mina in ‘Code 8: Part II’

Yoon was drawn to playing Mina in the movie for several reasons. “I really enjoyed playing a character who fights to the end. That was very satisfying, especially dying heroically,” she said.

The digital age

On being an actress in the digital age, Yoon said, “When I was doing ‘Kim’s Convenience,’ a part of our responsibility as performers was promoting the show. That was the first time, I really applied myself there. I’m not a big social media person. I’m on Twitter (X) because I follow politics and there are a bunch of journalists there that i follow.”

“It is definitely different,” she said. “I’ve seen so much technological change in my lifetime. When I was in the university, personal computers and cell phones were not a thing. There was payphones everywhere. Now, younger artists are really quick to pick up the technology in terms of making their own films and TikTok videos.”

Advice for young and aspiring actors

For young and aspiring actors, Yoon said, “Clarify what your values are, and why you want to be an actor. Also, you have to get used to rejection, as well as trying things and them not working out.”

‘Kim’s Convenience’

Yoon is best known for playing the matriarch Umma in “Kim’s Convenience,” which earned her the Canadian Screen Award for “Best Lead Actress in a Comedy” in 2022. “I am still quite proud with a lot of the work that we did,” she said. “I am grateful for the impact that the show had.”

“Winning the Canadian Screen Award was fun,” she admitted. “That year, I was at my house when I won it because the ceremony was done via Zoom during the COVID pandemic.”

Stage of her life

On the title of the current chapter of her life, Yoon said with a sweet laugh, “Empty Nester learns to have fun again.” “My son is at the university and I am enjoying seeing how much he is enjoying it,” she said.

“Now, I have the time to focus on my own things such as reading, writing, and studying Korean. I am making serious progress, especially since Korean is a tricky language,” she added.

Success

On her definition of the word success, Yoon said, “I measure the success of a project by the quality of the process, how kind people are to each other, how kind they are to themselves, and how much we learn together.”

“My work as an actress is about entertaining people and about telling stories with important messages that need to be out there,” she acknowledged.

Closing thoughts on ‘Code 8: Part II’

For fans and viewers, Yoon remarked, “It’s a really fun ride, but also on a deeper level, it’s a great opportunity to consider what the future challenges are going to be about AI, and it really directs the audience to consider policing and how we are policed and what role the police have in our society.”

“I am really impressed with the CGI effects, and the way the whole team created the robot dogs. It’s just fascinating and beautiful to look at to,” she concluded.

To learn more about Jean Yoon, follow her on Instagram, and check out her IMDb page.

Read More: Robbie Amell and Stephen Amell star in the sci-fi thriller ‘Code 8: Part II’