EXCLUSIVE: C.S. Lee (Dexter, Avatar: The Last Airbender) has joined the cast of Netflix’s Cobra Kai for its sixth and final season in an iconic role originating from The Karate Kid, Deadline has learned.
According to sources, Lee will portray Master Kim Sun-Young, a character that has previously appeared only in flashback form by Jun Chong in The Karate Kid and later Don Lee in Cobra Kai. Master Kim is presumed dead and at this time it is unknown whether Lee will appear in flashback form only.
Alicia Hannah-Kim, who joined Cobra Kai in Season 5, portrays Master Kim’s granddaughter Kim Da-Eun. She entered the scene in Season 5 at the behest of Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith). Both Terry and John Kreese (Martin Kove) were taught by Master Kim, who created The Way of the Fist, a ruthless style of martial arts that is the antithesis of the teachings of Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).
It was announced in January that the sixth season of the hit streaming series would serve as its final installment. Season 6 was eyeing a premiere in December of this year but that was put on hold when the writers room shut down at the start of the WGA strike in May. The Cobra Kai writers reconvened after the end of the WGA work stoppage a month ago, and filming is expected to start in early 2024. Netflix and series producer Sony Pictures TV declined to comment on this story.