Daniel Dae Kim reflects on ‘lost’ finale and behind-the-scenes struggles

Daniel Dae Kim is opening up about his time on Lost and how he feels about the hit ABC series more than a decade after its finale.

Speaking exclusively with People at the Gold Gala at The Music Center in Los Angeles on May 9, the 57-year-old actor said that despite behind-the-scenes complications, his overall memories of the show remain positive.

“I think there were difficulties on the show — as we’ve learned — most of which I didn’t know at the time,” Kim said.

“But at the same time, I’ve made lifelong friends through that show. It helped my career in a way that no other job has.”

Kim added that the series played a defining role in his professional life. “Lost really gave me opportunities that no other job had, and I don’t think I’d be here today without it,” he said.

The actor, who played Jin-Soo Kwon in the long-running sci-fi drama, also noted that he has stayed close with several former castmates, even 16 years after the show ended in 2010.

“Harold Perrineau, I’m in touch with regularly. Ian Cusick I’m in touch with regularly. Josh Holloway, I’m in touch with,” he said. “The raft boys from season 1 — we bonded over that experience.”

In recent years, Lost has faced renewed scrutiny over alleged behind-the-scenes issues, including claims of a difficult and sometimes toxic workplace environment reported by former cast and crew members.

Despite that, Kim said his personal experience remains grounded in connection and gratitude.

When asked whether he has revisited the series, the Avatar: The Last Airbender star admitted he has not yet rewatched it.

“I haven’t done a rewatch, actually, and it’s something I’ve been meaning to do,” he said. “So I think it’s in my near future.”

Kim also reflected on the show’s polarizing finale, which aired in May 2010, saying his focus has always been on the characters and relationships rather than the broader debates surrounding its conclusion.

“I cared most about the characters, and the fact that the characters were all together at the end of the series was the thing that mattered most to me,” he said.

“And so I found that really satisfying because, as actors, we could say goodbye to each other in those final scenes.”

Outside of Lost, Kim has continued to expand his career, most recently with K-Everything, a four-part CNN docuseries he hosts and executive-produces.

The project explores the global rise of Korean culture across K-beauty, K-pop, K-drama, and K-food.

All episodes of K-Everything are currently streaming on HBO Max.