Kahn Souphanousinphone

Kohng Koy Kahn Souphanousinphone, Sr., is a fictional character and the neighbor antagonist on the animated series King of the Hill. He and his wife Minh and daughter Connie live next door to the Hills. Kahn works in the Information Technology industry as a system analyst. He originates from Luang Prabang, Laos. An immigrant from Laos, Kahn represents the new American trying to blend into the melting pot of Arlen, Texas.

Like many immigrants, Kahn is preoccupied with achieving “the American dream.” In his case, this means succeeding financially, having his daughter excel academically, and keeping up with the Joneses (or the Hills, as the case may be). Kahn brags about his material possessions and puts down his neighbors, calling them names like “hillbilly” and “redneck.” He also has an affinity for ’80s pop music. Kahn idolizes Ted Wassanasong, an Asian-American more affluent than Kahn. However, Kahn does not realize that Ted, and presumably most of the Asian community, dislikes him; he and his wife have forbidden their son to date Connie. Kahn’s greatest fear is that his daughter might someday marry Bobby Hill, who embodies everything Kahn dislikes about white Americans, though the two part ways for different reasons to his relief.

Kahn quietly respects Hank (whose names are, incidentally anagrams of each other) being particularly aware that Hank is in many ways his equal. Although Kahn frequently disparages Hank’s blue-collar tastes and avoids socializing with him, Kahn has admitted his abrasive personality means Hank is his best friend. When a thuggish neighbor moved into their neighborhood, Hank formed an alliance with Kahn to drive him out. In another episode when Dale, Hank and Kahn make a run for the Mexican border, Kahn risks his life to save Hank instead of Dale.

Kahn is a non-practicing Buddhist. He also gets very irritated when people ask him if he is “Chinese or Japanese”, and was forced to constantly remind Hank and the rest of his neighbors (save Cotton Hill, ironically) about his Laotian heritage when he first moved into the neighborhood. A sympathetic view of Kahn came about when Minh’s retired Army General father visited them and was as cruel and insulting towards Kahn as Kahn usually is towards his neighbors. Minh and Hank combined to lift Kahn’s spirits and eventually convinced the General to mute his unbending feelings of contempt for Kahn.