It's Been a Minute Since We've Seen Albert on '9-1-1' — Where Is He?

Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for 9-1-1 Season 6, Episode 11.

While our main focus in 9-1-1 isn't always the guest stars and recurring characters, we can't help but love Albert Han (John Harlan Kim). After he leaves Korea, and more importantly his strict father, Albert heads to Los Angeles to live with his half-brother Howard "Chimney" Han (Kenneth Choi).

He first joins the series in Season 3, Episode 11, "Seize the Day," and has been on and off our screens ever since. Throughout his time on 9-1-1, Albert has had his own brush with death, as well as some existential quandaries. But now that Chimney is about to make a major life decision in Season 6, viewers wonder if Albert is leaving 9-1-1. Even worse, does he die?

While Albert leaves the 118 in Season 5, he still comes back from time to time to support his brother. In Season 6, Episode 10, also known as the episode with Buck's near-death experience, Albert surprises Chimney with his mother and their father, Sang, from Korea. As we know, however, Chimney has a nearly nonexistent relationship with his father, who left Chimney and his mother behind in America.

In Season 6, Albert wants his half-brother and father to reconcile. He shares that Sang often asks about Chimney, Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), and their daughter, Jee, and wants to have a relationship with his son and granddaughter. Although the episode is wrought with familial arguments, Chimney eventually starts to bridge the gap between himself and his father.

However, we haven't seen Albert since. Now that the promo for Season 6, Episode 16 is teasing that Chimney will finally propose to Maddie, we can't help but wonder if Albert will be there to support his future sister-in-law. Will Albert ever return to 9-1-1, or is he leaving for good?

As of April 25, the last 9-1-1 episode listed on his IMDb is Episode 11. But without a proper exit, we doubt Albert is gone for good.

Because Albert comes and goes so often from 9-1-1, fans are worried that the only way he can truly be written off the series is if he dies. In Season 4, Albert is nearly killed by a drunk driver, all while Maddie gives birth to Jee. The episode was beautifully done, showing how life is precious in birth and death, but that moment really changed Albert.

Now that Chimney and Maddie have not only brought new life into the world but are seemingly moving forward as a family, fans are worried that as Chimney gains one family member, he could lose another. This comes on the heels of Chimney and his dad reconciling their relationship, which creates even more grounds to be worried for Albert.

In fact, John was first brought on as a recurring cast member in Season 3, then promoted to regular in Season 4, and then demoted back to recurring in Season 5. Now, he's merely a guest star. It seems like the 9-1-1 writers are slowly phasing him out as quickly as they brought him in.

John Harlan Kim was not ousted from the main cast for any nefarious reason. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Showrunner Tim Minear spoke with TV Insider in September 2021, who brought up Albert's absence. "Albert is on Nancy Drew," Tim said, laughing. "Albert passed his LAFD training and he’s in a different house, and we will be checking in with him very shortly."

John was demoted in 9-1-1 for two possible reasons. First of all, when Nancy Drew was picked up for a fourth season, it seemed like John could have some scheduling conflicts moving forward. However, it's not just Nancy Drew that diverted John's attention. Since joining the cast of 9-1-1, he also landed a recurring role in The Last Thing He Told Me.

Plus, in February 2022, Variety reported that John would be joining the cast of an L.A. Law reboot, along with previously announced returning cast members Blair Underwood and Corbin Bernsen. So John will return to our screens regardless, even if something does happen to Albert on 9-1-1.

9-1-1 airs every Monday at 8 p.m. EST on FOX.