A major star of Korea's voice acting world, Song Do-soon, has passed away. She was 77. Usually on New Year's Day there are surprise romance news about stars or hopeful updates, but the start of 2026 opened with the sad news of Song Do-soon's death.
According to her family, Song Do-soon died of chronic illness at around 10 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Konkuk University Medical Center in Seoul. The fact that the voice that had been familiar since childhood has become a memory that can no longer be heard has deepened the public's sorrow.
Singer Namgung Ok-bun left a long memorial post on social media on the 1st, saying, "Voice actress Song Do-soon! A great star has set." She said, "She had been in a coma for ten days, and we thought she would shake it off and get up again; the great star of broadcasting, sister Song Do-soon, has left us," expressing her disbelief. She recalled memories of spending time golfing and traveling with actress Yoon So-jung, adding, "I haven't seen her often recently, but she was always a sister who stayed close with warmth."
Namgung Ok-bun mourned, saying, "She liked the business card and drawings I made so much and always gave me strength with compliments," and added, "After a long battle with illness, the sister who led everyone with a presence and resonance as big as her height, and sometimes like a strict captain, has passed away." She especially noted, "The last time was on Aug. 24 when she enjoyed naengmyeon and bulgogi and showed signs of improvement," saying the image of her alive is vivid in her mind.
A wave of tribute in the entertainment industry continued. Comedian Kim Dae-beom said, "What is this happening from the first day of the new year," and honored the deceased as "the owner of a magnificent voice who gifted us beautiful childhood memories."
Born in 1949, Song Do-soon joined TBC voice acting troupe as part of the class of 1967 and, after the media consolidation, worked as a KBS voice actor in the class of 9, becoming an all-around broadcaster active across radio and TV. She was loved as a radio host on programs such as Single Bungle Show, Evening hope song, and Cheerful skit, and she also left an impression as an actress appearing in dramas such as Living Is, Because I Love You, the Dalsu series, and The Station.
Above all, what etched her name into the public's memory was her MBC version of Tom and Jerry narration. It was a bold attempt to add narration that was not in the original during the dubbing process, but her distinctive voice created the formula "Tom and Jerry means Song Do-soon." This narration was loved across generations, and the deceased met audiences again as the narrator in the 2021 live-action film Tom & Jerry. Numerous animation dubbings such as Pat and Mat and 101 Dalmatians also made her voice one that listeners trusted.
Outside of broadcasting, she devoted herself to training juniors and public activities. She founded the Special Speech Academy (SSA) and dedicated herself to education, and she was recognized for her contributions, receiving the 1975 Korea Broadcasting Awards radio division grand prize and the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit at the 2020 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards.
The sad news of Song Do-soon, delivered with the start of the new year, brought deep longing and gratitude instead of joyful news. Now she can no longer be heard on any broadcast, but her voice still lives on in the memories of countless people. On New Year's Day, many people are praying for the deceased's soul, saying, "I will not forget that voice."
The deceased's funeral wake was set up in room 23 of the funeral hall at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, and the funeral procession will be held at 6:20 a.m. on the 3rd.
[Photo] OSEN DB, SNS
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