"Jjangu's mother" Bong Mi-seon, who had been loved nationwide for her role, voice actor Kang Hee-seon has passed away. The news of another bereavement reached fans who loved the nostalgic cartoon "Jjangu" not long after the 11th anniversary of the death of "Jjangu's father," the late voice actor Oh Se-hong, plunging many into deep sorrow.
According to the bereaved family, Kang Hee-seon passed away early that morning on the 4th. She was 665 years old.
Kang Hee-seon debuted in 1979 as a public recruitment voice actor in KBS's 15th class and was active in roles such as Eboshi Gozen in Princess Mononoke, Sailor Venus in Sailor Moon, Hera in Olympus Guardian, and Bong Mi-seon and Maeng-gu in Crayon Shin-chan. In foreign films she was well known as the dedicated dubbing voice for Sharon Stone, and through subway announcement broadcasts her voice remained familiar to the general public who might not know animation.
Meanwhile, in August last year, sudden news of the replacement of the voice actors for Bong Mi-seon and Maeng-gu in Crayon Shin-chan drew attention. At the time Tooniverse said it was for "personal reasons," but Kang Hee-seon revealed in interviews with the media that it was due to health issues.
In fact, Kang Hee-seon had revealed on her YouTube channel in 2023 that she was battling cancer. She said she was diagnosed in 2021 with colon cancer that had metastasized to the liver, underwent surgery and chemotherapy, and was once given a prognosis of two years to live. Later, on the 2024 episode of You Quiz on the Block, she also said, "(It's been) four years (since I started battling). A health checkup showed cancer in the colon that spread to the liver. It metastasized to 17 places and I received chemotherapy 47 times. Since then I live with the thought that 'today could always be the last.'"
Even while battling illness she continued her work, saying, "I recorded four hours for a 'Jjangu' movie and couldn't get up for four days. I had to scream loudly," yet added, "If I were this sick and didn't even have this, what would I have held on to? I've thought about that. I'm a voice actor, but I really love being a voice actor. I loved my job so much that it was possible, and I loved being Jjangu's mother so it was possible," showing deep affection for her profession, work and character.
After leaving Crayon Shin-chan because of her cancer battle, Kang Hee-seon said she intended to return whenever her health recovered. But a sudden bereavement was reported just a year later, and fans who had been waiting for her comeback were plunged into deep sorrow.
Moreover, on May 22, 2015, the late voice actor Oh Se-hong, who voiced "Jjangu's father" Shin Young-sik, passed away at age 63 during chemotherapy, delivering a great shock. At the time he had been diagnosed with oral cancer in May 2014 and had continued his battle, but the cancer worsened, spreading to lymph nodes in the airway and the liver, and he ultimately died from complications related to chemotherapy worsening his chronic illness. Despite his own struggle with cancer he participated in Crayon Shin-chan recordings and showed strong commitment to the work, but he could not return to the public, which was regrettable.
Meanwhile, the obituary of "Jjangu's mother" Kang Hee-seon was reported 11 years after the departure of the late "Jjangu's father" Oh Se-hong, giving fans another farewell. Crayon Shin-chan began domestic broadcasting in 1999 and has continued with new seasons to the present, making it a national animation that remains a memory in the hearts of children and adults alike. The news of the deaths of those who had long held the roles of mother and father in such a work brought significant feelings of loss. That both voice actors died in their 60s from cancer also saddened many.
Various social media platforms are overflowing with comments mourning the late Kang Hee-seon. Junior voice actors Nam Do-hyung, Jeong Seong-hoon, Chae Eui-jin, Kim Seon-hye, Hong Si-ho and others have also shared memories of the deceased and the wave of mourning continues.
Meanwhile, the funeral hall for the late Kang Hee-seon has been set up in room 31 of the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital funeral hall. The funeral procession is at 7:40 a.m. on the 6th, and the burial site is Yongin Park Honors Stone.
[Photo] tvN
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