Voice Actor Kang Hee-sun, Known for Subway Announcements and 'Crayon Shin-chan,' Passes Away at 65

Kang Hee-sun, a beloved voice actor known for her work in subway announcements in Seoul and Busan, as well as her role as the mother in the animated series 'Crayon Shin-chan,' has passed away at the age of 65.

According to Yonhap News Agency, her family reported that Kang died at 2:10 a.m. at Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital due to health issues.

Born in Seoul, Kang graduated from Junggyeong High School and the Broadcasting and Entertainment Department of Seoul Arts College. Although she aspired to be an actress, she was encouraged by her professor to pursue voice acting, joining TBC Voice Acting Group as part of its 10th class in 1979. Following a merger in broadcasting the next year, she became part of KBS Voice Acting Group's 15th class. She later served as the head of the KBS Voice Acting Group and as the senior vice president of the Korean Voice Actors Association.

Kang's extensive work in animation began with 'Anne of Green Gables' and included notable titles such as 'The Rose of Versailles,' 'Ghost in the Shell,' and 'Captain Planet.' During the peak of foreign dubbing, she lent her voice to Hollywood stars including Sharon Stone, Michelle Pfeiffer, Julia Roberts, and Nicole Kidman.

She became widely recognized for her voice in subway announcements, starting in 1996 for Seoul Lines 1-8 and Busan Lines 1-4, and also featured in Daegu subway advertisements.

Younger audiences know her best as the voice of Misae Nohara, the mother in 'Crayon Shin-chan,' a role she also shared with the character 'Manggu.'

Kang received several accolades, including the Best Foreign Voice Acting Award at the KBS Voice Acting Awards in 2002, the Best Acting Award in 2005, and a Prime Minister's Commendation at the Popular Culture and Arts Awards in 2018.

Despite being diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer in 2021, she continued her recording activities. She participated in the recording for the 'Crayon Shin-chan' movie while undergoing chemotherapy and reportedly recorded subway announcements from her hospital room.

She is survived by her son Ahn Eun-seok, CEO of Bon Film, and her daughter Ahn Ji-sun, an artist. Her funeral will be held at 7:40 a.m. on July 6 at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, with the burial site at Yongin Park Honor Stone.

* This article has been translated by AI.