Veteran Korean voice actor Hee-sun Kang, most recognized as the voice of Misae Nohara in the Korean dub of Crayon Shin-chan, has died at age 65. Kang passed away on July 4 following a battle with colon cancer, according to reports from Korean news outlets.
Kang had voiced Shin-chan's mother for 26 years, a tenure that concluded last year when she stepped down from the role due to her ongoing cancer treatment. She was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2021, which had later spread to her liver. Despite undergoing numerous chemotherapy sessions and surgeries, Kang continued her voice acting work, even sharing her experiences on the variety show You Quiz on the Block in 2023.
Her extensive career began in 1979. Beyond her iconic role as Misae, Kang lent her voice to Hollywood stars such as Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich and Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct for Korean audiences. She was also the familiar voice behind Seoul's subway announcements. Kang's contributions were recognized with accolades including the KBS Voice Acting Award in 2005 and a Prime Minister's Commendation at the 2018 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards.
Source: IS Plus (Joo-yeon Jang)
