From Adidas to Hachuping: "Six Years of Solo Practice... Impossible Is Nothing" [Power K Woman]

Jo Kyunghee, Voice Actor Interview
Voicing Multiple Animations Including Teenieping and Pinkfong
Self-Taught Instead of Attending Academies
"Practiced Alone for Six Years"
"Convinced That Nothing Is Impossible"

"Receive my love, Chu!"

Is there any child who would not stop in their tracks upon hearing this phrase? Since its television debut in 2020, "Catch! Teenieping" has become one of the most popular pieces of content among children today. Building on its popularity, the theatrical film "Love's Hachuping," released in August last year, drew as many as 1.24 million viewers despite being a children's animation. The stock price of SAMG Entertainment, the company behind "Catch! Teenieping," soared by 652% in the first half of this year, demonstrating a remarkable upward trend.

The key character driving the popularity of "Catch! Teenieping" is Hachuping. The voice actor behind this character is Jo Kyunghee. Active since 2010, Jo has lent her voice not only to Hachuping but also to Pinkfong, Bread Barbershop, One Piece, and various games such as Cookie Run, Black Desert, and MapleStory2. When we met Jo on the 12th of last month, it was clear that she not only shares Hachuping's cute and clear voice but also her cheerful and considerate nature. She smiled throughout our conversation and repeatedly bowed her head in gratitude for others' kindness.

The first video Jo appeared in was a commercial for the global sports brand Adidas. The ad featured legendary gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who achieved the first perfect 10 in gymnastics history at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Jo explained that she sees similarities between her life and Comaneci's, particularly in her passion for her dreams and relentless effort.

-Did you always dream of becoming a voice actor?

▲As a child, I thought it would be nice to have a job where I could speak for a living. But I didn't have just one dream. I also wanted to be a poet and even an astronaut. From a young age, I wished everyone could live beautifully, like in a fairy tale. Because of this, I was interested in jobs related to service and even prepared for employment in such fields.

Perhaps because I longed for a fairy tale world, I naturally developed an interest in children. I did a lot of part-time jobs as a university student, and teaching children was my favorite. What I remember most is working as a museum docent, where I met and explained things to 500 children every day.

-It seems you really like children.

▲There isn't a single adult who was never a child. I think people tend to forget what they thought and felt when they were children. I still feel connected to the world of children; my body may have grown up, but I feel linked to a child's emotions. That's why I can't help but love children.

Voice actor Jo Kyunghee, who dubbed Hachuping in the animation 'Love's Hachuping,' is being interviewed at the Asia Economy headquarters. Photo by Huh Younghan

-Your first voice acting job was the Adidas commercial. How did you get the role?

▲It was during my first university vacation. I was working as an announcer at the campus broadcasting station when a friend invited me to join a meal with a senior. When I arrived, it turned out to be an audition for a commercial voice actor, not a meal. I didn't even know what the audition was for and was just sitting in the corner of the recording studio when they suddenly asked me to try. So I gave it a shot and was selected. I think they were looking for a regular person rather than a professional voice actor, since the role was to play a young Comaneci. If I listen to that commercial now, my pronunciation and vocalization are at the level of an amateur who hasn't received any training. But after that day, I started dreaming of becoming a voice actor.

-What did you do to become a voice actor?

▲Usually, to become a voice actor, you have to attend a training academy and learn from a teacher in an apprenticeship style. However, I didn't have the environment or resources to invest that much time and money in my dream. So I did my best in university classes. I learned standard pronunciation in Korean language education classes and took courses in mass communication to gain broadcasting knowledge.

But I didn't know how to act. I filled this gap by reading every book on acting I could find in the university library and making my own notes. I filled my notes with script and dialogue analysis, character creation, and speech techniques. I practiced acting whenever I had spare time, whether I was heading to a part-time job or walking home. I repeated this for six years and finally passed the open recruitment for voice actors at the age of 28.

-You didn't follow the typical path to becoming a voice actor. Weren't you anxious?

▲I think I was too busy to feel anxious. In college, I completed three majors: philosophy, cultural information management, and ethics and culture. On top of that, I completed a teaching program and worked part-time jobs. In my twenties, I lived each day as if it were a week, and it was exhausting. But those experiences helped me tremendously in voice acting. Looking back, I wonder if I invested so much time in various experiences just to prepare for acting later on.

-You've been a voice actor for over 10 years now. When do you feel most fulfilled in your work?

▲Whenever I work, I always hope that I can help someone. If someone who was feeling down becomes happy after hearing my performance or words, I think that's all that matters. As a voice actor for animation, I naturally think of children. Even if their parents can't play with them, I can play with them as the voice of Hachuping or Pinkfong. If children grow emotionally by interacting and connecting with Hachuping or Pinkfong, that is extremely rewarding for me.

-Have you ever witnessed children's reactions firsthand?

▲When I was the voice of Pinkfong, there was an event where I spoke directly with children over the phone as the character. Usually, I would say things like, "What were you doing?" or "You have to eat well!" in Pinkfong's voice. Every time a shy child responded, saying they understood, I felt a sense of fulfillment.

Once, I told a child, "You should listen to your mom and dad!" and the child replied, "But I don't have a mom." I was taken aback and wondered how to respond, but I said, "I don't have a mom either, and I live with my friends." Still, children are open-minded. That child simply said, "Oh, I see!" Whether they don't have a dad or a mom, or even if they're from another planet, children accept everything. Every time, I feel grateful to them.

-Have you learned anything yourself while working as a voice actor?

▲I've learned that one of the most important things in life is "words." As someone who observes, studies, and expresses language, I can see how different interactions occur depending on how you communicate. If children hear only stiff, formal language during their formative years, they may grow up emotionally detached. I believe animation and voice actors play a role in correcting that.

That's why I can't take any word lightly when recording animation. For example, when I ask, "Are you okay?" the emotion I put into it changes how a child receives it. I hope that children feel comforted when they watch the animations I've recorded. The world is becoming harsher and more mechanized. I want to help create a kinder, more colorful world through language and tone of voice.

Voice actor Jo Kyunghee, who dubbed Hachuping in the animation "Love's Hachuping," is being interviewed at the Asia Economy headquarters. Photo by Huh Younghan

-Returning to an earlier question, do you remember your line from the Adidas commercial?

▲I remember. "Impossible is nothing." As a voice actor, I naturally put emotion into every line. At first, I doubted that phrase. But after repeating it many times, I started to think it might be true. As I kept repeating the line, I became convinced that nothing is impossible and that it all depends on what I do.

Saying that line made me think, "I want to live like this too." Maybe that's why I didn't go to the same voice acting academies as everyone else, chose to prepare on my own, practiced acting by myself, and challenged myself to take the open recruitment exam. The path that everyone else takes might be a faster shortcut, but in the end, these are things I have to do myself anyway. I don't think everyone needs to take the same path.

-Is there a memorable line as a voice actor that stands out to you?

▲I think it would be wonderful if everyone could live in harmony together. As a voice actor, I want to be a friend who understands and warms the hearts of all children. There's a line that comes up often in animation: "Let's do it together!"

▶About Voice Actor Jo Kyunghee

Jo Kyunghee graduated from the Department of Philosophy at Dongguk University. She began her career as a voice actor in 2010 after passing the second open recruitment at Daewon Broadcasting Voice Actor Theater Company. Since 2012, she has been working as a freelancer. Her major works and games include Catch! Teenieping (as Hachuping), Pinkfong (as Pinkfong), Rilu Rilu Fairilu: The Fairy's Door (as Leaf), Pokemon XY (as Eureka), MapleStory2, and Cookie Run. She also performed in Adidas commercials and as the voice for the KakaoT application and its advertisements.