[EPN Enpinow Reporter Go Nari] It has been eight years since veteran voice actress Kwon Hee‑deok died at 62 on March 16, 2018.
Her sudden passing sent shockwaves through the fan community. Over a long and distinguished career, Kwon was known for a commanding sense of professionalism and a warm, expressive voice that comforted and inspired audiences across generations.
Kwon began her career after joining Dong-A Broadcasting (DBS) in 1976. By the 1990s she had expanded her repertoire, dubbing leading female roles in numerous foreign films — notably Lara in Doctor Zhivago and Sally in When Harry Met Sally — and establishing herself as one of the era’s defining voice actors.
She also endeared herself to younger audiences by voicing Yu Ji‑ae in the anime Run, Hani, and gained nationwide recognition as the voice double for actress Choi Jin‑shil in television commercials. Her popularity reached a high point with the commercial titled “A Man Is What a Woman Makes of Him.”
Offstage, Kwon was quietly philanthropic, donating part of her earnings to help marginalized communities. That generosity further endeared her to fans and deepened the public’s sense of loss after her death.
In 1996 she received the Grand Prize in the radio acting category at the Korea Broadcasting Awards, cementing her reputation within the industry. She also published a spoken‑word collection, Don't Grow Old, Mother, featuring recitations of 14 lyric poems by poets from both North and South Korea.
Her 2013 appearance on KBS's lifestyle program Leisurely Life spotlighted her longtime friendship with singer Kim Jong‑hwan. During the broadcast she recreated the commercial “A Man Is What a Woman Makes of Him” and performed Kim’s song “To the One I Love,” drawing renewed attention to her career.
Photo: CGN, Pyo In‑bong and Yoon Woo‑sun’s Sky Scent
