Beloved Voice Actor Yoo Ho-han Passes Away at 52

The Korean entertainment community is mourning the loss of voice actor and actor Yoo Ho-han, who passed away from a heart attack on January 7 at the age of 52. Known for his work in popular series such as 짱구는 못 말려 (Crayon Shin-chan) and the Avengers franchise, Yoo's contributions to the industry were significant. His funeral is scheduled for January 11, with burial at the Hambeoksan Memorial Park in Hwaseong.

Yoo Ho-han joined KBS as a voice actor in 2002 and lent his voice to numerous animated series including 명탐정 코난 (Detective Conan), 원피스 (One Piece), and 유희왕 GX (Yu-Gi-Oh! GX). He also appeared in films like 청년경찰 (Midnight Runners) and the Netflix series 사냥개들 (The Hunt).

In addition to his voice acting, Yoo was a strong advocate for the rights of fellow voice actors. He served as the 31st president of the KBS Voice Actors Association for three years, promoting unity among colleagues. As the senior vice president of the Korean Voice Actors Association and a delegate for the Korean Broadcasting Actors Labor Union, he actively participated in negotiations to protect voice actors' rights.

Lee Yeon-hee, director of the Korean Voice Actors Association, expressed deep sorrow over Yoo's passing, stating, "He was an irreplaceable voice actor who showed strong camaraderie with all his colleagues. Losing him feels like losing my right arm. His absence will be profoundly felt."

Yoo's death follows the recent passing of entrepreneur and influencer Lee Hee-cheol, who also died on January 7. Lee's close friend, broadcaster Pungja, shared the news on social media, expressing disbelief and sadness over the sudden loss. Lee Hee-cheol was known for his role on KBS2's 살림하는 남자들2 (Salim Nam) and was a prominent figure in the influencer and restaurant industry.

The unexpected deaths of both Yoo and Lee have left fans and colleagues in shock, with many taking to social media to express their condolences and share memories of the beloved figures.