[Exclusive]"Back in the day, I dealt with it through alcohol and cigarettes." Jo Hye-ryeon meets her 'life manager' after 45 years of wandering [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Comedian Jo Hye-ryeon (56) remains incredibly busy. It is nearly impossible to find a single day off. She handles broadcasting schedules, performs on stage in theater productions, prepares new works, creates music, and even sings at weddings. Recently, she has been meeting audiences through the web variety show "New Woman" alongside senior comedian Lee Kyung-sil, while also leading the box office success of the play "I Love You, Mom." She is equally passionate about her faith. Having consistently published Christian books, she currently serves as a healing mentor on the CCM audition program "Healing Voices," produced by the Christian channel CGN.

When we met for the interview, Jo Hye-ryeon had just finished an early morning home shopping schedule. Despite a relentless lineup of commitments, her expression showed more energy than exhaustion. When asked about her busy daily life, she began speaking in her signature bright voice.

"There are no days off. It's not just broadcasting; I also do performance work. 'I Love You, Mom' is doing so well right now that we're performing in Seoul and other regions across the country, and even going overseas. We're also preparing for the next work following 'I Love You, Mom,' titled 'I'm Sorry, Dad.'"

One work that cannot be omitted when explaining Jo Hye-ryeon's busy schedule is "I Love You, Mom." Set in the 1980s, the play portrays the life and emotional struggles of a mother who single-handedly raises her son with grit in a market. Since its premiere in early April 2019, this work has steadily won the hearts of audiences. For Jo Hye-ryeon, it holds meaning beyond being just another acting role, as she serves as both director and the "mother" character within the play. Comedians Lee Kyung-sil, Kim Ji-seon, and Kim Hyo-jin are among the main cast members. Jo Hye-ryeon remarked, "Comedians are surprisingly good at tearful acting," adding, "I hope to create future musicals or plays that blend well with comedians."

As she moved between broadcasting and performance activities, her scope of work naturally expanded. "New Woman," which she shares with Lee Kyung-sil, became another catalyst for her activities. The connection formed through the web variety show led to opportunities in theater, YouTube, home shopping, and live commerce.

Jo Hye-ryeon said, "(Lee) Kyung-sil unnie also started doing personal YouTube content, home shopping, and live commerce while working on 'New Woman,' making her even busier." She added with satisfaction, "While promoting 'I Love You, Mom,' we appeared everywhere—'Pinggego,' 'Knowing Bros,' 'Dongchimi,' and even radio. Thanks to that, both Kim Ji-seon and Kim Hyo-jin have become very busy as well."

Jo Hye-ryeon entered the entertainment industry through KBS's "Youth Sketch" in 1993 and is now celebrating her 34th year since debut. Where does her energy come from after running tirelessly for so long? Jo Hye-ryeon honestly admitted, "Originally, the energy to move forward stems from the desire to be recognized." She continued, "In a way, it may have been taken too far. I ran ahead without looking back or considering consequences, which took a heavy toll on my body and made those around me constantly see a busy, frantic Jo Hye-ryeon."

The turning point was faith. Jo Hye-ryeon stated that she formally embraced Christianity in 2015. After marrying Ko Yo-sep (CEO), a performance producer two years her junior, in 2014, she began attending church at her husband's suggestion and subsequently studied the Bible deeply. She mentioned reading the Bible more than 100 times.

"Once I gained faith, I started by reading the Bible. Before that, I had read many books on other religions because I didn't know the truth. It was like wandering through a harsh wilderness and finally discovering the Bible at the end. After wandering for 45 years, I found my way to church through my husband and learned the truth. Since then, I have focused solely on that truth."

The "change" she speaks of does not mean her busy life has disappeared. In fact, she remains busier than anyone else today. What has changed is her standard for approaching life.

She explained, "In the past, if my efforts didn't yield good results, I felt upset, annoyed, and exhausted. Now, I don't fear outcomes. If results aren't good, I think there must be a reason; perhaps better results will come later. Rather than chasing money or popularity, I seem to value the process more. Because I cherish the journey and relationships with those I work with, I believe that's why more people have gathered around me."

She stated that even if an activity is profitable, she will not engage in it if it conflicts with her faith-based standards. She said, "For example, if a job involves drinking alcohol or consulting fortune-tellers to make money, it goes beyond my standards. So I don't do it. The same applies when I feel angry and want to speak harshly or post negative comments. Now, if I believe something is wrong, I simply don't do it."

This marks the dividing line between the past Jo Hye-ryeon and the present one. She admitted that in the past, she would drink when things were hard, smoke when stressed, and openly express her anger without restraint. Now, there is a moment of pause between emotions and actions to reflect before reacting.

Her husband played a significant role in this transformation. Jo Hye-ryeon said, "While I have a broadcasting manager, my 'life manager' who takes care of me is my husband." She added, "Whenever I'm about to post something on social media, say something, or choose an outfit, he comments, 'I don't think that's right,' or 'It would be better not to do that.' Through these conversations, I feel like I've been able to sort things out one by one."

-Continuing to Interview ②

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*This content was translated by AI.