[Exclusive]'34-Year Veteran' Cho Hye-ryeon: "What Yoo Jae-suk Does Is Never Wrong" — The Reason He Became Her Life Role Model [Interview ③]

*This content was translated by AI.

—Continuing from Interview ②

Among all the things she has done over her 34-year career, Cho Hye-ryeon cites "Golrum" as the one she is most proud of. The character Golrum, which she debuted on MBC's "Comedy House" in the early 2000s, marked another turning point in her career.

Cho Hye-ryeon said, "After performing as Golrum, I lost all fear." She added with a laugh, "Before that, I would get nervous even when trying new segments, hosting guests, or singing songs. But after Golrum, whether I was doing activities in Japan, releasing albums, or standing alone before tens of thousands of people, I never felt nervous anymore. There's nothing more challenging than Golrum."

Of course, there are things she regrets. Her activities in Japan were among them. As the first Korean female comedian to advance to Japan, she moved there during her peak years in 2005 and had to start over as a newcomer, enduring many ups and downs before establishing herself. While she gained valuable experiences, she stated that if given the chance to return to that time, she would not make the same choice again. She revealed, "It was truly grueling work. Learning a new language and gaining experiences abroad cannot be exchanged for money, but my body was exhausted, and I endured so much pain. If asked whether I would do it again, I think I would say no."

Nevertheless, Cho Hye-ryeon insisted, "Nothing was in vain." To document her activities in Japan at the time, the production team of KBS documentary "Wednesday Planning" followed her for two and a half months. It was through this broadcast that her current husband watched the documentary and felt drawn to her. She shared, "My husband said after watching it, 'That woman is amazing; she's truly impressive.' In the end, that connection led us together. Looking back, I feel there's nothing in life that is wasted."

If her husband is her life manager, then Yoo Jae-suk is her life role model. Cho Hye-ryeon refers to herself as "Yoo LINE," revealing that they exchange Korean beef during holidays. She said, "Jae-sik is someone who truly takes care of his own people. He doesn't intrude too much. Right after recording ends, he sends a text message saying something like, 'Unnie, today was so great. I shone because of you.' If he wants to end the conversation, he simply sends a bowing emoji. Now that I'm more aware, if the chat goes on too long, my score might drop, so I think, 'Ah, it's time to stop now.'"

Cho Hye-ryeon closely observes Yoo Jae-suk's behavior on broadcasts as the "National MC." She carefully watches how he treats other cast members in programs he leads, such as MBC variety show "What Do You Do?" and web variety "Excuse Me." She said, "I watch everything: how he interacts with Haha, how he teases Joo Woo-jae. That way, I can apply the same techniques when working with Senior Sister Gyeong-sil. When I follow what Jae-sik does, it never fails. There's so much to learn from him."

Another important senior figure for Cho Hye-ryeon is Lee Sung-mi. She named Lee as the comedian she admires most and noted that there is much to learn from her attitude toward juniors. She praised, "Senior Sister Sung-mi knows her own limits. She acts appropriately for her age, sets an example for juniors as a senior, and helps those who are struggling. She always invites them to eat, takes care of them, and when hanging out with younger people, she adapts to their style. Seeing her guide others so well as a trusted senior is truly admirable."

Among the juniors she keeps an eye on, Cho Hye-ryeon highlighted comedian Lee Seon-min. She believes Lee's potential stands out because she has observed him closely through "New Woman." She said, "At first, no one knew Lee Seon-min. Even when he was announced for 'New Woman,' people thought it was actor Lee Seung-min and wondered why he would do this. But as we worked together, he kept rising. He has immense talent. He has a mature side, reminiscent of Kim Ssaem from 'Today Is a Good Day' in his 'Crying Mom' sketch, yet he also possesses the kind of sensibility that appeals to younger generations. I believe he will do even better in the future."

Cho Hye-ryeon, now in her 34th year of activity, continues to run forward. The only thing that has changed is her mindset toward everything she does.

While the past Cho Hye-ryeon ran tirelessly to gain recognition, today's Cho Hye-ryeon runs while finding meaning in the process. Reflecting on her life, she said, "Even the path I've returned from was not wasted." The hardships in Japan, the censorship ban on "Anacca," and the relationships that once weighed heavily on her were all moments that ultimately shaped who Cho Hye-ryeon is today.

Cho Hye-ryeon shows no signs of stopping in the future.

"I'm still as busy as before, but I feel much less tired now. In the past, I was driven by what I wanted to achieve. Now, that's not the case anymore. If the results aren't good, there must be a reason. I think I just focus on valuing the process and moving forward."

—End

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*This content was translated by AI.