[Exclusive]Jo Hye-ryeon and Lee Kyung-sil make a special promise regarding funerals: "When my 98-year-old mother passes away, it will be 'Anakana'" [★Full Interview]

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• Comedian, singer, actor, and director... 34-year veteran all-around entertainer Cho Hye-ryeon

Comedian Cho Hye-ryeon (56) remains busy, with it being difficult to find a day off. While handling her broadcasting schedule, she performs on the theater stage, prepares new works, creates music, and even sings at weddings. Recently, she has been meeting viewers through the web variety show "New Woman" alongside senior comedian Lee Kyung-sil, and is also driving the box office success of the play "I Love You, Mom." She is also passionate about her religious life. Having consistently published Christian books, she is currently active as a healing mentor on "Healing Voice," a CCM audition program produced by the Christian channel CGN.

Jo Hye-ryeon, who met for the interview, had just finished a morning home shopping schedule. Despite her nonstop schedule, her expression radiated energy rather than fatigue. When asked about her busy daily life, she shared her story in her signature bright voice.

"There are no days off. I have broadcasts, but I also work in live performances. 'I Love You, Mom' is doing very well right now, so after starting in Seoul, I am performing in regional areas and going overseas as well. I am also preparing for the next work following 'I Love You, Mom,' which is 'Sorry, Dad.'"

The work that is indispensable in explaining Cho Hye-ryeon's busy daily life is "I Love You, Mom." Set in the 1980s, the play depicts the life and sorrows of a mother who single-handedly raises her son with tenacity at a market. Since its premiere in early April 2019, the work has consistently received audience support, holding significance for Cho that goes beyond a mere acting role. This is because she not only stars as the "mother" in the piece but also serves as its director. Comedians such as Lee Kyung-sil, Kim Ji-sun, and Kim Hyo-jin are part of the main cast. Cho stated, "Comedians are actually very good at tearful acting," adding, "I want to collaborate with comedians in any musicals or plays I create in the future."

As she moved between broadcasting and live performances, her area of activity naturally expanded. "New Woman," a program featuring Lee Kyung-sil, became another catalyst for her activities. The connection that began with web variety shows extended into live performances, YouTube, home shopping, and live commerce.

Jo Hye-ryeon said, "My sister (Lee) Kyung-sil also became busier after we worked together on 'New Woman,' as she started doing YouTube individually, hosting home shopping programs, and engaging in live commerce." She added with pride, "While promoting 'I Love You, Mom,' she appeared everywhere—'Pinggyeogo,' 'Knowing Bros,' 'Dongchim,' and even radio. Thanks to that, both Kim Ji-sun and Kim Hyo-jin also became very busy."

Jo Hye-ryeon entered the entertainment industry in 1993 with KBS's "Youth Sketch," marking her 34th year since debut this year. Where does the energy that has driven her relentlessly over such a long period come from? Jo candidly revealed, "Originally, my drive to move forward stemmed from a desire to be recognized." "In a way, I got carried away in a negative manner. Because I kept running ahead without looking back or considering what lay before me, my body suffered greatly, and the people around me came to see Jo Hye-ryeon as someone who is always busy and frantic."

The catalyst for change was faith. Cho Hye-ryeon said that she embraced the Christian faith in earnest in 2015. After marrying Ko Yo-sep (CEO), a performance producer two years her junior, in 2014, Cho began attending church at her husband's suggestion and subsequently studied the Bible deeply. She stated that she had read the Bible more than 100 times.

"I started reading the Bible while holding onto my faith. Before that, I had read many books from other religions because I did not know the truth. It was as if I wandered through a harsh wilderness and finally discovered the Bible at the end. After 45 years of wandering, I began attending church through my husband, and once I came to know the truth, I focused on it."

The "change" he speaks of does not mean that his busy life has disappeared. On the contrary, he is still busier than anyone else now. It is simply that his criteria for approaching life have changed.

He shared, "In the past, when my efforts didn't yield good results, I felt upset, irritated, and stressed. Now, I am no longer afraid of outcomes. If the result is not good, there must be a reason, and I believe that good results will come again. It seems like I value the process more than money or popularity. Because I cherish the process and relationships with the people I work with, it appears that my circle has grown larger."

He said that he would not do anything that did not align with his religious standards, no matter how profitable it might be. "For example, if a job is lucrative but requires me to drink alcohol or consult a fortune teller, it falls outside my criteria," he explained. "In that case, I simply don't do it. The same goes for when I am angry and feel the urge to say something harsh or write a comment. If I believe something is wrong right now, I choose not to do it."

This is the point that distinguishes Cho Hye-ryeon of the past from Cho Hye-ryeon today. She revealed that in the past, she would drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes when things got difficult, and sometimes expressed her emotions openly when angry. Now, there is a moment to pause and think again between her emotions and actions.

That change was also largely due to her husband's role. "I have a broadcast manager, but my husband is the 'life manager' who takes care of me," Cho Hye-ryeon said. "When I try to post something on social media, say something, or wear certain clothes, he comments that it doesn't seem right or that it would be better not to do it. Listening to such feedback, I feel like things have been sorted out one by one."

Jo Hye-ryeon's passion extends beyond performances to music as well. For Jo, music is another source of vitality that drives her life. Last year, she formed the project team "Mechanism" with the group Peppertones and released their debut single, "Broken Time Machine."

The title track "Anakana" has now been released for 21 years. The song, which was created by combining English lyrics from pop songs in a way that resembles Korean pronunciation, was deemed unsuitable for broadcast during the KBS review process at the time of its release and remained unseen for a long period. "I didn't expect 'Anakana' to be used so extensively. At the time, I heard comments saying it was below standard, and there were also reactions that it hindered English learning. I thought it would just fade into obscurity."

However, the situation changed over time. Starting with a wedding song performance by Lee Kyung-gyu's daughter, Yeo-rim, "Anakana" began to receive renewed attention and has since become one of the representative songs that closes out wedding performances at various celebrities' weddings. The song also passed broadcast review for the first time in 20 years. Cho Hye-ryeon is currently preparing a "second Anakana," a new track adapted from the popular 1980s pop song "Mickey."

Jo Hye-ryeon said, "In the past, our performances could not even pass censorship and were essentially shelved for nearly 20 years, but now people are actually asking us to perform. Recently, I have received requests to sing for hospitalized patients and offers to perform at funerals. I am a bit hesitant about those, so I am not reading direct messages." However, she added, "When my older sister Lee Kyung-sil's mother passed away, I wanted to be the one to perform for her. My sister has already given her OK. She is 98 years old now and in very good health. I think I will probably give her a blessing when she goes to heaven."

Jo Hye-ryeon’s recent activities would be incomplete without Lee Kyung-sil. The two have collaborated on “New Woman” and are now working together again on “I Love You, Mom.” However, they were not close from the beginning. “Sister Kyung-sil was a source of pressure for me. She is very critical and a senior in the industry, so I was afraid of performing with her,” she said.

The decisive moment that brought the two closer together was their appearance on the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block." During their joint appearance, Lee Kyung-shil expressed her gratitude to Cho Hye-ryeon, saying, "I am thankful that my junior colleague works with me." Cho said it was at that moment that she first came to understand her senior's sincerity. Cho confessed, "I was so flustered. I realized that my older sister truly enjoyed and appreciated working with me. After that, I began to think of her as someone close to me again."

Subsequently, Cho Hye-ryeon recommended the play "Special Boeing Boeing" to Lee Kyung-sil and proposed that they collaborate on "I Love You, Mom." Lee Kyung-sil's daughter, Son Su-a, has also appeared in "I Love You, Mom," continuing their connection. The former senior, who once faced difficulties, has now become a colleague with whom she shares concerns about each other's works.

"I have always been the kind of person who gets criticized. I hated being told off since I was young, so like a stubborn mule, I resisted even more. But now I understand my older sister's sincerity. So no matter what she says, I say 'Okay, okay' and try to correct myself. Because I know her heart is in the right place, I've come to be able to understand."

When asked what she considered her greatest achievement during her 34-year career, she unequivocally cited "Golroom." The character Golroom, which she debuted on MBC's "Comedy House" in the early 2000s, marked another turning point for Cho Hye-ryeon.

Jo Hye-ryeon said, "After doing 'Gol Room,' I no longer feel fear." She added with a smile, "Before that, I would get nervous when working on new segments, hosting guests, or singing. But after 'Gol Room,' whether it's working in Japan, releasing an album, or standing alone in front of tens of thousands of people, I don't tremble. There is nothing more intense than 'Gol Room.'"

Of course, there are things she regrets. Her activities in Japan are one of them. As the first Korean female comedian to enter the Japanese market, she moved to Japan during her prime in 2005 and started over as a rookie, going through various twists and turns before establishing herself. While she gained valuable experience, she said that if she could go back to that time, she would not make the same choice. "It was truly grueling," she revealed. "What I learned in terms of language and what I experienced abroad cannot be exchanged for money, but my body was exhausted, and there was a lot of pain I had to endure. If asked whether I would do it again if I could go back, I think I probably wouldn't."

Nevertheless, Cho Hye-ryeon said that "nothing was in vain." At the time, a production team from KBS's documentary program "Wednesday Special" followed her for two and a half months to capture her activities in Japan. Her current husband later watched the documentary on broadcast and felt drawn to Cho Hye-ryeon. "My husband said he thought, 'That person is amazing, truly impressive.' In the end, that is how we were connected again. So when I look back, it seems there is nothing in life that is wasted."

If her husband is the manager of her life, Yoo Jae-suk is her role model. Cho Hye-ryeon referred to herself as part of "Yoo LINE," revealing that she and Yoo exchange high-quality beef during major holidays. She said, "Jae-suk is truly someone who takes care of his own people." She added, "He doesn't push too hard. As soon as the recording ends, he immediately sends a text message saying something like, 'Sister, today was so great. I shone because of you.' When he wants to end the conversation, he simply sends a saluting emoticon. I have gotten used to reading the room now, so if I keep going on too long, I might lose points, and I think, 'Ah, it is time for me to stop.'" she said with a laugh.

Jo Hye-ryeon said that she carefully observes the on-air demeanor of Yoo Jae-suk, who is known as the "national MC." She pays close attention to how he treats other participants in programs led by Yoo, such as MBC's variety show "What Are You Doing?" and the web variety show "Excuse Me."

Another important senior figure to Cho Hye-ryeon is Lee Seong-mi. Citing Lee as a comedian he respects, he said there is much to learn from her attitude toward junior colleagues. "Seong-mi unnie knows her own limits," he praised. "She sets an example for juniors befitting her age and status as a senior, while also helping those who are struggling. She always invites people to meals and looks after them, and when she is with younger people, she adapts to their style. It is truly wonderful to see how she guides others as a trusted senior."

He named comedian Lee Sun-min as a junior colleague worth watching, citing the unique potential he observed up close through "New Woman."

In her 34th year, Cho Hye-ryeon continues to run. If there is one thing that has changed, it is the mindset with which she approaches everything.

If the past Cho Hye-ryeon ran without rest to be recognized, the present-day Cho Hye-ryeon runs while finding meaning in the process. Reflecting on her life, she stated that "the path one returns to is not in vain." The hardships she endured in Japan, the program "Anakana" which was deemed ineligible for review, and the relationships that had caused her distress were ultimately the times that shaped who Cho Hye-ryeon is today.

Jo Hye-ryeon does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

"I'm still as busy as before, but I feel much less tired. In the past, I would try to do things my way, but that's not the case now. If the results aren't good, I think there must be a reason for it. It seems like I just focus on valuing the process and moving forward."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original