Um Sang-hyun

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Um Sang-hyun

Role / Field:

Prominent South Korean voice actor known for dubbing anime and animated characters.

Born:

1971-12-29

Century / Era:

1971s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Um Sang-hyun (Korean: 엄상현; born December 29, 1971) is a South Korean voice actor who began his career by joining Educational Broadcasting System's voice acting division in 1998. Before making his debut as a voice actor, he used to work in theaters, including performing his roles as a Japanese assassinator and a royal servant in a 1997 South Korean musical The Last Empress and working as the assistant director for South Korean musicals Gaeddongi and Moskito< the same year. In 1992, he also appeared in a South Korean independent film called Opening the Closed School Gates. After his exclusive work at EBS, Um has been a freelancer since 2001.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In the early 2000s, he came to prominence after voicing Kira Yamato on the Korean dub of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Since then, Um has dubbed a number of television animation series such as Chrono Crusade, Digimon Frontier, Fullmetal Alchemist, InuYasha and School Rumble. As a result of his popularity among children audiences, the voice actor won a Nickelodeon Korea Kids' Choice Award in 2012 for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (known as Best Voice Actor/Actress in South Korea). He became the recipient of the award for his role as Po in Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, gaining 3,121 votes, which is about 38% of the entire poll.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He is known for his roles as Calcifer in Howl's Moving Castle, L Lawliet in Death Note, Po in Kung Fu Panda and Poli in Robocar Poli. Um Tae-jun (Korean: 엄태준), the son of Um, also has worked as a voice actor, participating in dubbing of various television shows for children, including Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, and Tickety Toc. He recently voiced young Mike on the Korean dub of Pixar animated film Monsters University.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1971 (1971-12-29): Birth of Um Sang-hyun — Prominent South Korean voice actor known for dubbing anime and animated characters.
2. 1992: 1992 Milestone — In 1992, he also appeared in a South Korean independent film called Opening the Closed School Gates.
3. 1997: 1997 Milestone — Before making his debut as a voice actor, he used to work in theaters, including performing his roles as a Japanese assassinator and a royal servant in a 1997 South Korean musical The Last Empress and working as the assistant director for South Korean musicals Gaeddongi and Moskito< the same year.
4. 2001: 2001 Milestone — After his exclusive work at EBS, Um has been a freelancer since 2001.
5. 2012: 2012 Milestone — As a result of his popularity among children audiences, the voice actor won a Nickelodeon Korea Kids' Choice Award in 2012 for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (known as Best Voice Actor/Actress in South Korea).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Um Sang-hyun

True or False: “Um Sang-hyun first began his professional career as a voice actor after working in theater productions like 'The Last Empress'.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He performed roles in theaters before joining the Educational Broadcasting System's voice acting division in 1998.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abd El-Razzak El-Sanhuri — Contemporary (Died in 1971) (1971): Pioneering Egyptian jurist, celebrated for authoring the revised Civil Code of 1948.
• Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)
• Aditya Chopra — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Pioneering figure in Hindi Cinema, known for producing blockbuster films and leading Yash Raj Films.
• Adam Kuper — Shared historical date (12-29 · Born) (1941): Influential British social anthropologist known for research in Southern Africa.
• Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy — Shared historical date (12-29 · Born) (1882): Versatile Russian/Soviet writer known for historical and science fiction.
• Adriano Giannini — Historical peer (Born in 1971) (1971): Italian actor known for dubbing and roles in film and television.
• Ahn Jae-wook — Historical peer (Born in 1971) (1971): Acclaimed South Korean actor and singer known for his dramatic stage presence.
• Aitana Bonmatí — Historical peer (Born in 1998) (1998): Star Spanish midfielder known for her decorated career with Barcelona and the Spain national team.
• Akira Kurosawa — Historical peer (Died in 1998) (1998): Master of Japanese cinema, known for dynamic style and epic storytelling.
• Adriana Caselotti — Historical peer (Died in 1997) (1997): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• 1971 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1971
• December 29 (12-29) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 29

Frequently Asked Questions about Um Sang-hyun