Evangelion Korean Dub ★ Authentic

| English | Korean | |---------|--------| | Korean dub | 한글 더빙 / 한국어 더빙 | | MBC dub | MBC 더빙판 | | Daewon dub | 대원 더빙판 | | Voice actor | 성우 | | Shinji voice | 신지 성우 | | Rei voice | 레이 성우 | | Asuka voice | 아스카 성우 |

  • Characteristics:

    • To appreciate the Korean dub, you must first understand the historical context. Due to the legacy of Japanese colonization (1910–1945) and subsequent diplomatic tensions, the import of Japanese popular culture into South Korea was severely restricted until the late 1990s and early 2000s. Japanese TV shows, music, and films were technically illegal to broadcast or sell commercially for decades.

    Neon Genesis Evangelion originally aired in Japan in 1995. For a Korean fan to watch it in the late 90s, they had to rely on expensive, imported Japanese laserdiscs or grainy VHS fansubs. That changed in 1997. evangelion korean dub

    In a landmark (and controversial) move, the Korean cable channel Tooniverse (투니버스) acquired the rights to broadcast Evangelion. This was an era of cautious cultural opening. The result was the first official Evangelion Korean dub, which aired in 1997 and later re-aired in 1998.

    Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the Evangelion Korean dub for completists is the release inconsistency. For years, the final two episodes (25 and 26) were broadcast in their original form, but the theatrical film The End of Evangelion was delayed for nearly three years due to "cultural review." | English | Korean | |---------|--------| | Korean

    When The End of Evangelion finally received a Korean dub, it was released direct-to-VHS/DVD with a different voice cast for minor characters, breaking continuity with the TV series. The infamous "Congratulations" scene (Episode 26) was kept, but the live-action footage in EoE (featuring the real Tokyo streets) was left untranslated, leaving Korean audiences confused.

    Hardcore fans of Evangelion have a game called "K-01," where they sync the Korean audio track with the original video. Characteristics:

    Why? Because the Korean dub changes the ending.

    In the original Japanese broadcast, during the "Congratulations" scene, the children clap. In the Korean dub, due to a mistranslation of the instrumental track and a directive to "make it feel like a graduation ceremony," the children don’t just clap—they sing a short, awkward, acapella version of "Love is a Canvas" (a popular Korean children's song).

    This bizarre choice re-contextualizes the ending. Is Instrumentality a failure? A rebirth? In the Korean version, it feels like a strange, traumatic summer camp's closing ceremony. It is hauntingly beautiful.