Kelly Frances

Kelly Frances McKenna, stage name "Kelly Frances" (born September 2, 1980) is a Canadian media personality living in Seoul, South Korea. She is an activist, entrepreneur and voice/TV actress. She is best known for hosting Arirang TV's Move it segment, voicing SK Telecom's Atti Robot's "Hansel and Gretel", and numerous immersive voiceovers originating from South Korea. Her voice is a staple in Korean education, public transportation, and commerce. She hosted the EBS network segment, alongside Celebrity English Instructor "Saturday's Story-time with Kelly', a program in which she acted as writer, narrator, and/or voices the main characters of the original "story" with the cast of the network's Flagship morning show, Good Morning Special. Kelly is the writer of EBSe's 'Actual English', Actual Talk, and also an actor (S1-Season 2).

Frances was quoted as saying that, upon attempting to enter the voice acting field, she "left her first audition Korea in tears after failing miserably. However, she was determined. So she went home, turned on the TV and “The Simpsons” came on. While watching, she started to practice until she could successfully make one voice", later to be called a symbol of versatility in a competitive industry.

Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Frances attended Denis Morris Catholic High School until 1994, after which she transferred to Laura Secord High School. In 2000, she left Canada to work in Asia.

Frances is a graduate of Brock University and Niagara College. She credits her formal training to vocal performance classes with veteran founder Peggy Lewis of Pier Studios NYC.

She is a Mezzo-soprano that specialises in animation.

In 2013, Frances voiced a full-feature, KOFIC-funded film in English "over English" (post-production), DearEmilytheMovie (Thumb sucker productions).

She has been formally recognised by Chaebol Hyosung for voicing numerous international ATMS and providing the visual acting and footage for 2 new models (N America); Voice and video footage for global Models: NH8OOSE, MX4000W, MX5000SE, over 30,000 locations (Launched 2013).

Activism

In English-based activism, Frances is known as an author and spokesperson for the plight of the Asiatic Black Bear, or "moonbear", a threatened and vulnerable species that is farmed for medicinal purposes in some countries. Frances opened a petition that has garnered over 10,000 signatures, calling for the cessation of bear bile farming, a practice she dubbed as "rejected by the Korean people to the tune of 94%"

In 2007, Frances began English-based work in animal welfare with network Moon bears.org as a general Manager. Shortly after, she established an activism network known as Bear Necessity Korea. In 2012, Frances joined a team of international experts led by David Garshelis which succeeded in establishing a IUCN resolution to end bear bile farming world wide. The resolution was considered a victory, with only China opting out.

Throughout her campaigning Frances appeared on Indie radio in Ireland, and TBSefm, and in all of Korea's primary English media. Her first video interview was on KBS World, where she discussed her reasons for stepping into the issues, highlighting how "The bear plays an important role in Korea’s founding myth. As the legend goes, the nation was founded by the union of a bear-woman and the son of the Lord of Heaven, Hwan-ung. Sadly, less than 20 Asiatic Black Bears roam South Korea’s wild areas today. Yet over one thousand of these animals, also known as Moon Bears, are kept in terribly inhumane conditions, due to the practice of bear bile farming."

Frances became a key reference point for English speaking media regarding the animal in Korea, though often expressing cautious optimism and frustration regarding the lack of media coverage about the issue in Korea, stating "“We found the Korean media to be unreceptive to the issue,” she said. “It seemed to me that the issue of bear bile farming ‘was simply not big news’ in [South] Korea: it is not headline-worthy, lacks ‘[...] appeal’, and it isn’t exciting enough to brandish [on] our front pages.”

Kelly stated that she hoped the media would continue to provide coverage to the issue.

As part of her methodology, Frances urges tourists and locals to avoid zoos and theme parks, noting sub-par conditions and the risk of sending a dangerous message about the dignity of animals. She organised 2 research trips to document the facilities at Korea's popular Bear Tree Park, stating "“Our objective is the documentation of bear care, facility maintenance, and to observe any changes in the quality of bear care."

The 2010 G20 Summit served as a platform for campaigning. A local movement, dubbed, 'The Bear Truth" was quick to capitalise on the scene with a giant bear and bear toys for sale in the streets of Seoul's Itaewon district. As the world leaders arrived, tension built around hot issues in the peninsula. "Our national image is being harmed and we are trying to resolve the situation," Choi Jong-won, an official at the environment ministry, tells me. "But the bears are private property and it is difficult to abolish the practice overnight."

Later in 2010, Frances joined Seoul pub Craftworks in their effort to launch an India Pale Ale in honour of the plight of the moonbear. Owner Dan Vroon reached out to Frances as a consultant. The beverage, which features the image of a moon bear and includes merchandise, has financially supported the cause. Vroon is vocal about his support; "We'll do everything we can to help out," (he) Vroon said., making him one of few entrepreneurs to openly oppose bear bile farming.

When asked about her hopes for the beers sporting bears around the bar, Frances answered, “We want to change people’s attitudes towards the bears here.”