The youngest twin pandas of the Giant Panda family 'Bao Family', Louibao and Huibao, are affectionately called 'Aunt Obao'. 'Obao' is Oh Seunghee, a professional at Samsung C&T Resort Division. Since July last year, Oh has been taking care of Louibao and Huibao. She became the nation's first female giant panda zookeeper. She gained fame by filming Everland's popular YouTube content 'Owadungdung'.

Zookeepers sometimes need physical strength for their work. Regardless of gender, if you lack strength, the day becomes tough. Sometimes you have to carry animals or transport food. Whenever she feels exhausted, she reminds herself of her philosophy: "No experience is worthless." She receives personal training (PT) twice a week.

It is difficult to work as a zookeeper with only a vague 'love for animals'. Although it's hard to say there is a 'glass ceiling', it is true that Oh is the only female among the giant panda zookeepers. Oh says 'perseverance' is the most important quality. She seized the opportunity to become 'aunt' to Louibao and Huibao by utilizing her own know-how in animal care and customer communication. She was well prepared for when the opportunity came.

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-What was the biggest challenge before and after becoming a zookeeper?

▲The process leading up to becoming a zookeeper was the biggest challenge. While working three shifts at Irion, an animal playroom run by the pet-specialized company DBS, I took care of dogs while preparing to join Everland. After joining, I cared for dogs for eight years, including at Irion, until I was transferred to Panda World in 2020, which started a new challenge. Caring for pets and caring for wild animals are completely different jobs. I had to abandon everything I learned over eight years and start anew.

-What is the most difficult task when caring for wild animals?

▲With pets, you can manage them by direct contact, but with wild animals, that's rarely possible. You have to observe them carefully, read their emotions, and respond accordingly.

-It’s said you had a tense six months with Leubao, the father panda of the Bao family. Can you tell us about that?

▲When I first came to Panda World in 2020 and met Leubao, he seemed unfamiliar with the voice of a female zookeeper. It was not easy to become close. Unlike with pets, I couldn't just go into his quarters and communicate directly. During the adjustment period, Leubao would sometimes suddenly stand up and display dominant behavior. There were times when I opened the Panda World door, but Leubao wouldn't go out to the outdoor enclosure. It took time to build rapport. Whenever that happened, senior zookeepers like Kang Chulwon, Song Younggwan, and Lee Sehyun didn't rush me and waited until Leubao came out according to my lead. Fortunately, through continuous interaction, I succeeded in getting Leubao to go outside. From that day on, we started to become close. I felt like, "I did it."

-What was the biggest hardship you faced at Panda World?

▲No one expected Fubao to receive so much love. Apart from caring for the pandas, the increase in visitors meant more customer service duties. Senior staff assigned me to guide customers waiting in line. My three years of experience handling customers at Irion helped. I had to judge how to respond to various customers: families, solo visitors, those waiting as representatives, and so on. Gradually, I developed my own know-how. Also, since pandas are sensitive to noise, I consistently remind visitors to be mindful of noise. These days, visitor etiquette has improved so much that Panda World feels quiet, as if no one is there. The culture of solo visits has also spread.

-Zookeeper work sometimes requires strength. It might not be easy for women. There is no 'royal road', and there aren’t many female colleagues or seniors at Panda World. How did you overcome this?

▲I always believe that "no experience is worthless." That belief has kept me going. Recently, when talking with juniors, they often say, "I want to focus on animal care, but there’s too much customer service." I always tell them, "No experience is worthless, so try to think differently." When I first came to Panda World in 2020, there were no female zookeepers. After switching to zookeeper duties, I wasn't assigned many 'tasks' related to animal care at first. I consistently observed and learned from my seniors. Now, I am in charge of caring for the youngest pandas, Louibao and Huibao. I also made use of my three years of experience at Irion, working hard not only in animal care but also in communicating with customers.

-Recently, your external activities have increased, such as filming 'Owadungdung'. Has this become a source of motivation, or is it a burden?

▲At first, it was a big burden. I refused to appear. On the popular corner 'Jeonjijeok Halbuji Sijeom (Jeonhalsi)' of the YouTube channel 'Talking Zoo PpupaTV', Kang Chulwon zookeeper cared for Fubao, and I worried that if I did Owadungdung, the quality would be very different from Jeonhalsi. Kang Chulwon and Song Younggwan seniors advised me, "A zookeeper is someone who makes the animals shine, not themselves," and "Just as Jeonhalsi made Fubao shine, Owadungdung can make Louibao and Huibao shine." After hearing this, I accepted the offer. I thought that, like Fubao, Louibao and Huibao should also become well-known. The response has been good, and I receive a lot of support on site. These days, Owadungdung has become a source of motivation for my work. I enjoy it and have let go of the burden.

-Female zookeepers are still a minority, especially among giant panda zookeepers.

▲There are times when caring for giant pandas requires strength. Sometimes, I receive consideration because of this. I wasn't always happy about it. I appreciated the consideration, but sometimes wondered, "Am I really incapable?" At those times, I accepted it. Instead, I tried to find things I could do better than others, especially male zookeepers. That included decorating and meticulous tasks. I looked for ways to enrich the animals' environment (enrichment) and to communicate delicately with them. When I was caring for the red panda, I made a birthday cake for the first time. Previously, there were only simple bamboo cakes. I gave them a 'personalized cake' with patterns. Seeing the internal reaction, I thought, "This is it." These days, I am trying to catch up with Songbao (zookeeper Song Younggwan) in enrichment skills.

-Do you have an exercise routine?

▲My seniors all worked out separately. I started exercising too, and it’s been about two years. Regardless of gender, you can't fall behind physically. I do PT twice a week, focusing on strength training. I work out my arms and legs. Each session lasts about an hour, with 30 minutes each for upper and lower body, and the rest is cardio.

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-Are there any parts of the job that are difficult to do exactly like male zookeepers?

▲After Louibao and Huibao were born in July last year, the Panda World zookeepers worked overnight shifts for three months, from 8 PM to 8 AM. Since they are wild animals and night shifts are dangerous and tough, I was concerned about my ability as a woman, but my seniors trusted me and included me. That experience made me determined to build up my physical strength. Since I was entrusted with the responsibility, I really didn’t want to say, "I can’t do it."

-You have been called the nation's first female giant panda zookeeper.

▲Rather than being a female zookeeper, my basic role as a zookeeper is to raise the cubs (Louibao, Huibao) healthily. My biggest goal is to raise Louibao and Huibao to be as healthy as their older sister Fubao.

-What is your biggest goal?

▲I want to be the person who makes the animals in my care the happiest animals. I would say, "a zookeeper whom the animals seek out." I hope that, at least among animals in Korea, those under my care are the happiest. Zoos exist for species conservation. I want to be the "happiness designer" for the animals I am responsible for, making them the happiest in the zoo.

-What message would you like to give to female junior and fellow zookeepers?

▲Above all, perseverance is important. I also strongly advise building up your physical strength. For example, if you work persistently and feel a lack of stamina, you'll naturally work to improve it. You must also constantly strive to find your own strengths. And you should always keep asking questions. For example, if mother panda Aibao, who usually wakes up at 3 o'clock, wakes up at 2, you should wonder why. If you become complacent, that's the end. I tell my juniors, "Don't just do your job, but always ask why you are doing it."

-Is there anything you want to say to Louibao and Huibao?

▲I hope they continue to grow up healthy as they are now. When I see visitors’ reactions to Louibao and Huibao, and SNS content, I feel that people get a warm, fuzzy feeling from them. I find it more interesting to see how others perceive Louibao and Huibao than my own feelings toward them. Louibao and Huibao are bringing joy and happiness to so many people. They were born cute, so all they need to do is grow up healthy.

About Oh Seunghee, Everland Zookeeper

She is the nation’s first female giant panda zookeeper. She works at the Everland Zoo under Samsung C&T Resort Division. She mainly cares for Louibao and Huibao, famous as Fubao’s twin siblings. She graduated from Shingu College’s Department of Animal Resources. After working for four years at Irion, an animal playroom run by the pet-specialized company DBS, she joined Samsung C&T Resort Division’s guide dog school in 2017. In March 2020, she transferred to Everland Zoo and was in charge of the red panda. In July last year, after Louibao and Huibao were born, she was reassigned to care for the giant pandas.