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In this Korean name, the family name is "Lee". "Jinju" is her given name, and "May" is just a nickname.

Lee Jinju (Hangul: ģ“ģ§„ģ£¼; Hanja: Ꝏēē ; Japanese: ć‚¤ćƒ»ć‚øćƒ³ć‚ø惄), know usually as May Lee (ćƒ”ć‚¤ćƒ»ćƒŖćƒ¼), and fully as "May" Lee Jinju (ćƒ”ć‚¤ćƒ»ćƒŖćƒ¼ćƒ»ć‚øćƒ³ć‚ø惄), is a character in The King of Fighters series who debuted as a member of the Korea Team in The King of Fighters 2001. She is depicted as a perky teenager who fights for justice using Taekwondo. She is unique within The King of Fighters for her ability to change into a separate Hero Mode, in which she dons large gloves and a red scarf.

Development[]

May Lee's main reason for creation was to please Korean KOF fans, in addition to Eolith desiring for a Korean fighter. Originally, May Lee started out as an "idol-like visual fighter", or more specifically, like a "Korean Athena." Although her final design was far from the original concept, Eolith was pleased with the end result. May Lee Jinju was named after from the person who was in charge of Eolith at the time.[1]

Personality[]

May Lee is an enthusiastic and energetic young fighter who approaches justice with an almost childlike wonder and excitement. While she shares Kim Kaphwan's strong sense of justice, she expresses it in a more youthful and animated way, often striking dramatic poses and making bold declarations about defeating evil. Her speech patterns and mannerisms show both her dedication to righteousness and her somewhat naive, pure-hearted nature.

Her relationship with Kim, whom she refers to as "Master," shows her respectful and earnest side, always seeking his approval and trying to live up to his teachings. She genuinely wants to make the world a better place and fights evil with unwavering conviction, even if her methods can sometimes come across as theatrical or over-the-top.

Abilities[]

Powers[]

  • Electric Punch - During her Hero Mode, she can deliver punches of electric energy.
  • Explosive Kick - During her Hero Mode, she can deliver exploding kicks.
  • Teleportation - During her super desperation move, she can be seen teleporting.

Fighting Style[]

May Lee is a unique fighter who utilizes two stances, referred to as "Modes". The first Mode, "Standard Mode", uses Taekwondo as her fighting style, although they function nothing like her master Kim or even Jhun. While in Standard Mode, her moves mostly involves her rekka follow-up kicks, juggling opponents, and countering incoming attacks. The second Mode, "Hero Mode", uses more forceful attacks, and even gains a command grab. However, she cannot block while in this Mode, and getting hit once switches her back to Standard Mode. As expected with stance characters, mastering both Modes are crucial for mastering May Lee.

Music[]

  • Nerichagi - The King of Fighters 2001
  • Diet - The King of Fighters 2002
  • SHINING惻BRAVE! - The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
  • Tame A Bad Boy - The King of Fighters All Star

Voice Actors[]

Japanese[]

Tomoko Kawakami ā€  Aimi Tanaka
Tomoko kawakami
List of Roles:
Aimitanakanew

Korean[]

Yang Jeong Hwa Choi Hyang-yoon

Appearances[]

Games

Mobile

Cameos

Trivia[]

  • May Lee's Hero Mode is a reference to the Kamen Rider Series. This can be seen throughout most of her poses and attacks while in Hero Mode.
  • Because May Lee Jinju appeared as part of the Women Fighters Team in KOF 2002 (a Dream Match game), she has canonically not been an official member of this team.

References[]

The King of Fighters characters
KOF '94 Logo Sprite Kyo Kusanagi ā€¢ Benimaru Nikaido ā€¢ Goro Daimon ā€¢ Terry Bogard ā€¢ Andy Bogard ā€¢ Joe Higashi ā€¢ Ryo Sakazaki ā€¢ Robert Garcia ā€¢ Takuma Sakazaki ā€¢ Ralf Jones ā€¢ Clark Still ā€¢ Heidern ā€¢ Athena Asamiya ā€¢ Sie Kensou ā€¢ Chin Gentsai ā€¢ King ā€¢ Mai Shiranui ā€¢ Yuri Sakazaki ā€¢ Kim Kaphwan ā€¢ Chang Koehan ā€¢ Choi Bounge ā€¢ Heavy D! ā€¢ Lucky Glauber ā€¢ Brian Battler ā€¢ Rugal Bernstein
KOF '95 Logo Sprite Iori Yagami ā€¢ Billy Kane ā€¢ Eiji Kisaragi ā€¢ Saisyu Kusanagi ā€¢ Omega Rugal ā€¢ Nakoruru (Game Boy only)
KOF '96 Logo Sprite Leona Heidern ā€¢ Mature ā€¢ Vice ā€¢ Kasumi Todoh ā€¢ Geese Howard ā€¢ Wolfgang Krauser ā€¢ Mr. Big ā€¢ Chizuru Kagura ā€¢ Goenitz ā€¢ Mr. Karate (Game Boy only)
KOF '97 Logo Sprite Shingo Yabuki ā€¢ Yashiro Nanakase ā€¢ Shermie ā€¢ Chris ā€¢ Blue Mary ā€¢ Ryuji Yamazaki ā€¢ Orochi Iori ā€¢ Orochi Leona ā€¢ Orochi Yashiro ā€¢ Orochi Shermie ā€¢ Orochi Chris ā€¢ Orochi
KOF '99 Logo Sprite K' ā€¢ Maxima ā€¢ Whip ā€¢ Bao ā€¢ Li Xiangfei ā€¢ Jhun Hoon ā€¢ Kyo-1 ā€¢ Kyo-2 ā€¢ Krizalid
KOF '99 Evolution Logo Vanessa ā€¢ Seth ā€¢ Syo Kirishima ā€¢ Alfred ā€¢ Fiolina Germi ā€¢ Gai Tendo
KOF 2000 Logo Sprite RamĆ³n ā€¢ Lin ā€¢ Hinako Shijo ā€¢ Kula Diamond ā€¢ Clone Zero ā€¢ Foxy ā€¢ Candy Diamond ā€¢ Another K' ā€¢ Another Iori ā€¢ Another Benimaru ā€¢ Another Robert ā€¢ Cosplayer Kyoko ā€¢ Kang Bae Dal ā€¢ Smart Chang ā€¢ Cool Choi ā€¢ Kaoru Watabe ā€¢ Baitang ā€¢ Duck King ā€¢ Lilly Kane ā€¢ Kim Jae Hoon ā€¢ Kim Dong Hwan ā€¢ Unknown ā€¢ King Lion ā€¢ Kim Sue-il ā€¢ Kaede ā€¢ Duke Edwards ā€¢ Rocky ā€¢ Athena ā€¢ Neo & Geo ā€¢ G-Mantle
KOF 2001 Logo Sprite May Lee Jinju ā€¢ K9999 ā€¢ Ɓngel ā€¢ Zero ā€¢ Ron ā€¢ Glugan ā€¢ Igniz ā€¢ Misty ā€¢ Nests
KOF EX Logo Moe Habana
KOF 2002 Logo Sprite Kusanagi
KOF EX2 Logo Reiji Oogami ā€¢ Jun Kagami ā€¢ Miu Kurosaki ā€¢ Sinobu Amou
KOF 2003 Logo Sprite Ash Crimson ā€¢ Duo Lon ā€¢ Shen Woo ā€¢ Tizoc ā€¢ Gato ā€¢ Malin ā€¢ Maki Kagura ā€¢ Adelheid Bernstein ā€¢ Mukai
KOF MI Logo Alba Meira ā€¢ Soiree Meira ā€¢ Lien Neville ā€¢ Mignon Beart ā€¢ Chae Lim ā€¢ Duke ā€¢ Rock Howard
KOF XI Logo Sprite Oswald ā€¢ Elisabeth Blanctorche ā€¢ Momoko ā€¢ B. Jenet ā€¢ Shion ā€¢ Magaki ā€¢ Silber ā€¢ Sho Hayate ā€¢ Jyazu ā€¢ Hotaru Futaba ā€¢ Itokatsu ā€¢ Tung Fu Rue
KOF MI2 Logo Luise Meyrink ā€¢ Nagase ā€¢ Jivatma ā€¢ Ninon Beart ā€¢ Hyena ā€¢ Hanzo Hattori ā€¢ Kyo Kusanagi Classic ā€¢ Wild Wolf ā€¢ Mr. Karate II ā€¢ Armor Ralf ā€¢ Richard Meyer
KOF MIRA Logo Xiao Lon ā€¢ Makoto Mizoguchi
KOF '98UM Logo Nightmare Geese
KOF 2002UM Logo Nameless
KOF XII Logo Raiden
KOF XIII Logo Hwa Jai ā€¢ Big Bear ā€¢ Saiki ā€¢ Evil Ash ā€¢ Honki ni Natta Mr. Karate
KOF XIV Logo Shun'ei ā€¢ Meitenkun ā€¢ Gang-il ā€¢ Luong ā€¢ Xanadu ā€¢ Sylvie Paula Paula ā€¢ Kukri ā€¢ Mian ā€¢ Nelson ā€¢ Zarina ā€¢ Bandeiras Hattori ā€¢ King of Dinosaurs ā€¢ Hein ā€¢ Nakoruru ā€¢ Mamahaha ā€¢ Mui Mui ā€¢ Love Heart ā€¢ Alice Garnet Nakata ā€¢ Antonov ā€¢ Verse ā€¢ Najd (Aila)
The King of Fighters XV Logo Isla (Amanda) ā€¢ Dolores ā€¢ Krohnen McDougall ā€¢ Re Verse ā€¢ Otoma Raga ā€¢ Haohmaru ā€¢ Darli Dagger
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