Looking for a worthy tribute for your mom or maybe a quote that your mommy friends would relate to? We gotchu. We already know that several heartwarming lines came from K-drama dads. But of course, the eommas have touching and inspiring quotes up their kimchi-stained sleeves, too.
Here are some of the most memorable lines said by Korean drama moms:
“I’m happy as long as you are.” - Young Soon, Good Bad Mother Episode 2
One word: sacrifice. Many parents swallow their pride, forgo their own happiness, and keep all their negative feelings inside if they think that that’s the key to their child’s well-being. It’s one of the countless ways parents show their unconditional love for their children.
“No matter how you look, you will always be my child.” - Kim Hye Soo Under the Queen’s Umbrella Episode 3
Whatever the child says, does, or becomes, a mother will always embrace him or her. She will never abandon her child (except maybe if she’s psychotic like Dong Eun’s mom in The Glory).
“If you were able to raise a child, you can do anything.” - Go Eun Sook, Go Back Couple Episode 12
Saying that “parenting is tough” is a major understatement — from taking care of yourself and the fetus during pregnancy, to labor and childbirth, to actually raising a child. So anyone who’s able to do it without losing their sanity has that survival badge of honor. And it signifies how amazing that mother (or parent) is, and how great the heights she can conquer.
“You don’t have to be perfect to be a good mom. You just have to be happy and make sure your child is, too.” - Choi Hye Suk, Birth Care Center Episode 8
The seemingly cold character in this drama had a lot of nuggets of wisdom toward the end of the series. She was strict at first, but eventually, she made the moms in the center that she runs realize that there’s no perfect way to raise a child — the best you could do is try, while not neglecting your own happiness.
“I thought death was just about leaving this life after making the most of the time God has given me. But I realized this after my death: My life was not entirely mine.” - Cha Yuri, Hi Bye, Mama Episode 6
As any parent comes to realize at one point in their life, they don’t live for just themselves anymore. They live for their child, too. Every decision, big or small, can affect the kids, and they can be your greatest source of strength and happiness.
Bonus: The Quotes About Moms That Weren’t Said By Moms
“When giving birth, mothers contemplate whether they should live or die a couple of times. It can be so painful for them but they overcome moments such as that again and again and become true mothers. Sometimes, the process is truly breathtaking to watch.” - Jung Jin Hong, Mother Episode 11
No matter what your childbirth process is — whether it’s the natural way, a spontaneous delivery, a Cesarean section surgery, in vitro fertilization, adoption, or anything else — it’s always going to be a life-and-death scenario. Sometimes, you could feel like you’re dying of heartache or actual pain. Sometimes, you’ll struggle to live or be desperate to do so for your child. These make motherhood such an awe-inspiring thing to witness.
“A woman who lost her husband is called a widow. A man who lost his wife is called a widower. A child who lost their parents is called an orphan. But there's no word for a parent who lost their kid. Know why? Because no word can describe it. There is no word in this world that can describe the excruciating pain.” - Miss Mi Dong, Hi Bye, Mama Episode 4
Moms who lost their kids are still moms. It may be difficult to show them true empathy, especially if you haven’t felt a similar kind of grief. But letting them know that you know of their feelings and that you’re there to listen or comfort them will already be a huge deal, whether it’s during Mother’s Day, their child’s birthday or death anniversary, or any other day of the year.
“They say that God created mothers because God can’t be everywhere at once. Even when one is at the age to be a mom, one’s mother is always one’s guardian and even saying the word, ‘Mom’ is something that has the power to tug at one’s heartstrings. Mothers are always strong.” - Sung Bo Ra, Reply 1988 Episode 5
Even quiet moms who just diligently do housework and handle other responsibilities have that innate resilience in them. So you can’t help but admire mothers for all the things they can and choose to endure.
Whether there’s a special occasion or not, we hope you help make your moms and the mother figures in your life feel special.
