8 of the Most Memorable Kdrama Moms

In celebration of Mother’s Day, let’s take a look at some of the most iconic Korean drama moms who have left deep impressions on us, for better or for worse. You’ll notice that I’ve actively avoided your typical super privileged, anti-female-lead chaebol moms, as those are a dime and a dozen in Kdramas. Instead, we’ll be focusing on 8 of the standout moms with a unique twist.

Jo Kang Ja (Angry Mom)

The most feisty mom award would have to go to Kang Ja (Kim Hee Sun) in Angry Mom. She finds out that her daughter is being bullied at school and decides to take matter into her own hands by infiltrate her daughter’s school as an undercover student. Kang Ja’s hot temper and no nonsense personality not only created many comedic situations but also helped the mother-daughter team uncover bigger corruption at the school. Yes, her actions are ridiculous but her care for her daughter is heartwarming.

Kim Soo Hyun (God’s Gift: 14 Days)

Soo Hyun (Lee Bo Young) earns the bravest mother title in the crime thriller drama God’s Gift: 14 Days. Soo Hyun’s daughter gets kidnapped and murdered, but through a miraculous discovery, she’s able to travel back in time and given exactly 14 days to save her daughter’s life. As Soo Hyun tries to backtrack and change past events, she puts herself in more and more danger, and we witness a desperate mother’s immense courage and in risking her own life to save her daughter.

Song Mi Kyung (Who Are You: School 2015)

It’s not easy to adopt a child of no relations to you and raise her by yourself for 16 years. It’s even more unlikely to do it twice. And that’s exactly what Mi Kyung (Jeon Mi Seon) did in Who Are You: School 2015. As a single mother, she adopted her daughter Eun Byul at at a young age and took care of her with the deepest love as if she’s her own. But when Eun Byul goes missing and her twin sister Eun Bi shows up, Mi Kyung took her in and tried her best to make her feel at home. Mi Kyung is surely the kindest mom with the biggest heart.

Kang Hye Soo (Marriage Contract)

Hye Soo (Uee) is also a single mother raising her daughter by herself while protecting her from the gangster debtors that her husband’s death left her with in Marriage Contract. She’s the most tenacious mom that I’ve seen, who doesn’t let the harshness of life beat her down. She works odd jobs to earn money, keeps the gangsters at bay, and prioritizes her daughter’s future even while she’s in desperate need of treatment herself, all the while keeping up a happy front and positive attitude for her daughter.

Han Sii (Bridal Mask)

Many dramas have self-sacrificing moms to varying degrees. But it’s hard to come by a mom who literally takes a bullet for her son like Mrs. Han (Song Ok Sook) did in Bridal Mask. In order to protect her elder son and his secret identity as the Bridal Mask, she bravely jumped in front of the gun with a determined face and zero hesitation. Even more importantly, her heroic actions set a good example and ultimately spurred her younger son to turn back from his lost path and do good for his people. All I can say is that I’ve got mad respect for her.

Shin Bong Hyang (Marriage, Not Dating)

Bong Hyang (Kim Hae Sook) from Marriage, Not Dating lives on to be the most pretentious and bizarre mother of all. She maintains a flawless hoity toity image, is cold and aloof towards her son, and lives in a cordial but loveless marriage with her husband. She puts up a picture-perfect front and pretends that her life is immaculate by being what the society considers as “a perfect wife”, “a perfect mother”, and “a perfect daughter-in-law”. Yet Bong Hyang’s denial of her dying marriage and unhappy life sets a terrible example for her son as he struggles to commit to relationships.

Song Cha Ok (Pinocchio)

Career woman and top reporter Song Cha Ok (Jin Kyung) in Pinocchio is a selfish mother who only cares about climbing the corporate ladder. She’s not only willing to do whatever it takes to create sensationalized news, but also completely dissociated herself from her own daughter after splitting with her husband. Even after her daughter comes to look for her, Cha Ok treated her like a stranger and mercilessly crushed her dreams. Her coldness towards her daughter throughout the drama often made me wonder why she became a mother in the first place.

Park Rosa (Pinocchio)

Another mom who left a deep impression on me in Pinocchio is Park Rosa (Kim Hae Sook). She’s a successful business woman who’s extremely doting of her son. Just when I thought we finally have a decent natured chaebol mom who spoils her son out of care, the shocking truth about her double-sided nature made my jaw drop. Park Rosa is by far the most deceitful two-faced mother I’ve ever come across, and it’s chilling to think about how she managed to hide her true nature from her own son for so long.

Which of these are your favorite Korean drama moms? If there’s another mom that left a deep impression on me, be sure to let us know in the comments section.

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