Singer Kim Ki-tae Reveals Tragic Story of Mother's Passing, Recording Paused Due to Tears

Singer Kim Ki-tae, the winner of JTBC's 'Sing Again 2', appeared on the 27th on SBS Plus's 'Lee Ho-sun's Cider' and shared the story of how he belatedly learned of the death of his mother, with whom he had been out of contact since he was 17, leading to a moment where recording was halted as he broke into tears.

Kim Ki-tae, known for his impressive husky voice, appeared on the show to open up about his impoverished childhood, his longing for his family, and the pain he had kept buried in his heart for a long time.

He confessed the shocking story, saying, “I grew up in a poor neighborhood from the time I was born until I was 21. When my friends went home for dinner, I would stay alone in the dark alleys waiting for my parents. After my parents divorced when I was 17, I lost contact with my mother. Recently, after obtaining a family relationship certificate, I discovered that my mother had passed away.”

Expressing his hidden sincerity, he added, “I really wanted to show my mother that I had become a famous and successful singer,” before bursting into tears, causing Kim Ji-min to also shed tears. As even the usually composed Lee Ho-sun expressed her sorrow, a brief interruption in recording occurred.

Kim Ki-tae also shared stories of living in a vinyl greenhouse with his family during his childhood and experiencing a fire, as well as the frustration of being scammed after signing with an agency using 3 million won that his father had borrowed.

Lee Ho-sun remarked, “I was shocked while listening to Ki-tae's story,” offering an unexpected interpretation that defied everyone's expectations. She then added a sincere word, saying, “There is something I really want to ask of you, Ki-tae.” Curiosity is growing regarding what that request might be.

Born in 1983, Kim Ki-tae first made a name for himself appearing on Mnet's 'I Can See Your Voice' Season 2 in 2015. He became famous after winning JTBC's 'Sing Again 2' in 2021 and also winning on KBS 2TV's 'Immortal Songs'. He appeared on MBC's 'The No. 1s', which ended last April, reaching the final stage but ultimately recording 4th place.