Kim Gi Tae tearfully reveals mother passed away before he could reunite

“I will become a famous singer so that my mother will look for me.” The dream Kim Gi Tae held while enduring separation from his mother during his childhood was a 'revenge that isn't revenge.' However, instead of the contact he had waited for so long, he was instead met with the news of his mother's death recorded on his family relationship certificate.

On the MBN show 'Kim Joo Ha's Day and Night' broadcast on the 26th, Kim Gi Tae shed tears as he spoke about his mother, who had not sought him out since his parents' divorce. Kim revealed that his parents divorced when he was 17, adding, “I dreamed of a revenge that isn't revenge—to definitely become a famous singer so she would find me.”

Kim ended his long period of obscurity by winning the JTBC show 'Sing Again 2' broadcast in 2021–2022. He said he continued to wait for his mother's contact even after his victory. He shared his feelings toward her with the world, saying, “While holding it in, I revealed a mosaic-covered photo of my mother on 'Immortal Songs,' saying it was the reason I became a singer.”

However, the long-awaited contact never came. Kim revealed that while issuing a family relationship certificate during a recent move, he discovered that his mother had already passed away. “I felt so much regret. To be honest, I missed her so much,” he said. “I wanted to go to her first to say hello, but seeing that, I felt so much regret and missed her so much.”

“This is the first time I am telling this story,” Kim said, ultimately unable to suppress his emotions. He conveyed his feelings to his mother, saying, “Thank you for giving me life, and I love you so much.” These were words he had postponed for a long time, caught between resentment and longing. It was a moment where he had to belatedly accept that his childhood expectation—that his mother would find him once he became famous—could no longer be realized.

In this broadcast, the stories of other singers who found new stages in life through auditions were also shared. Hwang Ga Ram explained why he auditioned for 'The Era of Oppas' at the age of 39, and Kim's past was revisited, noting he challenged 'Sing Again 2' because he wanted to show his son his father appearing on TV even just once.

The family stories of Lee Ji Hoon and Ochuba Jeremy, former members of a multicultural children's choir, also drew attention. Jeremy shared that he had not seen his father, who lives in Nigeria, for eight years, and expressed gratitude toward his maternal grandmother who had cared for him since childhood. Lee also shared his family history, noting his mother from Kazakhstan studied Korean while listening to Korean songs.

Ultimately, Kim's confession left a deeper resonance than the stories of audition success. While he became a singer loved by many on stage, he never had the chance to show his success to the one person he had waited for his entire life. His final greeting, “Thank you for giving me life,” served as the son's most belated farewell.