A Letter From A Son To His Mom (translated from Korean)

A heartfelt letter from a university student to his mother that went viral on Korean Facebooks because of how touching it was.

A Letter From A Son To His Mom



( This letter was sent from an anonymous university student to his mother, it's currently going viral in Korean Facebook timelines because of how touching it is. It also gives some insight on Korean school life- and it is just so sweet. I did my best to translate it to English, give it a read. :) It would be interesting to see non-Korean's reaction to it, haha. )



Hi, Mom.

I woke up early in the morning today and was out all day doing my part-time job. Now I’m just sitting here… in the last train of the day. Now that work’s over, my legs feel really tired from running like mad to catch this subway ride home. But I suddenly thought of you.

When I was little, I used to feel like the world was crumbling down without you by my side every five minutes- You always fussed over me and did your best to calm me down. But nowadays, I’m fine without seeing you for two weeks- sometimes even three. Even though we talk over the phone every three days, our calls are beginning to lose their deepness.. it’s starting to feel like a daily chore. I feel like as I’ve grown used to not having you around, I’ve matured a lot, too.

Mom, I’m doing my best to grow up as the responsible adult that you’ve always wanted me to be. I know how to sit back in a café and enjoy the aroma of black coffee, I’ve cried over a girl, and I’m going to enlist in the army soon.

When all the other moms around you were showing off their sons’ college acceptance letters, you were the first one who cried for me when I found out that I didn’t get accepted. Truthfully, after that I wanted to go to this famous academy for college entry exam re-takers but I found this other one that had a scholarship for students with grades like mine. I studied so hard that year. I was afraid of failing to get accepted again. I slept at 1 o’clock in the morning and woke up at 5:30 nearly every day, from February to November. When I got accepted to my dream university, I called you in tears and said that I finally made it. You were so silent for a minute that all I could hear was the crackling of the phone receiver. But I knew that you were crying. That moment is still the most happiest and saddest moment of my life.

Ever since then, I tried to do things on my own without you needing to stretch your hand over to help me. Of course, it wasn’t because we were living in poverty and I didn’t want to be a bother- But I felt like your workday’s mornings would be colder if I kept relying on you for my allowance, so I started private tutoring.. One kid left, though, so I recently took up another part-time job as a waiter to make up for it.

Mom, do you think I’m trying too hard to act like an adult? I’ve grown up a lot- I go to the bank by myself, I pay for my own living expenses, and I even learned how to bow my head and apologize whenever I serve a customer the wrong order. Sometimes I send you coupons for free drinks at the café where I work, because I know how much you love coffee. You’re probably shaking your head right now, grinning that I’m such a show-off, and you’re right- I’m showing off to you that I’ve become a successful adult. I wake up at six o’clock everyday to go to my part-time job without needing you to wake me up anymore, I still study hard during my exam periods even though my shift ends late at night, and I got over a 4.0 GPA on my report card this semester.

Today is just a day where I really wanted to show off to you. It’s probably because you called me earlier and scolded me for having a part-time job that requires me to work on weekends. It’s been so long since I’ve lived under the same roof as you, Mom, but I know that you felt pity for me rather than anger during that phone call. I know that because your voice gets calm when you’re really mad! But it’s alright, I’m fine. I’m doing well and that’s not going to change.

Actually, sometimes I was scared. I had to go to the dentist without you for the first time, I made myself a bank account , and I went and got myself a new phone without you to guide me through it. I was scared by how your presence might become less significant in my life, now that I’m doing everything on my own. But today, during that phone call, I realized something. I’m still- and will always " be in your care, no matter what.


I’m thinking of making some free time in my schedule to come home next week, even if it’s just for a moment. With the six-pack beer and crackers that you love.