"Longing for Mother" (Stage of Friendship)
Original Korean title
그리운 어머니
"Longing for Mother" means the tearful segment on Stage of Friendship where host Lee Sang-yong helped soldiers guess their mother's identity by voice alone before a surprise reunion.
Originated around 1990Last updated: August 4, 2026
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What does it mean?
On MBC's "Stage of Friendship" (1989-1997), host Lee Sang-yong had soldiers try to identify their own mother from behind the stage using only her voice, before staging a surprise reunion -- a segment that, paired with the theme song "Longing for Mother" used from July 1990 onward, became an iconic tearjerker moment for the entire nation.
Where did it start?
Became the segment's fixed theme song starting with the episode aired July 23, 1990, on MBC's "Stage of Friendship."
How is it used?
Cited when describing a moving family reunion scene.
Ratings by context haven't been confirmed yet.
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"Longing for Mother" (Stage of Friendship): "Longing for Mother" means the tearful segment on Stage of Friendship where host Lee Sang-yong helped soldiers guess their mother's identity by voice alone before a surprise reunion.
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