Kim So Yoo Honors Motherhood in Tender Ballad ‘Dalgurak’

Kim So Yoo is back—and this time, she’s got mom on the mind. The beloved Korean trot singer just released her new single ‘Dalgurak (Mom’s Touch)’, blending heartfelt storytelling with the homespun sounds of kitchen nostalgia. The track marks her musical comeback after a year’s break and is already tugging heartstrings across the nation.

From Kitchen Sounds to Emotional Healing

The song’s title, “Dalgurak”, roughly mimics the gentle clinking sounds you’d hear from the kitchen late at night—particularly those tied to motherly care. Kim So Yoo explained in an interview, “That soft rattling sound from the kitchen while we’re dozing off—it brings all the warmth and love of my mother rushing back.”

She added, “This song embraces all the sacrifice and longing associated with moms around the world.” While the word “dalgurak” isn’t your average trot vocabulary, it perfectly captures the emotional cooking pot she wanted to stir with this project.

A Sentimental Follow-Up to ‘Moran’

Kim previously moved audiences with her rendition of the song ‘Moran’ on the show Hyunyeok Gawang (현역가왕), earning emotional applause. “Ever since I sang ‘Moran,’ fans have told me they teared up,” she recalled. “That response made me want to create a song about moms—even more heartfelt.”

That emotional thread finally materialized with ‘Dalgurak,’ which she calls her most personal work yet.

Trot with a Twist: The Team Behind the Song

Teaming up with young trot powerhouses like composers Ma Ah Sung and Jeon Hong Min—known for their work with the Trot Avengers (트로트 마벤져스)—So Yoo delivers a rich sound with both modern and classic flavor.

“When I first sang the demo, it just clicked perfectly,” Kim shared. “There’s that soulful classic trot vibe, but it flows like a ballad. Plus, we used real acoustic instruments—it was truly organic from start to end.”

The Daughter of the Tteok House…and the Sundae Shop?

Fans affectionately call her “tteokjip ttal (떡집 딸)”, meaning ‘the rice cake shop’s daughter’—a nod to her family’s background. These days, she’s also dubbed the “sundaegukjip ttal (순댓국집 딸)”—‘daughter of the blood sausage soup restaurant’—because her mom now runs a traditional Korean diner.

“I still remember the soft clatter of mom cleaning a sirutteok steamer,” she said, referencing the cylindrical vessel used to steam rice cakes. “She always lowered the volume so it wouldn’t disturb us. That’s the kind of love this song captures.”

Mixed Reviews at First—Even from Her Mom

Interestingly, Kim’s own mother didn’t love the early version of the song. “She just said, ‘meh,’” Kim laughed. “But once the live instruments were added, she said it stuck with her and kept playing in her head.” That earned a proud daughter moment—and confirmed the track’s emotional power.

A Year Since ‘Seongjilmori’: What’s Next?

‘Dalgurak’ comes one year after her 2023 release ‘Seongjilmori (성질머리)’, which had more upbeat energy. But Kim chose a slower tempo this time. “My fans expect fast tracks, but I have a real soft spot for calmer songs,” she admitted. “Sometimes that mismatch stresses me out, but I want to be authentic.”

She’s now exploring more genres and plans to solidify her own musical identity, even if it means stepping outside the expected trot toolbox.

Health, Hustle, and Heartfelt Motivation

Kim isn’t afraid to get real about the toll performing takes. “It’s physically getting harder, especially with the travel,” she acknowledged. “But my passion, the hunger to try different things—that only grows.”

Her evolving philosophy? Make mistakes, try again, and treat every fan like they matter most. “If I’m not happy with my performance, it hits me harder because my fans believe in me,” she confessed.

For the Fans, Always

One story hit her particularly hard: a fan undergoing chemotherapy once came to see her against medical advice. Later, Kim learned that her inactivity had affected the fan’s spirit. “They told me that seeing me gives them energy. That broke my heart, in the best and worst ways,” she said.

Now, she’s doubling down on efforts to connect: more stages, more events, more moments with fans. “They psych themselves up for a show thinking, ‘I gotta go see So Yoo!’ How can I not keep singing?”

FAQs

What is the meaning of Kim So Yoo’s new song ‘Dalgurak’?

‘Dalgurak’ is inspired by the delicate kitchen sounds that remind Kim So Yoo of her mother’s gentle presence. The track pays tribute to maternal love and nostalgia, wrapped in classic trot sentimentality.

Who produced Kim So Yoo’s new single?

The song was composed by trot specialists Ma Ah Sung and Jeon Hong Min, known for blending traditional melodies with fresh arrangements. Their touch gives ‘Dalgurak’ a unique mix of vintage and modern flair.

Why is Kim So Yoo called ‘the rice cake shop’s daughter’?

This nickname comes from her mother’s past business running a tteokjip (rice cake shop). Recently, she’s playfully earned a new title as “the blood sausage soup shop daughter,” as her mom now runs a sundaeguk (Korean sausage soup) restaurant.