Table of Contents

🎶 Kim Jin-ho - “Family Photo”: Lyrics Summary

🎶 Kim Jin-ho - “Family Photo”: Music Video

🎯 Key Takeaways

🎶 Kim Jin-ho - “Family Photo”: Additional Information

title-A-Love-Confession-to-a-Father-in-Heaven-Kim-Jin-ho’s-Family-Photo-Lyrics-and-Emotional-Insights

🎶 Kim Jin-ho - “Family Photo”: Lyrics Summary

“Family Photo” is a poignant reflection on the quiet sacrifices, fading memories, and cyclical nature of love within a family. The song begins with a tribute to a parent's youth, once vibrant but now aged through the burdens of responsibility. As a child is born, laughter blooms and is captured in a family photo. Yet with time, those moments fade, literally in the photograph and metaphorically in memory.

The narrator, now grown, recalls the naive days of youth spent stumbling through life, often selfish or unaware of the weight his parents carried. Only through time and personal hardship does he recognize the depth of his parents’ love—the tired eyes, the youthful smile now dulled, the invisible labor that allowed him to flourish.

In a moment of quiet realization, the speaker discovers his face in an old photo, resembling his father’s. It’s a jarring but comforting moment—a reminder that love and sacrifice repeat through generations. The lyric acknowledges that the parents’ youthful dreams were sacrificed, burned away like fuel, to nourish the next generation.

The closing lines are a wish, a prayer: that he can now collect those scorched, worn-out days like precious ashes and offer them back, so that the parents’ laughter may bloom again. The song is not merely nostalgic—it’s redemptive. It asks listeners to see their families, to honor the invisible effort behind their joy, and to be present now, while there’s still time to love.

 

🎶 Kim Jin-ho - “Family Photo”: Music Video

Stage Performance

[Source] YouTube, KBS Kpop

 

- Comment

김진호: “여러분들이 사랑하는 사람들, 웃음꽃 피울 수 있는 지금을 사실 수 있는 지혜가 늘 함께 하기를 바라겠습니다. 감사합니다.”

Kim Jin-ho: “I hope you are always blessed with the wisdom to live the present moment with the people you love, where laughter can blossom. Thank you.”

 

Lyrics

[Source] YouTube, 웅키

 

🎯 Key Takeaways


1. "
바쁘게 살아온 / 바쁘게 살아오다 / 바쁘게 살다"

"바쁘게 살아온" means "having lived busily" or "having led a busy life." It expresses that someone has been busy, perhaps hardworking, or hectic.

- "바쁘게": busily

- "살아오다": "살다 (to live)" + auxiliary verb "오다 (to come, indicating up to now)" + attributive “-

• “살다 (to live)” → “살아오다 (to have been living)” → “살아온


📌 Example Usage

"바쁘게 살아온 당신의 인생을 돌아보세요."

"Look back on your life; you have lived so busily."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

정신없이 살아오다 – "to have lived frantically"


📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 정신없이 살아온 지난 시간을 떠올렸다."

"She recalled the frantic times she had lived through."


2. "
당신의 젊음"

"당신의 젊음" means "your youth." It reflects on someone’s life when they were young, vibrant, and full of potential.

- "당신의": "당신 (you)" + possessive particle "-"

- "젊음": youth


📌 Example Usage

"당신의 젊음을 위해 축배를 듭시다."

"Let’s raise a toast to your youth."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

젊은 시절 – "youthful days"


📌 Example Usage

"젊은 시절의 추억은 항상 아름답다."

"Memories of youthful days are always beautiful."


3. "
의미를 더해줄 / 의미를 더하다"

"의미를 더해줄" means "will add meaning to" or "will give significance to." It implies enhancing the value or emotional weight of something.

- "의미를": “의미 (meaning, significance)” + object particle “-

- "더해줄": "더해주다 (to add for someone)" + future attributive "-"

• “더하다 (to add)” → “더해주다” → “더해줄


📌 Example Usage

"이 편지가 당신의 하루에 의미를 더해줄 수 있길 바랍니다."

"I hope this letter will add meaning to your day."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

가치를 높이다 – "to increase value"


📌 Example Usage

"작은 선물이 그날의 가치를 높여주었다."

"A small gift increased the value of that day."


4. "
아이가 생기고 / 아이가 생기다"

"아이가 생기고" means "and a child is born" or "and a child comes into being." It denotes the moment someone becomes a parent.

- "아이가": "아이 (child)" + subject particle "-"

- "생기고": "생기다 (to come into being, be born)" + connector "-"


📌 Example Usage

"결혼 후 곧 아이가 생기고 삶이 바뀌었다."

"After getting married, we soon had a child, and life changed."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

아이를 갖다 – "to have a child"


📌 Example Usage

"우리는 드디어 아이를 갖게 되었다."

"We finally had a child."


5. "
그 날에"

"그 날에" means "on that day." It specifies a particular day being referenced or remembered.

- "": that

- "날에": " (day)" + locative particle "-"


📌 Example Usage

"그 날에 무슨 일이 있었는지 기억해?"

"Do you remember what happened on that day?"


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

그날 – "that day" (more commonly used in writing and speech)


📌 Example Usage

"그날 우리는 처음 만났다."

"That day, we met for the first time."


6. "
찍었던 / 찍다"

"찍었던" means "that was taken" (in the context of a photo or video). It refers to a past act of recording or capturing an image.

- "찍다": to take (a photo), to record

- "찍었던": "찍다" + past attributive "-었던"

• “찍다” → “찍었다” (past tense) → “찍었던” (attributive form)


📌 Example Usage

"찍었던 사진을 다시 꺼내봤다."

"I took out and looked at the photo I had taken."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

촬영한 – "that was shot/filmed"


📌 Example Usage

"촬영한 영상을 편집 중이다."

"I’m editing the footage I filmed."


7. "
가족사진 속의"

"가족사진 속의" means "in the family photo." It indicates something or someone that appears inside a family photograph.

- "가족사진": family photo

- "속의": " (inside)" + possessive particle "-"


📌 Example Usage

"가족사진 속의 당신은 참 행복해 보인다."

"You look really happy in the family photo."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

사진 안의 – "inside the photo"


📌 Example Usage

"사진 안의 풍경이 정말 아름답다."

"The scenery inside the photo is stunning."


8. "
설레는 웃음"

"설레는 웃음" means "excited smile" or "fluttering smile," often describing a smile that comes from joy or anticipation.

- "설레는": "설레다 (to flutter, feel excited)" + attributive "-"

- "웃음": smile, laughter


📌 Example Usage

"그녀의 설레는 웃음이 내 마음을 흔들었다."

"Her fluttering smile stirred my heart."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

기대에 찬 미소 – "a smile full of anticipation"


📌 Example Usage

"기대에 찬 미소로 새 학기를 맞았다."

"I greeted the new semester with a smile full of anticipation."


9. "
빛바래 가지만 / 빛바래 가다"

"빛바래 가지만" means "though it fades" or "though it continues to lose color." It's often used metaphorically to describe fading memories or emotions.

- "빛바래 가다": "빛바래다 (to fade)" + auxiliary verb "가다" (progressive) + "-지만": contrastive connector "but, though"

 • “빛바래다 (to fade) → “빛바래 가다 (o be fading / to gradually fade) → “빛바래 가지만


📌 Example Usage

"그때의 설렘은 빛바래 가지만 여전히 소중하다."

"The excitement of that time is fading, but still precious."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

희미해지다 – "to become faint or dim"


📌 Example Usage

"기억은 희미해지지만 감정은 남아 있다."

"The memories are fading, but the emotions remain."


10. "
어른이 되어서 / 어른이 되다"

"어른이 되어서" means "having become an adult" or "after becoming an adult." It describes someone reaching maturity.

- "어른이": “어른 (adult)” + subject marker “-"

- "되어서": "되다 (to become)" + connector "-어서" (indicating cause or time sequence)


📌 Example Usage

"어른이 되어서야 부모님의 마음을 이해했다."

"I only understood my parents’ hearts after becoming an adult."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

성인이 되다 – "to become of legal age"


📌 Example Usage

"성인이 되면서 책임이 많아졌다."

"After becoming an adult, I gained more responsibilities."



11. "
현실에 던져진 / 현실에 던져지다"

"현실에 던져진" means "thrown into reality" or "cast into the real world," often implying a harsh or sudden encounter with life's difficulties.

- "현실에": "현실 (reality)" + locative particle "-"

- "던져진": "던지다 (to throw)" in passive form "던져지다" + past attributive "-"

 • “던지다” → passive “던져지다” → attributive form “던져진” (past tense)


📌 Example Usage

"어른이 되자마자 현실에 던져진 기분이었다."

"I felt like I was thrown into reality the moment I became an adult."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

현실과 마주하다 – "to face reality"


📌 Example Usage

"졸업 후 처음으로 현실과 마주하게 됐다."

"After graduation, I had to face reality for the first time."


12. "
철이 없는 / 철이 없다"

"철이 없는" means "immature" or "thoughtless," describing someone lacking maturity or understanding.

- "철이": “ (maturity, sense)” + topic marker “-

- "없는": "없다 (to lack)" + attributive "-"


📌 Example Usage

"그땐 정말 철이 없는 말만 했었어."

"I really said immature things back then."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

어린 마음의 – "childish" or "young-hearted"


📌 Example Usage

"어린 마음의 행동이었음을 후회한다."

"I regret acting from a childish heart."


13. "
아들 / "

"아들 / " means "son / daughter." In context, it refers to a child or children.


📌 Example Usage

"나는 철이 없는 아들이 되어서 부모님을 힘들게 했다."

"I became an immature son, which caused hardship for my parents."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

자식 – "child (offspring)"


📌 Example Usage

"자식이 부모 마음을 몰라주는 법이지."

"Children often don't understand their parents’ hearts."


14. "
이곳 저곳에서"

"이곳 저곳에서" means "here and there" or "from place to place." It implies movement or experience across various places.

- "이곳": here

- "저곳": there

- "-에서": locative particle


📌 Example Usage

"이곳 저곳에서 많은 경험을 쌓았다."

"I gained a lot of experience here and there."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

여기저기에서 – "in various places"


📌 Example Usage

"여기저기에서 일자리를 알아봤다."

"I looked for jobs in various places."


15. "
깨지고 / 깨지다 / 깨다"

"깨지고" means "to be broken" or "to break" in a passive or descriptive form.

- "깨지다": passive of "깨다 (to break)"

- "깨지고": verb + connector "-"


📌 Example Usage

"꿈이 이곳 저곳에서 계속 깨지고 있었다."

"My dreams kept being broken in various places."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

부서지다 – "to shatter"


📌 Example Usage

"희망이 산산이 부서졌다."

"My hopes were shattered into pieces."


16. "
일어서다"

"일어서다" means "to get up" or "to stand up," often metaphorically meaning to recover or rise again.


📌 Example Usage

"다시 일어서기까지 오랜 시간이 걸렸다."

"It took a long time to get back on my feet."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

다시 일어나다 – "to get back up"


📌 Example Usage

"실패했지만 다시 일어났다."

"I failed, but I got back up."


17. "
외로운 / 외롭다"

"외로운" means "lonely." It describes the emotional state of isolation or solitude.

- "외롭다": to be lonely

- "외로운": attributive form


📌 Example Usage

"외로운 밤이 계속되었다."

"The lonely nights continued."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

쓸쓸한 – "gloomy, lonesome"


📌 Example Usage

"쓸쓸한 거리에서 혼자 걸었다."

"I walked alone on a lonesome street."


18. "
어느 날"

"어느 날" means "one day" or "a certain day." It introduces an unspecified or unexpected point in time.

- "어느": some, certain

- "": day


📌 Example Usage

"어느 날 문득 네가 생각났다."

"One day, I suddenly thought of you."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

하루는 – "one day" (with a narrative tone)


📌 Example Usage

"하루는 그가 내게 찾아왔다."

"One day, he came to me."


19. "
꺼내 본 / 꺼내 보다 / 꺼내다"

"꺼내 본" means "took out and looked at." It refers to retrieving something, often with sentimental value, and examining it.

- "꺼내다": to take out

- "보다": to look

- "": past attributive of "보다"


📌 Example Usage

"오래된 편지를 꺼내 본 적 있어?"

"Have you ever taken out and read an old letter?"


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

꺼내 읽다 – "to take out and read"


📌 Example Usage

"편지를 꺼내 읽으며 눈물을 흘렸다."

"I took out the letter and cried while reading it."


20. "
사진 속 아빠"

"사진 속 아빠" means "dad in the photo." It refers to the image of one’s father captured in a photograph.

- "사진 속": inside the photo

- "아빠": Dad


📌 Example Usage

"사진 속 아빠는 지금보다 훨씬 젊어 보였다."

"Dad in the photo looked much younger than now."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

사진에 담긴 아버지 – "father in the photo"


📌 Example Usage

"사진에 담긴 아버지의 눈빛이 따뜻했다."

"My father's expression in the photo was warm."



21. "
닮아 있네 / 닮아 있다 / 닮다"

"닮아 있네" means "looks like" or "resembles." It's an observational phrase about similarity in appearance or expression.

- "닮다": to resemble

- "닮아 있다": to be resembling

- "있네": informal ending indicating realization


📌 Example Usage

"사진 속 아빠를 보니 내가 닮아 있네."

"I look at Dad in the photo and realize I resemble him."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

비슷하다 – "to be similar"


📌 Example Usage

"우리는 외모가 참 비슷하다."

"We really look alike."


22. "
젊음이"

"젊음이" means "youth (as the subject)." It refers to the state or time of being young.

- "젊음": youth

- "-": subject particle


📌 Example Usage

"젊음이 지나가고 있음을 느낀다."

"I feel that youth is passing me by."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

청춘이 – "youth" (more poetic/emotional)


📌 Example Usage

"청춘이란 정말 순식간이다."

"Youth truly passes in the blink of an eye."


23. "
기울어 갈 때쯤 / 기울어 가다 / 기울다"

"기울어 갈 때쯤" means "around the time it's declining/fading." It implies nearing the end of a phase, often symbolizing the passage of youth or vitality.

- "기울다": to tilt, decline

- "기울어 가다": progressive aspect (to gradually decline)

 • “기울어 갈”: “기울어 가다” + attributive “-” (future tense)

- "때쯤": around the time


📌 Example Usage

"젊음이 기울어 갈 때쯤에서야 부모님을 이해했다."

"Only when my youth was fading did I understand my parents."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

저물 무렵 – "as something is coming to an end"


📌 Example Usage

"해가 저물 무렵, 그는 조용히 사라졌다."

"As the sun was setting, he quietly disappeared."


24. "
그제야 보이는 / 그제야 보이다"

"그제야 보이는" means "finally becomes visible" or "only then do I see." It implies belated realization or recognition.

- "그제야": only then

- "보이다": to be seen

 • “보이는”: “보이다” + attributive “-” (present tense)


📌 Example Usage

"시간이 흐른 뒤에야 그제야 보이는 진심이 있었다."

"Only after time had passed did I finally see the true feelings."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

비로소 알게 되다 – "to finally come to understand"


📌 Example Usage

"모든 일이 지나고 나서야 비로소 알게 되었다."

"I only understood after everything had passed."


25. "
당신의 날들"

"당신의 날들" means "your days." It refers to a person’s past time or years, often implying a nostalgic or respectful reflection.

- "당신의": your

- "날들": days (plural of "")


📌 Example Usage

"그제야 당신의 날들이 얼마나 소중했는지 알게 됐다."

"Only then did I realize how precious your days were."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

당신의 시간 – "your time"


📌 Example Usage

"당신의 시간을 헛되이 보내지 않았기를 바란다."

"I hope you didn’t spend your time in vain."


26. "
미소 띈 / 미소 띄다"

"미소 띈" means "wearing a smile" or "smiling." It's a poetic or literary way to describe someone with a gentle smile.

- "미소": smile

- "": past attributive of "띄다 (to carry, to show)"


📌 Example Usage

"사진 속엔 미소 띈 엄마가 있었다."

"In the photo, Mom was wearing a gentle smile."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

웃고 있는 – "smiling"


📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 항상 웃고 있는 얼굴이었다."

"She always had a smiling face."


27. "
우리 엄마"

"우리 엄마" means "our mom" or "my mom." It’s a common Korean way to refer to one’s mother, using "우리" to express affection and familiarity.

- "우리": our

- "엄마": mom


📌 Example Usage

"사진 속 미소 띈 우리 엄마가 그리워진다."

"I miss our mom smiling in the photo."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

어머니 – "mother" (formal)


📌 Example Usage

"어머니의 정성은 늘 따뜻했다."

"My mother's devotion was always warm."


28. "
꽃 피던 시절"

"꽃 피던 시절" means "the time when flowers bloomed," metaphorically referring to one’s youthful or most beautiful period.

- "꽃 피던": "꽃 피다 (to bloom)" in attributive past form

- "시절": time, season, era


📌 Example Usage

"꽃 피던 시절의 추억이 아련하다."

"Memories of those blooming days are faint but vivid."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

한창 때 – "prime time"


📌 Example Usage

"그는 한창 때의 열정으로 가득했다."

"He was full of passion in his prime."


29. "
나에게"

"나에게" means "to me." It marks the recipient of an action or experience.

- "": me

- "에게": dative particle (to)


📌 Example Usage

"그 시절은 나에게 큰 위로가 되었다."

"That time became a great comfort to me."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

내게 – "to me" (shortened form)


📌 Example Usage

"그 말이 내게 큰 힘이 되었어."

"Those words really helped me."


30. "
다시 돌아와서 / 다시 돌아오다"

"다시 돌아와서" means "having returned" or "after coming back." It implies a sense of return to a previous time or emotional state.

- "다시": again

- "돌아오다": to return

- "돌아와서": verb + connector "-아서"


📌 Example Usage

"그녀는 다시 돌아와서 웃음을 되찾았다."

"She came back and regained her smile."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

되돌아오다 – "to come back"


📌 Example Usage

"그 시절로 되돌아오고 싶다."

"I want to go back to those days."


31. "
꽃 피우기 위해 / 나를 꽃 피우다"

"꽃 피우기 위해" means "to make (someone) bloom" or "to help (someone) flourish." It’s a poetic way to express nurturing someone’s growth or success.

- "꽃 피우다": to make bloom, to blossom

 • “피우기”: noun form of “피우다

- "위해": for the sake of, to


📌 Example Usage

"당신은 나를 꽃 피우기 위해 모든 걸 희생했다."

"You sacrificed everything to help me bloom."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

성장시키기 위해 – "to help (someone) grow"


📌 Example Usage

"아이를 성장시키기 위해 많은 노력을 기울였다."

"I made great efforts to help the child grow."


32. "
거름이 되어버렸던 / 거름이 되어버리다 / 거름이 되다"

"거름이 되어버렸던" means "that became fertilizer" or "that ended up becoming nourishment." It metaphorically refers to past hardships or sacrifices that contributed to someone else’s growth.

- "거름이": “거름 (fertilizer)” + topic marker “-

- "되다": to become

- "되어버리다": to end up becoming (with emotional nuance or irreversibility)

- “되어버렸던”: “되어버리다” → “되어버렸다” (past tense) + attributive “-” (past tense)


📌 Example Usage

"당신의 고생이 결국 내 인생의 거름이 되어버렸던 걸 알게 됐다."

"I realized that your hardships ended up becoming the foundation for my life."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

밑거름이 되다 – "to become the foundation (for growth)"


📌 Example Usage

"실패는 성공의 밑거름이 된다."

"Failure becomes the foundation of success."


33. "
그을린 시간들"

"그을린 시간들" means "scorched times" or "burned moments," referring to tough, painful, or deeply marked periods in life.

- "그을린": "그을리다 (to be scorched, darkened)" in attributive form

- "시간들": times, moments (plural of "시간")


📌 Example Usage

"그을린 시간들이 있었기에 지금의 내가 있다."

"Because of those scorched times, I am who I am now."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

고된 시간들 – "hard times"


📌 Example Usage

"고된 시간들을 이겨내고 결국 성공했다."

"I overcame hard times and eventually succeeded."


34. "
깨끗이 모아서 / 깨끗이 모으다"

"깨끗이 모아서" means "gathered cleanly/neatly" or "to collect purely." It can imply gathering only the good or valuable parts of something.

- "깨끗이": cleanly, purely

- "모으다": to gather

- "모아서": verb + connector "-아서"


📌 Example Usage

"기억을 깨끗이 모아서 따뜻한 글로 남기고 싶다."

"I want to gather my memories cleanly and leave them behind as warm writing."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

정리해서 담다 – "to organize and hold together"


📌 Example Usage

"사진들을 정리해서 앨범에 담았다."

"I organized the photos and put them in an album."


35. "
당신의 웃음꽃"

"당신의 웃음꽃" means "your smile flower," a poetic expression meaning a beautiful, blossoming smile that blooms like a flower.

- "당신의": your

- "웃음꽃": compound of "웃음 (smile)" + " (flower)"


📌 Example Usage

"당신의 웃음꽃이 피어나길 바란다."

"I hope your smile blooms brightly."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

밝은 미소 – "bright smile"


📌 Example Usage

"밝은 미소 하나가 큰 위로가 된다."

"A single bright smile can be a great comfort."


36. "
피우길 / 피우다 / 피다"

"피우길" is a contracted form meaning "that (something) may bloom" or "that (you) may blossom." It expresses a wish or hope.

- "피다": to bloom, to blossom

- “피우다”: to make (something) bloom, to cause (something) to blossom

- “피우길”: “피우다” + noun form “-” + object particle “-

• "-": contraction of "-기를 (to/that it may)"

• “피다” → “피우다” → “피우기” → “피우기를” → “피우길


📌 Example Usage

"그녀가 웃음꽃을 다시 피우길 바란다."

"I hope she smiles again like a blooming flower."


🌀🎨 Similar & Additional Expressions

활짝 웃다 – "to smile brightly"


📌 Example Usage

"그녀가 오랜만에 활짝 웃었다."

"She smiled brightly for the first time in a while."

 

🎶 Kim Jin-ho - “Family Photo”: Additional Information

- Song Title (Korean): 가족사진

- Released: February 14, 2013

- Album: Today (오늘)

- Genre: Ballad / Acoustic

- Lyricist: Kim Jin-ho

- Composer: Kim Jin-ho

 

Kim Jin-ho (김진호) is a member of SG Wannabe, known for his rich, emotional vocals and storytelling ability.

 

🌍 If you’d like to read the full lyrics, please visit official music platforms such as Melon, Genie Music, Apple Music, or Spotify!

 

❗The copyright belongs to the original creators, and the management of music royalties and copyrights is handled by the respective copyright holders and organizations such as the Korea Copyright Commission.

 

This analysis is intended for educational and language-learning purposes and does not replace the official lyrics.

 

Not just another lyric translation—this is your gateway to mastering Korean through K-Pop.

This blog post isn’t about simply translating or dissecting lyrics word for word. Instead, I break down the key vocabulary and expressions in K-Pop songs, making Korean learning fun and immersive.

By the time you reach the end, you won’t just understand the words—you’ll feel the song the way native speakers do.

If you're serious about leveling up your Korean, make it a daily habit: Pair this with my K-Drama Bites series, and you’ll be picking up Korean naturally—step by step, with excitement.