Kim Hee-sun delivered another resonant performance — this time shining a light on the quiet struggles of mothers who have already raised their children, only to begin again as caregivers in their later years.

In Episode 7 of TV Chosun's Since There Is No Next Life, the focus turned to Jo Na-jung's mother, Ahn Soon-im. The drama captured the reality of "grandparenting in the twilight years," drawing strong viewer response and pushing ratings to 3%.

The Unseen Weight Carried by "Mothers of Mothers"

Ahn Soon-im, played by Cha Mi-kyung, reflected the lives of countless women who raised their own children and then stepped into the role of primary caregiver for grandchildren. She spent six years looking after her grandson, yet gratitude gradually disappeared and criticism took its place.

One moment struck viewers: the daughter-in-law scolding her for giving the child a caramel candy. Instead of a simple "thank you," she was met with "why did you do that?" — a familiar scene in many households where childcare expectations fall heavily on seniors.

With nearly half of households being dual-income and over 50% relying on grandparents for childcare, such tensions are far from rare.

A Voice for Women in Their 60s

Soon-im's son and daughter-in-law handed her a monthly 500,000 KRW allowance while depending on her full-time labor. Only after hearing "I can't do this anymore" did they step back and reconsider their behavior.

Her outburst was raw and powerful — a declaration that she, too, wants dignity in her later years, not to live as someone's "servant."

The drama broke another stereotype: a mother's mother is not just a caregiver, but a woman in her 60s with her own desires, dreams, and emotional wounds.

Jo Na-jung's Way of Cheering for Her Mother

Kim Hee-sun portrayed Jo Na-jung with emotional depth — a woman rediscovering herself after years as a stay-at-home mom, while also supporting her own mother's long-suppressed wishes.

Na-jung encouraged her mother to reclaim her life: to travel, study coffee-making, take floral design classes. She secretly prepared a travel package just for her, and Soon-im responded by dressing up in glamorous vacation outfits — a small but meaningful liberation.

A Reminder We All Needed

Kim Hee-sun's performance captured layered emotions: childhood scars, regret over her mother's aging, and the catharsis of confronting long-held family tensions. The sibling confrontation scene stood out as one of the episode's highlights.

The message landed clearly: mothers, grandmothers — they are women first, each with their own dreams. Recognizing that is the beginning of true empathy.

Bravo to every mother's life.