On April 3, 2025, Netflix delighted fans with a revealing behind-the-scenes commentary video featuring the cast and director of the much-acclaimed drama series When Life Gives You Tangerines. The engaging clip offered insights into some of the most talked-about moments in the show, igniting excitement within the fan community.
A Memorable Scene Unfolds
One of the standout moments in the series occurs when Gwan-sik, portrayed by Park Bo-gum, leaps off a ship, swims to shore, and embraces Ae-sun, played by IU. Following the scene, IU shared an intriguing detail: the second hug, exchanged after a brief conversation, was not part of the original script.
“But we looked at each other once and then, hugged again,”she revealed.
The Director’s Perspective
Director Kim Won-seok confirmed that this touching embrace was unscripted; initially, the scene only called for Gwan-sik to “sniffle and cry.”However, he found the spontaneous hug added significant emotional weight, leading him to retain it in the final cut. Park Bo-gum expressed his delight at this organic moment:
“It was cool that we didn’t even plan it.”
Fan Reactions Shine
Fans took to social media platform X to share their enthusiastic reactions to this revelation. Many expressed a fondness for the duo, wishing to see them paired in more dramas:
“Oh, I love them! I need to see them more as couples in dramas,”commented a fan on X.
Additional responses highlighted the impact of the hug on the overall scene, with another fan stating:
“That actually made this scene so much better and more fun! They were both really cold and shivering while filming,”wrote a fellow fan.
“The unscripted hug made the entire scene even more emotional and amazing. When Life Gives You Tangerines is truly one of the most beautiful dramas in K-drama history. Every aspect of the story and the performances is fabulous,”another spectator reacted.
Fans continued to gush over the chemistry between the two actors, emphasizing how their performances complemented each other:
“They nailed it! Their caliber in acting is on par! Their dynamic is so good, you don’t even focus that much on their chemistry because it’s already there. They really bring the story and characters to life,”remarked a viewer.
“When you work with talented people,”another user noted.
“The wavelength of their brains is the same,”added yet another fan.
Exploring When Life Gives You Tangerines
When Life Gives You Tangerines unfolds on the scenic Jeju Island, chronicling the love story between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik through life’s ups and downs, celebrating the enduring resilience of love. With an all-star cast including IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, and Park Hae-joon, the series has captured the hearts of viewers worldwide.
The original Korean title, Pokssak sogatsuda, translates to “Thank you for your hard work”in the Jeju dialect, while the English title cleverly inverts the popular saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,”substituting tangerines to honor Jeju’s famous mandarins.
This drama has garnered significant acclaim, ranking No. 3 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English shows following the release of its final episode, which aired on March 28, 2025. Currently, the series boasts a remarkable IMDb rating of 9.3/10.
When Life Gives You Tangerines is now available for streaming on Netflix, inviting new audiences to experience its touching narrative and stellar performances.