On Monday, March 24, 2025, renowned actor Park Bo-gum participated in a revealing interview at the Conrad Seoul located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. During this session, he shared insights into his character in the Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines, as highlighted by Sports Donga on March 25.
The Transformation for the Role
Reflecting on the extensive preparations for his role, Park Bo-gum explained that the makeup team employed a dark foundation covering his entire body, from his face to his feet. This meticulous application aimed to simulate a tanned look, perfect for portraying a character who has spent significant time on Jeju Island.
“The makeup team applied dark foundation from his face to his feet. They made all the areas where flesh was visible darker and darker with makeup. Since he lived in Jeju Island for a long time, they tried to make him look like he’s been tanned a lot,”Park Bo-gum elaborated.
Gaining Weight for Authenticity
In addition to the makeup, Park Bo-gum revealed that he intentionally gained approximately 4-5 kg for the role. Although he couldn’t pinpoint the exact amount due to the time lapse, he noted that his portrayal still presented him in a way that seemed slimmer on screen than expected.
“He said he wanted to be a bit bigger than his friend who works out, so I tried to express it visually by working out, eating a lot, and gaining weight. He really gained a lot. He looks more solid than I thought, but his face looks slim. I gained about 4-5 kg. It wasn’t hard, and I filmed healthily,”Park Bo-gum shared.
Misinterpretations and Fan Support
Following his remarks, some netizens misinterpreted his comments as a critique of his character’s appearance, raising concerns about the portrayal of beauty standards. However, supportive fans swiftly came to his defense, emphasizing that Park Bo-gum never used negative language regarding his character.
“He didn’t even say the word ugly; why are you twisting his words?”a fan commented.
“All he said was that the makeup team worked hard to make him look like a Jeju native who toiled for years under the sun? He never even mentioned anything close to ugly lol,”noted another fan.
Insights into Yang Gwan-sik
Park Bo-gum also addressed the evolution of his character, Yang Gwan-sik, as the storyline progressed to a middle-aged setting. Acknowledging his character’s limited screen time, he conveyed gratitude for the audience’s strong connection to Gwan-sik.
“After reading the writer’s writing, I thought, ‘This is really good,’ ‘I want to do this work,’ and that it is a meaningful work in itself to leave a mark on my filmography,”he expressed.
In describing Gwan-sik, Park portrayed him as a man whose actions speak louder than words, inherently dependable yet emotionally expressive in subtle ways. He aimed to visually represent Gwan-sik as someone who might appear larger than his physically strong counterparts, a goal he supported through increased weight and exercise.
“Not ugly per se but he made a very believable, hard-working young man who grew up by the sea,”remarked a fan, highlighting the character’s depth.
Sharing Values with Gwan-sik
While acknowledging Gwan-sik’s admirable traits, Park made it clear that he does not consider him an unrealistic character. Despite some viewers perceiving him as passive, he believes Gwan-sik’s layered personality reveals depth through minor, poignant actions, such as quietly caring for others.
He expressed a desire to emulate Gwan-sik’s loyalty and reliability, particularly admiring how the character cultivates meaningful relationships. Park remarked that even though Gwan-sik embodies stoicism, he himself enjoys being more verbally expressive.
“We are similar in that we love our families, take good care of our own people, and express our hearts when we love someone with all our hearts. However, Yang Gwan-sik does not express it verbally, but I try to talk more,”he stated.
Looking Ahead
Park Bo-gum also hinted at the upcoming segments of \textit{When Life Gives You Tangerines}, noting that a young Gwan-sik would appear in Act 4. While he was uncertain about the exact duration of his screen presence, he believed viewers would remember his character’s importance.
The series finale, encompassing episodes 13 to 16, is set to premiere on March 28, 2025, promising to deliver more compelling narratives and character development.