On March 16, 2025, acclaimed singer and actress IU disclosed a surprising detail from the set of her latest Netflix drama, When Life Gives You Tangerines. During a highlight reaction video released on Netflix’s official YouTube channel for Korea, IU shared that she consumed alcohol to help portray a poignant emotional scene.
The 31-year-old artist candidly reflected on her preparation for the scene involving her character, Yang Geum-myeong, and her father. She expressed that relying solely on makeup might have resulted in a portrayal that felt too “cutesy.”
“I was actually drinking for the scene. If we tried to do it with makeup, it could have looked too cutesy,” she explained.
Her revelation caught co-star Park Hae-joon off guard, prompting him to inquire, “Was I also drinking?” IU humorously replied:
“I do not think you did, I think you were drinking afterwards.”
This lighthearted banter generated laughter among the cast members. The emotional scene is set within the confines of a Chinese restaurant, highlighting Geum-myeong’s breakdown in front of her father, Gwan-sik, portrayed by Park Hae-joon. Besides sharing behind-the-scenes insights with her fellow actors, including Moon So-ri, IU added depth and warmth to the video.
Breakout Success of When Life Gives You Tangerines on Netflix
Following its premiere, When Life Gives You Tangerines achieved significant recognition, debuting at No. 4 in Netflix’s global chart of most-watched non-English series for the week of March 3 to 9. The romantic drama attracted 3.6 million viewers globally, accumulating an impressive 13.9 million viewing hours.
The drama has particularly resonated in 24 regions, securing the top position in markets such as South Korea, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. In this Netflix original, IU stars as Oh Ae-Sun opposite Park Bo-gum, who plays Yang Gwan-sik, weaving a narrative that chronicles their love story through four distinct “seasons” of life.
Spanning their teenage years into adulthood, the series also features different cast members portraying the couple at various ages. Kim Tae-yeon plays the youthful version of Oh Ae-Sun, while Moon So-ri depicts her character in middle age. Lee Cheon-mu plays the young Yang Gwan-sik, alongside Moon Woo-jin and Park Hae-joon as his teenage and middle-aged selves, respectively. The impressive cast is rounded out with support from Kim Yong-rim, Oh Min-ae, Na Moon-hee, Yeom Hye-ran, and Jung Hae-kyun.
In addition to her current endeavors, IU has been confirmed to star in another highly anticipated K-drama titled Wife of a 21st Century Prince (working title) on MBC, alongside Byeon Woo-seok. Set in an alternate version of Korea featuring a constitutional monarchy, IU will portray Sung Hee-joo, a chaebol heiress endowed with beauty, intellect, and wealth, but ultimately hindered by her commoner status. Woo-seok’s character, Prince Lee-ahn, is the king’s second son who has concealed his royal identity. Their paths entwine as they navigate the complexities of class and love in what promises to be another captivating story. The series is expected to air in late 2025.