On March 27, 2025, Netflix unveiled a preview for the anticipated episodes of the K-drama series When Life Gives You Tangerines. This preview was made accessible with multiple subtitles, including both English and Korean.
However, as soon as the preview hit social media, viewers quickly pointed out a significant spoiler in the English subtitles that was notably absent in the original Korean dialogue. This discrepancy sparked outrage among fans who were keen on avoiding any plot revelations.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers regarding the upcoming episodes of When Life Gives You Tangerines.
The most recent preview provided fans with a touching moment featuring Gwang-sik and Ae-sun’s daughter, Geum-myoung, during her wedding. In a poignant scene, Gwang-sik reassures his daughter that his support will always be there for her, regardless of her marital circumstances.
While the Korean subtitles left the identity of Geum-myoung’s husband unclear, the English subtitles inadvertently revealed it to be Chung-seop, leading to widespread disappointment among the audience. The English subtitle read:
“If Chung-seop makes you mad, back down. Dad’s always here for you, okay?”
Following this revelation, numerous fans took to social media to voice their frustration over Netflix’s translation mishap. One user expressed their exasperation on X:
“The English translators at Netflix are on another level, revealing such a huge spoiler!”
This sentiment echoed across various platforms, with many criticizing Netflix for the blunder. Comments from viewers captured the widespread frustration:
“Not the freaking spoiler! Netflix, you have one job,”complained another fan on X.
“The translations are so off, it makes me mad. They are consistently different and incorrect,”added another netizen.
Many users expressed their belief that the translators responsible for this error might face consequences:
“Someone is going to be fired,”predicted a fan.
“I swear the Netflix translator for this drama is going to get fired,”commented another X user.
“I was genuinely confused because why would they reveal the groom?”noted a netizen.
“Netflix really needs to hire better translators,”remarked another user.
Overview of the K-drama Series When Life Gives You Tangerines
When Life Gives You Tangerines is a current K-drama starring popular actors IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, and Park Hae-joon, having premiered on March 7, 2025, with its first four episodes.
The storyline unfolds around childhood friends Ae-sun and Gwang-sik, whose lives intertwine against the backdrop of their scenic seaside village. Though their personalities contrast—Ae-sun is rebellious and outspoken whereas Gwang-sik is silent and hardworking—their bond deepens into love.
As Gwang-sik grapples with his feelings and strives to express them fully, Ae-sun, aspiring to be a poet, takes drastic action by leaving her family and village in pursuit of her dreams, with Gwang-sik choosing to accompany her. Their journey to independence in Busan introduces them to numerous challenges and hardships.
Despite the struggles they face, When Life Gives You Tangerines represents an authentic depiction of love as they build their own family. Fans eagerly anticipate the final volume, comprising episodes 13-16, set to release on March 28, 2025.