When Life Gives You Tangerines

YOU'LL CRY!

I’d like to start by saying how late I am in watching this drama, especially looking at the massive hype this got, now only now in August 2025 im watching, when it had already been released back in March this year 😔👍🏻. First of all, HOW MUCH THIS MADE ME CRY IS BEYOND WORDS 😭😭. Following Ae-Sun in Volume 1 was so… special, I could say. Her mother passed away young, at 29 years old, but her face already looked so aged… I ended up researching more about the women divers of Jeju and found out that prolonged exposure to the sun caused their skin to age prematurely. I saw this as a beautiful homage to these women in the drama.

Ae-Sun is lucky,SO LUCKY, to have such an incredible husband like Gwan-Sik 😭😭. Their grief over losing their youngest son was another deeply heartbreaking moment that MADE ME SHED SO MANY TEARS 😭. Actually, even Ae-Sun’s daughter has an amazing husband too 👀. Speaking of which, Episode 11, which addressed the topic “Your child is not an extension of you,” hit me really hard, as I’ve experienced something similar before (though I won’t go into details here).

The worst moment was definitely the ending, with Gwan-Sik’s death 😔, as he was a character I grew deeply attached to throughout the series. I came to one conclusion: If life gives you tangerines, make roasted tangerines, they’re delicious 🫢.

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WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU TANGERINES: A MIRROR AND A REFLECTION OF LIFE!

A mirror of life is how I would describe "When Life Gives You Tangerines." This poignant and emotionally charged drama tells the generational story of Aesun, a bright and intelligent girl whose life takes a drastic turn following the loss of her mother, the only pillar of support she had. Alongside her is Gwansik, a steadfast and devoted boy who stands by her side, showcasing unwavering loyalty and love.

This drama is raw, relatable, and deeply resonant, prompting reflection on the complexities of life. It's more than just a sad tale; it's a representation of life itself. It portrays two individuals navigating a myriad of challenges, yet their love and commitment to each other serve as their anchor. We witness Aesun as she sacrifices her own dreams, embracing new aspirations when life doesn't unfold as planned. Conversely, Gwansik emerges as a hardworking father and loyal husband, embodying the essence of kindness and dedication.

Throughout the series, we observe how these two characters heal one another and face life's adversities together, regardless of the hardships they encounter. The narrative beautifully encapsulates themes of pain, growth, love, and the importance of family and friendship. It's a roller coaster of emotions that leaves viewers with a profound sense of connection and understanding, making it a truly impactful drama that mirrors the intricacies of our own lives.

The story beautifully expands to showcase life through the eyes of their eldest daughter, Yang Geum Myeong. We witness her struggles and worries as she navigates the challenges of being the eldest daughter. This perspective allows us to see her grow and learn to appreciate her parents more, gaining insight into the decisions they made throughout their lives. As she grapples with relationships, experiencing both love and loss, we truly see life unfold through her eyes, intertwined with the experiences of her parents.

One of the standout elements of this drama is its immensely relatable and beautifully crafted dialogue. It resonates deeply, capturing the essence of the characters' emotions and experiences. I can't wait to share some of my favorite quotes for everyone to appreciate! The acting is another remarkable strength of the series; the entire cast delivers performances that feel genuine, raw, and captivating. IU deserves special mention for her dual portrayal of young Aesun and her daughter, Yang Geum Myeong. The distinct differences between these two characters are evident, showcasing her incredible talent. Park Bo-gum also shines with his simple yet impactful acting, conveying a wealth of emotion through his expressive eyes and so does the entire cast.

The seamless transition between the younger and older versions of Aesun and Gwansik is another highlight, as it reflects the continuity of their characters beautifully. This drama excels in various aspects, including acting, dialogue, cinematography, and its stunning original soundtrack, all contributing to its overall brilliance. It is a beautiful, raw, relatable, and emotional portrayal of life that I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone.

In conclusion, When life gives you tangerines, it transcends mere entertainment, offering an emotional depth that resonates with viewers on a profound level. The storytelling is not only raw and relatable but also intricately woven, capturing the essence of human experiences. The performances are nothing short of remarkable, showcasing a cast that embodies their characters with authenticity and nuance.

What truly sets this drama apart is its ability to reflect the complexities of life—love, family, friendship, and the myriad challenges we encounter. Each character feels like a genuine representation of the people we meet in our own lives, making the narrative all the more impactful. The writing serves as a delicate tribute, inviting us to reflect on our own journeys and the relationships that shape us.

In essence, this drama shines because it feels real; it acts as a mirror to our lives, reminding us of the beauty and struggles we all face. I extend my gratitude to the writer for crafting such a poignant piece that not only entertains but also inspires contemplation about life and love.

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When dramaland gives you a gem but not all gems are diamonds

In life you won’t always get the lemon, you won’t always get what you wish for
But you can still appreciate and enjoy the tangerine

Be happy with what you gain, love, family, health, money
Every step builds the happiness you live in
It can also be metaphorical in the sense of tangerines being a “jeju” trademark, a “country side” when people craved the shiny city lemons
and since tangerines are sweet, you worry about having them right after a sour moment, or having too much of it

spoiling your kids can have as much negatives as neglecting them would
Ae Sun couldn't study and persuade her dreams, that's why she overcompensated with her daughter, and even though it's a blessing, it was also a burden for Geum Myeong, as an eldest daughter, as the first woman in her family to study and work in an office
Gwan Sik had to do extreme jobs and compromise his health to care for his family, even though Ae Sun did help him and support him too, but they didn't want their son to suffer so Eun Myeong felt too sheltered and he thought he was incompetent



I don’t want extraordinary or extravagant dramas, I’m picky and hate halfhearted attempts

The first ep alone felt like a movie, full of emotions, happiness and heartache
The 2nd ep felt familiar; have I seen that exact plot move before? Running away and getting robbed
The 3ep was a rollercoaster, will they achieve their dreams? Are their dreams really what they seem? Is getting married a sacrifice?
and it continues on, but the second half and some of the events around Geum Myeong's love life felt draggy

I feel like I could write a longer review to talk about all the elements but I'll keep it breif



IU is so cute and such an amazing actor, PBG reflects the adorkable nature very well and the young actors did an amazing job representing them too

aesun is just a kid but because of her moms love and her love for her daughter and the support of gwansik, she stands up for the people she loves harder than she’d stand up for herself
she looked selfish cuz she questions the adults, but she never acted unless her family was targeted

Gwansik was raised in a loud controlling house that he’s always quiet but aesun sparkles his drive to act and in the small moments, he’d take up pain for his family, change the “norms” for his family, remember what they love and he was also never afraid to point out the wrongs of the adults

She was going to leave her stepfather but she stayed for her siblings, she wanted to leave the country side but she stayed for gwansik, she wanted to let him go but she knew he loved her as much as she loved him, she stayed in the kitchen she hated but she left once her baby was targeted
She gave up her dreams because she found bigger happiness in her family, honestly that’s beautiful

And gwansik never defied his gramma and mom, but they were just crazy. It takes two in a marriage, the rest are just support
The gramma keeps saying the mom is a bad “daughter in law” so if she can’t do her “duties” she sure shouldn’t force more on her own DIL and expect her own son to stay quiet when she’d wanted his support



In who is she, the fl spends her life regretting her lost dream, regretting her failed marriage eventho she couldn’t have controlled it, she hated living life just for her daughter and always craved what she lost
Here, aesun never blames her daughter, she doesn’t regret her choices, sure having support makes a big difference, support of her husband, but still life is hard you should always appreciate what you gain and not what you lost




I kept dragging the last ep cuz I didn’t want it to finish but I also didn’t wanna be disappointed

Overall I do feel like there was something missing in the writing, the pace and development didn’t feel smooth enough
The time skips did increase too much in the middle, they’d show the past, present, future, past past and so one

Actingwise everyone did a beautiful job
but the writing could've been better, it was too "tearjerker", her mom died at 29, her youngest kid died just when she walked away for a minute, her husband died at 55..




I think of aesun as more of my grandma rather than mom and Geum Myeong as my mom, so it makes me understand them more
though it is also effected by cultural differences, but it also made me wish they added a bit more of the current generation and the "grandkids" cuz i think aesun would've dotted on her grandkids and they'd have loved and adored her more too
I also don't understand her being around 70 and living alone, not with her daughter or even son...
in the last ep i thought Geum Myeong turned into aesun's mom and short haired iu was the granddaughter xD

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Just watch it

You have to watch this show—it's a masterpiece. Easily the most important piece of media I've ever seen, and it will go down as the greatest K-drama ever made. Like, damn. Everyone, of all ages, should experience it.

When Life Gives You Tangerines is a breathtaking masterpiece that transcends typical entertainment, earning a well-deserved 5/5. This poignant series, set against the vibrant backdrop of Jeju Island, follows the lifelong journey of Ae-sun (IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) with a raw, emotional depth that resonates profoundly. For me, it’s the most significant piece of entertainment I’ve ever watched, weaving a tapestry of love, resilience.

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truly a must watch masterpiece

showing every step, every stage, every process, every moment of grief, every iconic and flop era of a woman’s life is not easy to do but this series created such cohesive and beautiful stories following many women over the course of a few generations and it’s astounding to see the value of a woman’s love and the choices she can, will, won’t, should, and doesn’t make. it showed so many sides of women through adolescence, young adulthood, and beyond. it celebrated the character behind the man and what it takes to be the backbone of your family as well as the sacrifices you make and the ways in which you need to step up. i can’t rave enough about this story and its characters and the twists and turns and the grief OH THE GRIEF!!!!! it’s so beautiful and haunting and so full of life in every turn. just a wonderful story overall. i can’t wait to rewatch it again.

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The road of life seasons and lessons

When Life Gives You Tangerines is truly special and will be very hard to surpass. It carries the same warmth as Reply 1988, but tells its story in a completely different way. Depending on your age, it reminds you what you lived through as a kid, makes you concious about where you are now and how your life might develop in the future. True hardships of life over SEVEN decades shown here are not only telling a story - it makes you reflect not only on yourself, but people around you and how people and the culture have grown through the years.

This show doesn’t simply entertain; it teaches, provokes, comforts, and challenges. It will make you smile, laugh, cry, and above all, feel. Each episode unfolds with the care and depth of a short film, with not a minute wasted. Each decade detail is very authentic, the acting is breathtaking, and together they create a piece of art.

I cannot recommend it highly enough.

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Whatever happens, family stick together as a glue.

This did not feel like a show. It was a biopic for the ups and downs of life and how parents are parents for the first time. For people my age, it was an eye-opener to see how much the seemingly mundane things our parents do could be the same things that they look forward to doing and what makes their day.
I think I’ll keep this drama close to my heart for a long time. Like the four seasons it portrays, it hits me with so many emotions at once, the lightheartedness of spring, the intensity of summer, the melancholia of autumn and the bitterness of winter. Absolutely loved the director's decision to split the drama into 4 episodes per week.
Also, I finally get what people mean when they call a drama "healing." Even with all the loss and tragedy the characters go through, all i remember is the warmth and comfort of this drama. I already know that this will be one of the dramas i'll always recommend, easy.
IU is definitely going to get all the awards buzz, but I think Moon So Ri and Park Hae Joon also deserve their flowers. Loved seeing more of PBG as the young, steadfast and sweet Steelheart. That ocean swim will go down as the stuff of kdrama legends. But I truly think everyone- mains, supporting, cameos, did fantastic in their roles.

-It's a tough (nigh basically impossible) demand to live up to Yang Gwang Sik as a love interest, but Park Chung Seob held his own! Loved seeing him care for Geum Myeong even when his physical state is compromised through seasickness and alcohol. He chose her over and over again. That scene in the hospital where Geum Myeong is struggling through labor and he says without hesitating "I choose my wife"! The scene when Geum Myeong asks if they can use money they're saving for Sae Bom's piano for her parents instead and he tells her she doesn't have to ask him! We all may think of different things when we think about love, but maybe boiled down to the basics, love is about choosing someone over and over again and respecting/honoring their choices even when times are tough.
-I don't think I've ever cried so much at a kdrama wedding scene?? The use of the younger Yang Geum Myeong actresses to show us Yang Geum Myeong through Gwan Sik's eyes is so effective.
-Seeing Ae Sun and Gwan Sik work so hard during the IMF crisis and struggle with the restaurant broke my heart. Gwan Sik lived and worked for his family, and never complained, and the kids only saw what they didn't have and lamented that they weren't rich! The man never even had a hobby. I've spent a couple of days complaining about my commute to work to my parents and I feel humbled. I think in a world where we see so much online/on Instagram, it's so easy to feel resentful about people living "better" lives than you, with more money and vacation travels to exotic places. But Gwan Sik wasn't bitter at all about giving his whole life to take care of his children. So sincere, so diligent, so much heart for his family.
-I don't know anything about poetry, but I love how Gwan Sik encouraged Ae Sun to work on her poems and fulfill one of his promises to her. Ae Sun acts tough, but she poured her heart into her writing and we can see the depth of her feelings for Gwan Sik in what she writes about him.
-That scene in the hospital with a young PBG and IU looking at each other when Gwan Sik passed absolutely destroyed me.
I've spent A LOT of time thinking about this drama and why it's so gut-wrenching for me, and I think it may be because I'm now at an age where I think more about whether I'm ready to become a parent, and I'm more appreciative of everything my parents have done for me. This drama reminds us of what parents sacrifice to give their children a better life/more than what they had, and it also reminds us about appreciating our parents before it's too late (vol 4 especially). Geum Myeong and Eun Myeong kept telling their parents, "You're not done raising me!" throughout these episodes and boy do I still feel that, even though I'm a fully-grown adult too.
These later episodes reminded me that Ae Sun and Gwan Sik are not much older than my parents (!!!). I've noticed that they walk more slowly these days, and there are more doctors appointments, more vitamins/supplements on the kitchen counter. My mom and I have watched countless kdramas together and we always make time to watch something together whenever I'm home. I've been telling her for probably at least 5 years now that I'm going to take her and Dad to Jeju Island, and I called her after I finished watching this drama to tell her that we're going to go to Jeju Island, and this time, I really mean it.
My chest is heavy. My head is pounding. My throat is dry. My eyes are burning. This drama did not need to do all that. I will never heal 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲 Drama of the year IMMEDIATELY. Goodbye I’m off to grieve. I need to find my Gwanshik and ParkToto

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The Greatest K-Drama of all time

All the praise and positive remarks this show is, and will get, are rightfully warranted. Having known about this drama prior to its airing years before, I had nothing but high expectations for this. Given the amazing cast and crew, thank you My Mister, another masterpiece, it was drama of the year or bust for me. Let me just get started by saying this is the greatest work of television I have ever watched, and is now my favorite drama EVER.

Just in terms of analyzation of a piece of film at its core, cast/crew, screenplay, cinematography, characterization, production, story-telling, pacing etc, this drama is masterful. Similar to My Mister, the Director does an amazing job in showcasing the nuances of life in general. From the grandiose events someone may experience in their life such as graduating school, getting married, getting your first paycheck, to the simple everyday things such as talking with a friend, or buying groceries, not one second of this drama is wasted, or unimportant in the grand telling of the story. Everything literally serves a purpose, and gradually builds upon one another as further themes are either explored and or introduced.

The actors ARE the characters. It's one thing to memorize lines and say them, it's another thing to ACT, to BE the character, and every actor and actress here became their character and acted their butts off. IU and Park BoGum deserve to sweep all Korean show awards this year with how masterful and emotionally provoking their acting were. The nuances in how they act with their body, from literally how they use their limbs, their eyes, and minute changes in facial expressions, and inflection in voice, were perfect.

One thing that can set a good drama from an amazing drama is the characters and their journey. The characters are so perfectly imperfect, and that's so beautiful. Like life itself, we continue to learn and change as we grow older. While the trendline in life is to become a better person in aspects (upwards), it is not linear. We have highs and lows, either or which may be sustained over an extended period of time. Perhaps we were more financially stable a decade ago, maybe I could control my emotions better when I was younger versus me right now who is supposed to be more mature and experienced. We grow and regress accordingly, and all the characters envelop these realities of life so well, that it feels like I was watching a real story, like this can happen (and maybe in some semblance when you divide by the 4 volumes, aspects of these stories have definitely been lived by another real person(s)). Because this story feels so real and palpable, it all the more allows viewers to connect to their personal lives and become more invested and appreciate what the cast/crew were trying to show us.

I can literally write a thesis on this show, but I will end it by saying that you will not be disappointed watching this show. If you are not affected by the brain rot of social media right now, aka having a short attention span, you will love this show, regardless of your experience with kdramas, or television for that matter. This show will have you laughing, crying, and contemplating life after. If you are not experiencing this while watching, you are the problem LOL (I say very kindly and semi-sarcastically, as everyone has their own preferences).

I feel that I have a good basis to call this the greatest kdrama ever given my watchlist. While I have not watched many kdramas comparatively to those who have watched for a long time (i'm a little less than two years in) I have watched the likes of Moving, My Mister, My Dearest, The Good Bad Mother, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Hospital Playlist, which I feel are objectively masterpieces on all fronts of story-telling, and can confidently say that When Life Gives You Tangerines is in a league of its own.

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“In life, you never know what will happen unless you go for it...

It would’ve been a shame if I’d given up halfway through it.”
- Oh Ae-sun

Mostly people watching this drama were crying a lot, as for me the last few eps already made me cry because I could feel the sad and bittersweet ending with this drama. It was really such a masterpiece, as it was all about family, grown by an independent woman, Ae sun, who's dreams are falling apart, but part of her progress was thankfully to her one and only mother who also bring her tragedy and her hopes and dreams, carrying her haenyo hardworking mother's luck from her past. One thing that really highlights was how this drama was a slice of life and how it really gives resemblance to the older generation's past experiences and challenges, as the writer recommends the oldies in their 70's or 80's to watch this series because it was all dedicated to them. Even if the story was not aligned to my generation today, but I could really feel the heartbreaking and challenges that even my grandmother or my mother experienced. It was not just about love and relationships of growing one family, but it is how womanhood brings generation and memories where they would cherish until the last day. It was a wonderful story, about how life goes on, and how tangerines represents life and finding joy in life and resilience in most difficult times. The drama would also like to initiate and gives message where life still goes on, no matter the challenges encountered, and the unexpected turns that comes in into your life anytime in your time of growing.

I would also comment on their cinematography, the blue-themed drama where it all started with its transition of the character's habits and then how the director is also creative in terms of color blending of its scenes and the setup of the scene as well. It really inspires me to make an own story, and as well as how it gives so much atmosphere with the drama.

I also really love the cast, and how they really made this drama very special in a different way. The selection of the cast by the director and writer was all worth it, especially all of them (starting from the haenyo halmoji's) where they really give justice and passion from this drama. I really am passionate and very interested with Lee Ji Eun's roles in every drama, especially this series was really special for me and her, and even all the halmoni's who wanted to feel the comfort and love through the story slowly unfolds in each volume. Lee Ji Eun and Park Bo Gum did so well with their characters, the resemblance in their older days as the story goes by really gives so much memories and passion on how the characters itself developed through their years and ages. I really appreciate (again) the cast who did their roles at their best, and I really thanked them for their efforts and how they made me really bawled my eyes out crying in the middle of the night.

Overall, I would not be saying so much with this drama, as I also thought of how this drama would give so much impact to the older generations and as me craving for comfort and slice-of-life drama about life is still going on, achieving that dream no matter the circumstances are unexpectedly come. Really a great watch, binge watchable, rewatchable and really recommended to anyone looking for relatable life dramas like this. I am so emotional in terms of dramas like this, because I have been craving for comfort, but not just romance, but also slice of life and youth dramas. It has been my favorite genres, but this drama I would never forget how I am not yet late of its end release and how I keep up with the updates despite getting a bit spoiled. On the positive side, looking forward to the cast's future roles, esp. to lee ji eun and park bo gum's drama project selection!! <333

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Nuclear bomb of emotions.

Spectacular.

An incredible story telling the difficulties of being a woman, a wife, a husband, a mother, a daughter and also a breadwinner father during the last 6 decades in South Korea in the island of (Jeju).

A powerful story full of emotions, a life lesson.
Out of the 16 episodes, i cried during watching 13 or 14 of them i think. especially cried during the first 7 even episodes straight and multiple times per episodes.

Certainly one of the best things I've seen lately and one of the most beautiful stories I've seen in my life.

The fact that some life lessons are told through Ae-Sun’s poetry makes the immersion even more pleasant.

The Narration being by Ae-sun (young), Ae-sun (middle-aged) and their daughter was just wonderful storytelling.

Park BoGum's performance is at the top level but then that of IU.. I don't know what she ate but wow.

I can only say respect.

The Quote that resonates with me the most is :
" i thought once everyone became adults, they’d be able to carry hot bowls with their bare hands .. I thought that once you grew up your hands and heart would naturally become calloused. But everything’s still too hot for me. I get burned everyday, and it huts everytime ".

It's the kind of fiction that will take all your energy so much it pulls on your emotions. It's also very well written.

If I had to make my mother watch something, it would be that. Really very very powerful and it must be even more so if we look at it as a parent

Some may think that I do tons of them, but for those looking for something strong in emotion, with excellent writing, a powerful message, good cinematography and top actors, I can only recommend.

Totally deserves its success.

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