When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025)

Magnificent family epic set against the stirring backdrop of the last 6 decades of SK history

(Updated)
Exceptional. I'm completely thrilled …and after 16 episodes it is hard to say goodbye.

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" is…
...an outstanding enrichment in the KDrama orbit.
...a magnificent family epic set against the stirring backdrop of the last six decades of South Korean history.
...an impressive monument to the almost hopeless, desperate struggle of Korean women for a dignified, joyful, and somewhat self-confident life aside from their gender role - exemplified by fictional Oh Ae-sun from Jeju Island.
...a touching love story that - despite the adverse winds of nasty social, economical and family structures – somehow succeeds to keep love alive.
...a grand masterpiece, brilliantly cast in all instances.
(In my eyes anyway.)

What a wonderful story.
What a fantastically lyric look at life (especially the past six decades on Jeju Island).
What outstanding relationship and gender role models (female and male model alike).
What a remarkable love story.
What a sensitive family herstory/history with all its ups and downs.
What a heartfelt tribute to the past 2-3 SK generations and their tenacious perseverance in defying life's challenges.

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" offers visually powerful, and amidst bitter winds of fate, yet also heartwarming and at the same time realistic, lifelike high-end KDrama. Aesthetically finely composed from A to Z. Complex narrative. Great fitting music. With a generous budget, that obviously was not only used for the illustrious cast.







---------------------------------------- SIDE NOTE -------------------------------------------
The story spans three generations on Jeju island. One might think that the very traditional gender role of women in South Korea should have changed during the last 60 years. However, the extent of this change, socially speaking, is shockingly minimal. Especially concerning the widespread disregard and exploitation of women (even among women themselves), who are condemned to function unconditionally as diligent daughters, even more diligent daughters-in-law, (ideally sons) birthing wives, and self-sacrificing mothers. Above all, the eldest daughter traditionally has the hardest fate.

Among South Korean women, seemingly the women on Jeju Island are the most likely to experience female role models who live with respect as human beings and self-confidence as individuals - as Jejudo´s see diving Haenyeos have always earned a comparatively respectable income through their tireless diving for abalone and other valuable seafood. They substantially contribute to the family's prosperity and can thus experience themselves outside their traditional female gender role among colleagues and even as reliable heads of the family. This may contribute to some slight aura of emancipated self-confidence among women, so they might eventually also muster the courage to rebel. Thus, some women on Jeju island may live a somewhat appreciated, valued variation of the female gender role and function as significant, socially influential role models in their social environment. But even in such a potentially rather 'positive' environment, the trap of patriarchy snaps shut and binds women in tight hierarchical structures. Nevertheless, at least Jeju Island offers a cradle for women (as our FL) who might even come up with the idea of daring to break free... And also for exceptional men (as our ML) who grow up in a social environment where they can experience women as valued human beings, too, who are appreciated for more than just their self-sacrifice for home and hearth.

Post-war South Korea was one of the poorest countries of that time. "When Life Gives You Tangerines" with its international title refers to the fact that life may sometimes seem cold and bitter. But like the tangerine from Jeju, the sweetness can be extracted from it and even a warm tea can be conjured up. Strictly speaking, people at that time had no choice but to make the best of it.

The Netflix KDrama takes us through the last 6 decades of South Korean history, with legends eventually providing orientation about historically significant moments. The first four episodes focus on the lives of the protagonists in their youth on Jejudo – at a time when the young republic was initially ruled by the military dictatorship led by Park Chung-hee, who then officially elected himself president in 1963 and subsequently installed a one-man dictatorship until 1979. In the following episodes, we will continue to accompany the two through the dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan, who i.e. with the Olympic Games wanted to present a great South Korea to the rest of the world – no matter what the cost. We will stumble with them into the beginnings of true democracy, which, however, was thwarted by the harsh years of the Asian financial crisis and another wave of poverty. Through the eyes of Ae-sun and her daughter Geum-myeong (who is also portrayed by wonderful IU in a double-role) we will also experience the era of tubo-capitalism and digitalization, which ultimately brought prosperity to Jeju Island, too...

Amid these swaying decades, Ae-sun and her reliable partner Gwang-sik are creating a unique, authentic, remarkably heartwarming and encouraging constant.

Read More

so good and then so bad

Aw, this one pains me really. I had this at a rating of 9.5 until about the 5th, 6th episode. I was glued to the screen, I laughed and cried and laughed again. I loved everything about this drama, the actors, the fantastic soundtrack, the sets with so much love to detail, the touching stories in the beginning, all peaking with the death of the little son which had me in tears.

And then there was a harsh break in this drama. As soon as the older actors took over everything went wrong for me. One thing that bothered me until the very last episode was that the aging of the characters was totally wrong. So the two main characters look pretty much exactly the same in 1983 and in 1999. That's ridiculous. Also the male lead's mother at some later point looks as old as her own son and daughter-in-law. At the same time, they used the same actress to play mother and daughter and she is simply never aging at all. She is born when? in 1968? And she still looks like a 14-year-old in 1999. Also at her wedding there is this very (and I mean VERY ) old couple, who were ancient in the end of the 1960s, when they helped her parents out with food and stuff, and they still show up to her wedding in 1998 looking exactly the same and are still alive? How old are they supposed to be? 120? This really bugged me so much and destroyed lots of the vibes in this drama.

But even more was that harsh break for me when the previously very touching, serious and thoughtful storytelling with tangible tragic and happy events turned into a steady slapstick party most of the episodes from ep. 7 to ep 16.
I started ff-ing the last four episodes because I was so tired of this steady totally over the top screaming and slapsticking, taking out all seriousness and true to life storytelling of this drama.
And the daughter, who looked like the mother because it simply was the same actress? I just didn't like her character at all. Her steady screaming and crying and pitting herself for everything while the whole world is running after her and trying to make everything fluffy for her? Nah, sorry, I don't like such people and she never really had reason to be and act like that.

The five stars are soelely for the first 5 episodes, which were absolutely brilliant and I loved every minute of them. The lacking other five stars are for that mess they made of the rest of this drama.

Read More

In The Time of Tangerines

Volumes 1-3 Review:

When Life Gives You Tangerines is a poignant tale of love, loss, resilience, and fleeting joy, much like the sea that both nurtures and torments its people. At its heart is AeSun (IU), a young woman who seems to be caught in a cruel push-and-pull with fate. Life strips her of so much, yet it never fully lets her go, forcing her to endure. IU embodies AeSun’s quiet strength and unspoken grief with such raw vulnerability that every moment feels painfully real.

Opposite her, GwangSik (Park BoGum) is the steady presence in her storm, a man whose quiet devotion speaks louder than words. BoGum’s performance is subtle yet deeply moving, his gaze alone carrying the weight of unsaid emotions. Their chemistry is heartbreaking in its tenderness, making every stolen moment between them feel like a fleeting miracle.

Turning our attention away from our A++ couple, we now focus on their children, Yang Eun Myeong and Yang Geum Myeong.

Yang Eun Myeong is very much his father’s son. Just as his father was drawn to the fierce and passionate AeSun, Eun Myeong, too, seems destined to be with a fiery woman. The Yang men, it appears, have an unshakable connection to strong-willed partners, as if fate continually binds them to women who challenge, inspire, support and complete them.

His love story brings a sense of poetic symmetry to the narrative, a full-circle moment that ties the past and present together in an almost fated way. Falling for the daughter of the man who nearly married his mother adds an intriguing layer of irony and destiny to his journey. In a way, it feels as though the past is offering a new chance, rewriting an old story through the next generation. Park Yeong Ran’s words to her daughter prove to be prophetic, reinforcing the idea that history has a way of repeating itself—this time, with a different ending.


Yang Geum Myeong embodies strength, resilience, and determination—qualities she inherited from both her parents. Unlike her mother, AeSun, who was shaped by struggle and limitation, Geum Myeong was able to “flip the table,” seizing opportunities that AeSun could not. In many ways, her journey mirrors her mother’s, but with the agency to make different choices, making her story feel like an alternate path AeSun never got to take.

Her love story further reflects this parallel. Falling for a man who shared qualities with her father suggests she sought a love built on strength and loyalty, much like the one she grew up witnessing. However, despite the deep emotions involved, the relationship ultimately didn’t work out. This heartbreak added another layer to her growth, proving that even with resilience, life doesn’t always unfold as expected.

THE FINALE: Volume 4 Review

The finale of When Life Gives You Tangerines beautifully highlighted the importance of family, shedding light on the ever-evolving yet unbreakable bond between parents and children. No matter how much time passes, parents will always see their children through the lens of love and care they held from the very beginning. And for children, no matter how grown they become, in their parents’ eyes, they will always carry traces of who they once were.

When Life Gives You Tangerines is a story of family, love, loss, and the unpredictable nature of life itself. An intricately woven narrative that embraces its audience, wrapping them in waves of joy, sorrow, laughter, and heartache. It is the kind of drama where you start off laughing, only to find yourself in tears by the end. Despite its fictional nature, the characters’ stories felt as real as the bittersweet moments of life itself, resonating deeply with every viewer.

Personal Review:

Watching WLGYT was a reminder that life always comes full circle. The past has a way of echoing into the present, whether through the choices we make, the relationships we build, or the lessons we carry forward. It’s in these moments of reflection that we see how interconnected our experiences truly are.

The cinematography of When Life Gives You Tangerines is nothing short of breathtaking, seamlessly transporting viewers through time with its rich visual storytelling. Each frame is carefully composed, capturing the essence of every era with meticulous attention to detail—from the warm, nostalgic glow of the past to the crisp, modern tones of the present. The use of natural lighting, soft color palettes, and sweeping landscapes adds a dreamlike quality, making the passage of time feel both fluid and immersive. Paired with a deeply evocative soundtrack, the show masterfully blends visuals and music to create an atmosphere that pulls the audience into each moment. Whether it’s the wistful melody of a bygone love or the vibrant hum of a bustling marketplace, the audiovisual harmony of WLGYT ensures that every scene lingers in the heart long after it fades from the screen.

Hats off to the incredible actors who breathed life into each character, allowing us to experience their joys and struggles as if they were our own. And to the writer—thank you for crafting such a masterpiece, one that lingers in the heart long after the final scene.

The title When Life Gives You Tangerines is a thoughtful twist on the familiar saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” but with a deeper, more nuanced meaning. Unlike lemons, tangerines are naturally sweet, yet they still carry a hint of tartness—just like life itself. The story beautifully captures this balance, showing how joy and hardship often intertwine, and how even the sweetest moments can hold traces of sorrow. Through this, the writer reminds us that life isn’t just about enduring the bitter but learning to savor the bittersweet, embracing both the joys and the struggles that shape our journey.

“Life goes on for the living.” – Yang Geum Myeong. A simple yet profound truth that When Life Gives You Tangerines embodies so well. No matter the losses, the heartbreak, or the paths not taken, life continues, urging us to move forward, cherish what remains, and embrace the journey ahead.

Read More

It's worth watching in commemoration of Women's Month

Set in the 1950s, this drama follows Ae Sun, a young woman raised in poverty, whose life is marked by hardship, much like the tangerines (the sour and challenging circumstances) surrounding her. Her mother, a struggling haenyeo (female diver), works tirelessly to provide for her family, including two younger children and a second husband, yet barely scrapes by. Ae Sun harbors deep resentment toward her mother’s circumstances and dreams of one day lifting her out of misery. Fierce, determined, and unafraid to stand up for what is right, Ae Sun traverses a world that offers women few choices, resigning them to lives as maids, divers, or housewives.

Watching this story unfold has made me profoundly grateful to be a woman in the 21st century, where opportunities and freedom are far greater. IU delivers a compelling performance, making Ae Sun’s struggles feel deeply personal and poignant. The drama also explores the timeless notion of love as an unwavering force—the idea that two people, bound by devotion, can withstand any adversity together. In the past, love seemed simpler: you fought for each other and stayed together no matter the obstacles. Today, such ideals alone are rarely enough to sustain a relationship.

The first four episodes have been great, and for now, I’m eager to continue watching.

UPDATE: I finally finished it, and I must say, it’s such a heartwarming story. It was a series of laughter and tears following Ae Sun’s journey from her childhood to her later years. Life truly has its share of tangerines, but the challenges we face only make us stronger because every cloud has a silver lining. Kudos to each cast member for their outstanding performances throughout the show.

Read More

The beautiful, dreamlike story brought me to tears

When Life Gives You Tangerines is a beautifully crafted, deeply emotional story that takes viewers through love, loss, and the quiet yet profound moments that define a life. This is a rather poetic drama, unfolding like a slow-burning novel. There is no fairytale romance, exaggerations or grand twists; instead, the narrative finds beauty in the mundane: the laughter between people, the quiet ache of unspoken love and the weight of responsibilities that come with adulthood, especially when one takes on parenthood. It portrays the struggles of ordinary people with heartbreaking accuracy.

What I found remarkable about this show is how it embraces the passage of time. We don’t just see Ae Sun and Gwan Sik as young dreamers; we follow them across decades, through different phases of life, witnessing their evolving relationship shaped by circumstances beyond their control. It’s a bittersweet meditation on destiny: what we choose and what is chosen for us. Without being heavy-handed, it gives us glimpses into a time when survival often took precedence over personal desires, making Ae Sun and Gwan Sik’s love story all the more poignant.

The level of acting in this drama is phenomenal. Every member of the cast pulled their weight in gold, from the child actors to the seasoned veterans. When IU finally made her entrance with that familiar bratty yet effortlessly sassy charm, I yelped. It’s been so long since I last saw her in a drama, and she lit up the screen the moment she appeared.

Gwan Sik feels like Choi Taek in an alternate timeline, and I love it. I won’t spend too much time talking about IU and Park Bo Gum because, frankly, it’s predictable. They always deliver. Everyone knows that. There’s nothing new to say except that they continue to breathe life into every character they play, and somehow, each new role becomes their best one yet. No amount of praise can ever fully capture what they bring. I'm just thankful that they’re healthy, kind humans who are still doing this for us to experience and I hope that never changes.

The two kiddos, how do child actors manage to understand the emotional weight behind such roles at that age? They amazed me. And Yeom Hye Ran, even with her limited screen time, left a lasting impression. Her portrayal of the haenyeo mother was so grounded and powerful that it’s impossible to think of this drama without her. She embodied a generation of women with quiet strength and left a deep emotional mark. I’ve seen her in many dramas, but this is her best performance yet.

Park Hae Joon’s portrayal of Yang Gwan Sik resonated with me the most. I lost my father, and he was a man just like him. I choked up when Gwan Sik came home carrying peas for the family because my dad used to do the same. Back then, it seemed like nothing, but now… a fictional father does it, and I’m in tears. That’s the beauty of this drama. There’s something here for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. It truly reflects the everyday life struggles of most folks out there, and it hits where it matters most.

The cinematography is stunning. Jeju Island doesn't just serve as a backdrop; it feels like a character in its own right. Every frame is like a painting, rich with nostalgia, warmth, and emotion. This level of visual storytelling has quietly become a hallmark in recent K-dramas, and it’s something I’ve come to really appreciate. It shows how much care and craft goes into the genre beyond just the writing and acting. I was especially impressed by the way the show transitions between timelines. That kind of narrative structure is tricky to get right, and more often than not, shows don't do this part too well. But here, it’s done so creatively and seamlessly that it elevates the storytelling. It adds depth without ever feeling confusing or forced. And the soundtrack was perfect, too. The folk-inspired melodies blend so well with the setting and story. Even as someone who isn't Korean, I felt deeply connected to the emotion they carried. It’s one of those rare combinations where the visuals and music work in complete harmony, making every moment feel lived in and real.

Gwan Sik is what some might call a "fool", a man living in a time when men were overwhelmingly favoured and entitled, yet he never once leaned into that privilege. He didn’t care for the roles that society handed to him. All he wanted was for his girl to have everything she dreamed of, simply so she could be happy. He could’ve followed the crowd, conformed to the norm of transactional love, of marriages built on obligations rather than feelings. Instead, he chose the harder path. He chose to suffer for love. And maybe, just maybe, we all need a fool like Gwan Sik in our lives, a man who wants to be a husband and a father and not just have a wife and a child. There were so many moments I caught myself smiling and even laughing amidst their tragedy, not because I took joy in their pain, but because of how raw, relatable, and innocent their love was. It’s the story of a woman too smart and too ahead of her time and a man who is so beautifully stupid in love with her. And that first kiss? Probably the most awkward I’ve ever seen in a drama, and yet, somehow, the best one.

I strongly believe that both children and parents should at least give this show a watch even if it's not your usual genre. It tells a powerful story about how each new generation tries to be better, to become everything the previous one was not. But more often than not, they end up falling short, whether by choice, by circumstance, or simply by the weight of life. Parents carry the guilt of what they couldn’t give, while children carry the grief of what they never received. We live inside our own struggles, rarely seeing the other side until we try to live theirs eventually. That’s the never-ending conundrum: one that continues to echo through time, always imperfect, always incomplete, but sometimes made a little better through understanding and the wisdom that only time can offer.

Some dramas entertain, but some dramas linger in your heart long after the credits roll. When Life Gives You Tangerines is a drama that will stay with you for a long time. It is going to leave you feeling both fulfilled and slightly heartbroken, a rare balance that only the most beautifully told stories achieve. It makes you pause and reflect and be grateful for the little things you normally take for granted. Great purpose, great delivery, and this is what art should be like. Not everyone will resonate with it, but for those willing to immerse themselves in its world, this drama offers an unforgettable experience– one that lingers like the taste of a perfectly ripe tangerine, sweet yet tinged with the slightest hint of bitterness.

“THIS IS A SILENT OUTCRY. A HANDKERCHIEF OF ETERNAL NOSTALGIA…WAVING TOWARDS THE BLUE SEAS!!!”

Read More

A familiar story for all of us

I have just wiped my tears, so understand if my emotions are too raw as I write this review.

I can't objectively judge this show on set parameters. Because it has transcended them all. It's not a new idea, not a brilliant script that's written once in a millennia, or a great fiction which you can't wrap your mind around. All it is, is a simple story of our great grand-mothers, grandmothers, mothers, and all those women who've worked very hard, against all odds, to survive this world, which is hellbent against them. And the man who stood by them, through all of their hardships.

I strongly commend anyone and everyone to watch this show, not to learn something new or for entertainment, but to gain a better understanding of our elders. Sure not everyone is alike, in their actions or in their fate. But throughout this series you will find yourself emotionally tangled to each and every aspect from the plot to the characters, because they carry a great sense of familiarity for all of us. We've definitely seen, heard, experienced something relatable once in our lives.

For me, it all hits too close to home. The reason why I wept, laughed, giggled, frowned all along with the show. It truly is a thing to be grateful for, that such a moving drama was created. A true blessing for future generations, to understand how things used to be.

Read More

A quilt of love, stitched with tangerines

Occasionally, a slice-of-life drama comes along and quietly etches itself into your soul — timeless, tender, and unshakably profound. When Life Gives You Tangerines is exactly that. A drama so moving, so poetic, and so intimately familiar, it feels less like fiction and more like memory. I honestly don’t even know where to begin with my praises — how do you put into words a series that, from the very first frame, already feels like home?

Set against the soft, earthy rhythms of Jeju Island, this drama unfolds not with grandeur, but with grace. It’s an ensemble cast in its truest, richest form — where every character, no matter how brief their screen time, brings something meaningful to the table. But at its core, this is a story of three generations of women: a grandmother, a mother, and her daughter. A reminder that no matter how old we get, when it comes to our parents, we remain children — longing, questioning, and carrying pieces of them in everything we do.

IU and Moon So Ri deliver performances that can only be described as masterful. Watching IU portray both Oh Ae Sun and her younger mother was nothing short of jaw-dropping. The way she captures the shifting nuances of women living through the 70s and 90s is a testament to her extraordinary range and emotional intuition. And Moon So Ri — a powerhouse in every sense — carries Ae Sun’s present-day chapters with a quiet, aching strength that anchors the entire narrative.

Park Bo Gum and Park Hae Jun also deserve their flowers — the two faces of Yang Gwan Sik, both equally breathtaking. Gwan Sik, as a character, was written with so much care and love that you could practically feel it radiating off the screen. His steadfast devotion to Ae Sun, unwavering through every season of her life, brought me to tears more times than I can count. And though this story centered on women, I adored how deeply it emphasised that Ae Sun’s story — her survival, her spirit — was made possible because she had her “Steelheart” beside her.

What makes this series so poetic isn’t just the narration, the literary references, or even the beautiful, sometimes heart-wrenching quotes scattered throughout. It’s the soul of it. The way each episode is carefully stitched together like a memory, a poem, a cherished photo album. The way every side character — from the resilient Geum-Myeong and her quietly supportive husband, to the children and neighbours, to the smallest cameos — becomes part of the family tapestry without fanfare. There’s even an incredible quote from the final episode I can’t forget (though I may not have it word-for-word): “My mum made cuts to her own life to quilt mine together.” That line alone broke and healed me.

The story flows with the melancholy of nostalgia — something our Ae Sun longs for from the very beginning — and the final episode brings this full circle with utter grace. The sharing of Ae Sun’s poems, her mother’s miraculous presence, and that final wave of soft fantasy is what made it truly unforgettable. It was a touch of magic, just enough to believe in miracles without disrupting the emotional realism of the show.

And of course, the music. A beautifully curated OST that blends old classics and newer tracks with restraint and emotion, perfectly mirroring the ebb and flow of the series. Even the background scores felt like memory — never obtrusive, always moving.

I could honestly go on forever, but I’ll leave it here by simply saying: 폭싹 속았수다 is a quiet masterpiece. A literary, lyrical homage to mothers and daughters, to memory and sacrifice, to the pain of growing up and the joy of looking back. It’s the kind of drama that will stay perched at the top of my favourites list, now and always.

No doubt about it — a full-hearted, tangerine-warmed 10/10. Bravo to the entire cast and crew for creating something so beautiful, it feels lived in. Thank you for this Jeju masterpiece.

Read More

one of the best kdramas of 2025

a love that spans throughout generations and a story of a family that endures all seasons 🍊

any drama about family will make me cry, I remember crying my heart out while watching this series. even one of the scenes had me crying with sounds (hagulgol in tagalog lol). it’s really a heavy heartfelt drama. IU did an amazing job portraying her characters. i finished this for only five days since it was honestly good and highly recommend this kdrama (for both watchers and non watchers of korean drama). it’s been awhile since i watched something that resonated with me (as a first born son). this kdrama also reminded me that it is everyone’s first time in this life, so be kind.

the kdrama also made us of events that were aligned to the year it was set in, somehow it became a backdrop to it (e.g. IMF etc)

Read More

Masterpiece like an old handwritten letter

One of the best kdrama that I watch and felt with all my being. It’s about resilience, survival, and the kind of love that doesn’t need to be shouted from the rooftops. Loved everything, from writing, acting, that is beyond words, how they developed the characters, an wonderful real life put on screen for inspiration of true partnership, hardworking, love, family, courage story about breaking generational trauma and the cinematography is like a poetry. At the beginning it was not my cup of tea, but somehow I felt to continue watching and yes, I am so grateful to watch this precious, beautiful love life masterpiece. It's a blessing to have a love, a partnership like this in these times. Truly profound and deep, to have this determination to choose, each decision made to move forward, to live on many times and to be happy and grateful at the end. After a week since I finished the story staid with me, has change some things inside me. Even if I cried at every episode I felt so much support to move forward even if life is hard and to trust God and Life and to act on my dreams. I don't have my own family, yet, but hope I will meet my own Gwan Sik to grow and to create together. So beautiful. So real. So painful. So full of joy.

I give it an 8 for rewatch as I think I don't want to be a witness second time. Maybe just if life puts me down, this is a good story to help me, to inspire to fight for my life, for my dreams, to be there for love. in that case it will be a 10.

Read More