Listen to your wife to live a beautiful and happy life: 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' Park Bo Gum

The Netflix original series When Life Gives You Tangerines is coming to a close. Set in 1960s Jeju Island, the K-drama unfolds the story of the rebellious yet endearing Ae Soon and the diligent Gwan Sik, as they navigate the seasons of life, facing challenges and trials along the way. 

On March 24, Park Bo Gum, who played the role of Yang Gwan Sik, sat for an interview with the local reporters, where he shared his thoughts on his character, the drama, and more. 

Talking about the reason why Gwan Sik is receiving so much love from the audience, he said, "It seems that people are moved to tears and find comfort in the heartfelt love between Ae Soon and her mother, the warm devotion toward one person, and the [scenes showing] adults protecting the weak." He added, "Though I may be lacking, I wanted to convey the deep, resonant emotions I felt while reading the script as best as I could."

The actor is receiving high praise for delivering the performance of a lifetime, not only showcasing his unparalleled acting as the "King of Melodrama" in Part 1 but also portraying a father who must support his family by any means necessary and a "young father" grieving the loss of his son in Part 2.

In particular, Gwan Sik's dialogue, "I can earn enough in a day to live for a day, but that day feels so unfair," said after he met with Captain Bu Sang Gil, following which he couldn't find work anywhere, resonated deeply with viewers. The actor said, "I remember thinking about Ae Soon and Gwan Sik's lives while delivering that line," and explained, "I tried to capture in the dialogue a life that is exhausting and sorrowful, but continues on as one lives."  

Gwan Sik's heart-wrenching grief when he lost his young son is also considered one of the most memorable scenes. The narration in the moment when he looks at Ae Soon holding the lifeless body of Dong Myeong amplifies the emotions to their peak: "For the first time, their steel heart broke apart."

Park Bo Gum recalled that the sky was gray when filming this scene, and he said that such an atmosphere helped him immerse himself even more deeply in the emotions. He said, "I was cautious about how to express the grief and pain of losing a child," and added, "I focused on the script's description of 'roaring' and acted with the thought of what it would truly be like if I were a father who had lost his child. I hoped that my performance could bring comfort to someone."

He credited writer Im Sang Choon for creating such deeply moving lines and iconic scenes. Expressing his thoughts on the writer, which he had prepared in advance, he said: "[Her stories] feel nourishing for the soul — like beef bone soup, seaweed soup, or galbitang [Korean beef short ribs soup]. A seed vault. I look forward to seeing what narratives and scenarios she will bring to us in the future."

Although his screen time is less than Ae Soon's, his presence is overwhelmingly significant on an emotional level, according to critics. Regarding this, Park Bo Gum said, "Ae Soon's mother, Gwang Rye, the haenyeo [female divers], and Gwan Sik's family — all of them are protagonists and have great presence."  He added, "I knew my screen time would be limited when I took on the role, so I have no regrets about it."

When told the behind-the-scenes story that the makeup and costume teams had a hard time because Park Bo Gum was too good-looking, he jokingly responded, "So, are you agreeing that I'm good-looking?" — eliciting laughter. He continued, "I applied dark foundation from my face to my feet," and added, "Every visible part of my skin was darkened with makeup. The goal was to create a sunburned look of someone who had lived in Jeju for a long time." He added, "Since the character was an athlete, I also gained a lot of weight — about 5kg," but admitted, "There were times when I still looked slim."

Responding to the question, "Would Gwan Sik be considered an unfilial son from his mother's perspective?", he said, "Gwan Sik loves his mother. He is the pillar of the family, and as someone who has received plenty of love from his grandparents and parents, he also has the heart to give that same kind of love to his wife Ae Soon. I don't think he is an unfilial son. Even if it were me in real life, I think I would have followed my wife's words. My close friend, singer Sean, told me, 'When you get married, you should listen well to your wife to live beautifully and happily.'"

When Life Gives You Tangerines will release Part 4, the winter chapter, on March 28. Park Bo Gum shared, "It's a great work to watch while reminiscing — 'Yes, we had times like these — and to spark conversations with family, friends, and loved ones. It also reminds us to express ourselves better to those we love." He added, "In Part 4, the stories of all the cast members, each a protagonist in their own right, reach their peak. I believe this work will stay with people for a long time."

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