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The 60-billion-won Netflix original series, When Life Gives You Tangerines, set against the backdrop of Jeju Island and spanning from the 1960s to the 2000s, is finally premiering.
Director Kim Won Suk, at the K-drama's press conference held in Seoul on March 5, commented on the production costs, stating, "From building open sets to the changing eras from the 1960s to the 2000s, a considerable amount of money was spent on art costs."
He added, "Quite a bit of realistic VFX was also used to achieve realism. However, rather than scrutinizing, it would be better if you watch with the feeling of being on the scene."
When Life Gives You Tangerines 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. IU and Park Bo Gum play the young versions of Ae Soon and Gwan Sik, whereas Moon So Ri and Park Hae Joon portray the characters' middle-aged versions.
Since the beginning of the year, When Life Gives You Tangerines has been garnering immense attention as one of the most-anticipated Netflix dramas. Netflix insiders who had an early look at the series unanimously praised it, saying, "This will be an unforgettable drama."
Park Bo Gum also confidently stated, "I believe When Life Gives You Tangerines is a drama that everyone can relate to."
IU shared, "This is my second project with director Kim Won Suk after My Mister. I'm also a fan of writer Im Sang Choon." She added, "After reading the script, I wanted to do it so badly that I couldn’t resist. It took me just one day to say yes."
Moon So Ri shared, "I cried so much while reading the script. It made me think a lot about my parents." She added, "Since my debut, this is the first time I've ever cried this much while reading a script."
The series deviates from Netflix's usual strategy of releasing all episodes at once. Instead, the 16-episode drama is divided into four parts, with four episodes released each week. This format also reflects the show's theme of spanning the four seasons — spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Director Kim explained, "I felt that 16 episodes were too long for binge-watching. These days, viewers often watch at 1.5x speed, but doing so would make it difficult to fully feel the emotions [of this drama]." He added, "The more carefully you watch, the greater the enjoyment. If we had released all the episodes at once, [we thought] people might get tempted to skip ahead. It will be nice to slowly watch it from the beginning, like savoring dried persimmons."
He also said, "Everyone [on the team] poured their hearts into making this. Please take your time to watch it all the way to the end credits. There’s a generous gift from the writer even in the credits. I hope you take your time and watch from the beginning to the very end."
Park Bo Gum added, "In life, there are times when we smile even after [shedding] tears. I hope a warm spring finds its way into your heart. I hope a season comes [in your life] when beautiful flowers bloom."
IU shared, "This project has been in production for a long time, and even up until its release, the details have remained under wraps." "Many people have been curious [about this drama]. I feel sorry for keeping it tightly under wraps. But in just two days, it will finally be released. I think it will be a series that sparks conversations. Thank you to everyone who patiently waited."
She added, "The English title of our drama means, 'When Life Gives You Tangerines, make a drink and have a warm cup of tangerine tea.' I hope you can take a moment to enjoy the warm tangerine tea we're offering and reflect on life with a sense of calm."
