When Life Gives You Tangerines gave IU the opportunity to embody countless women who exist in the world. She portrayed women from their teens to their 50s, transitioning from someone’s first love and a wife and a mother. IU’s portrayal of a shy teen and an ambitious young woman in her twenties is unforgettable. Before the finale, she was interviewed by Cineplay and reflected on her on-screen work once more.
Q. From your mother’s perspective, it must be delightful to see character Ae Soon’s life through her daughter.
IU: This was the first time my family gave a passionate response to my project. We have a large family, including my sister, brother-in-law, grandmother, mother, and father. My father has very distinct tastes; if it doesn’t resonate with him or match his style, he won’t watch it until the end, even if his daughter is in it. There have been times when he only watched the first or second episodes and then stopped. It was truly surprising to see him engrossed in the show. My mother has a tendency to assess my dramas as either interesting or uninteresting. However, her primary focus is on whether I made mistakes or performed well in my role. My mother cares for me tremendously.
My mother seems to resonate with the story as it reflects her own experiences. She initially watched the first episode, determined to see her daughter, Jieun, perform. After that, she began to fully enjoy the narrative, and she even got emotional after the second episode.
The reactions from my family members vary greatly. My grandmother expressed outrage during certain scenes. She had a lot to say about the character of Kyung Ok, played by Oh Min Ae, saying, “I thought she was a good person until the marriage, but why does she torment after getting married? Yet, she doesn’t seem entirely bad either.” It was interesting to see that each family member has their own points of immersion in the story.
I was delighted by this. I appreciated that my family enjoyed the drama for what it is, separate from our personal lives.
Q. The character Gwan Sik is essentially a unicorn. He embodies a remarkably gentle and affectionate male figure that one might think doesn’t exist in reality. What are your thoughts on the character of Gwan Sik?
IU: I often wonder how the writer created such a character. Gwan Sik is human yet fantastical, combining both qualities seamlessly. This was one of the aspects I truly appreciated while reading the script. It was fascinating to see how perfectly Park Bo Gum and Park Hae Joon brought this character to life. Now, as I immerse myself in the emotions of Ae Soon, I feel grateful that Gwan Sik exists for her. If I reflect on the love that Ae Soon gave to Gwan Sik—the unwavering belief and solidarity—they truly loved each other in a remarkably balanced way. In that sense, Gwan Sik is a unicorn for Ae Soon, just as Ae Soon is a unicorn for Gwan Sik. I believe they were the perfect match.
Q. If Gwan Sik (Park Bo Gum), Yeong Beom (Lee Jun Young) and Chung Seob (Kim Seon Ho) were real, who do you think IU would choose as a husband?
IU: Naturally, it would be Gwan Sik, right? Gwan Sik is truly… how did you design him so intricately? I was amazed until the very last episode. Even Gwan Sik’s exit was astonishing. His role as a father was really impressive, too. After becoming a dad, he continues to show affection for Ae Soon, and I think that’s a positive aspect. Our story has many sad moments, but the love between those two allows us to smile every once in a while.
Q. Was there a ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ scene that made you cry?
IU: There were so many, but the scene that made me cry the most was when the character Grandma Chun Ok (Na Moon Hee) passes away. Her line, ‘It was a picnic. A marvelous picnic meeting all my children,’ delivered in her voice, struck me deeply. Even when reading it in the script, it resonated, but watching it unfold in the drama made me cry a lot.
Q. How will this K-drama be remembered by you?
IU: It was a remarkable experience. Just being able to participate in something so grand made me think, ‘Have I really succeeded enough to be part of this?’ I felt grateful for my life. The fact that I could work with these incredible people made Ji Eun feel like she had a big surprise! Character Gyeok Ok says, ‘Ae Soon had a big surprise.’ I genuinely felt that Ji Eun had a big surprise. It was a significant moment for me.
>> Park Bo Gum Reveals How IU Motivated Him During ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ Filming
Localized for English Readers by Kristy Moody
Localized for English Readers by Kristy Moody: I’m a longtime editor and writer who has a passion for traveling. Dedicated ZapZee contributor since 2024.
