When Life Gives You Tangerines: Release Date, Plot, Cast & Latest Updates

K-drama enthusiasts have a new reason to stay awake! Netflix is going full steam ahead with the slice-of-life romance ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ to release in 2024. Over the past few years, Netflix has tapped into the Hallyu wave by adding an array of exciting Korean dramas ranging from cult classics like ‘Crash Landing On You‘, ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim‘, and to recent K-dramas like ‘Mask Girl’, ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo‘, and ‘The Glory‘.

South Korean slice-of-life dramas tend to depict realistic situations and strong characters. The true-to-life genre tells the character’s story and everyday life in a very natural narrative. Without an over-exciting climax to keep viewers engaged, viewers are drawn to relatable characters in depth.

Plot

The drama unfolds the adventurous life of Ae-soon (Lee Ji-eun/IU), the remarkable rebel born in Jeju in the 1950s. The rebellious Ae-soon has a shining positivity; however, she gets nervous every time she rebels. She dreams of becoming a poet, although she is unable to attend school. Ae-soon is a bold character who doesn’t hide any emotions and is not afraid to show her feelings.

On the other hand, Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) is an extremely diligent and a quiet character. Romance is not a strength for him; he doesn’t express romantic feelings easily. Tears and laughter can make him numb, and he doesn’t know how to act if Ae-soon cries or laughs. The silent warrior secretly loves Ae-soon from the very beginning and pours his all into loving her, making him a devoted and loyal partner.

Meet the cast of ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’

K-pop idol and one of the highest-paid actors in the industry, IU is known for her work in popular Korean dramas ‘Hotel Del Luna‘, and ‘My Mister’. IU takes on the role of the resolute Ae-soon, who’s always going against her fate. Hailing from Jeju Island, Ae-soon is depicted as an ambitious and rebellious individual who challenges her predetermined destiny. Check out IU’s Instagram ID with 29.1 million followers at dlwlrma.

Meanwhile, respected actor Park Bo-gum, who helmed the popular Korean television series ‘Record Of Youth and Encounter’, will play the dependable Gwan-sik. Gwan-sik is a steadfast character with a sincere heart who communicates through actions rather than words. For all the latest life updates from actor Park Bo-gum, check out his official Instagram ID at bogummy.

Moon So-ri, who played a notable role in the latest 2023 K-drama ‘Queenmaker’, and Park Hae-joon, who is appraised for his role in the 2018 K-drama ‘My Mister’s Park’, will play Ae-soon and Gwan-sik’s respective middle-aged characters as time passes.

In collaboration with PAN Entertainment, the K-drama ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ will be released exclusively on Netflix in 2024 in 190 countries. Further information on the specific dates or episode count is yet to be announced.

Where to Watch?

Interestingly, the Korean title of the series is translating to ‘thank you for the hard work’. The riveting drama series ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ is confirmed to air on Netflix. Netflix is yet to announce a premiere date.

Who is the Director & Writer of the K-drama ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines‘? 

The K-drama is written by Lim Sang-choon, who wrote the K-drama ‘Fight for My Way’ starring Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won. The director for the series is Kim Won-seok, who is known for his notable works in the slice-of-life series ‘Misaeng: Incomplete Life’ (2014) and the fantasy drama ‘Signal’ (2016).