The Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines” (Korean: 폭싹 속았수다) is a South Korean series that premiered in March 2025 and quickly became a global sensation, captivating audiences with its heartfelt storytelling and rich cultural tapestry. Set on Jeju Island, the series follows the lives of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, who are played by IU, popular K-pop idol, celebrity and Best Actress in South Korea, and Park Bo-gum, a K-pop and actor who were childhood friends.

Ae-sun and Gwan-sik’s relationship evolves over decades, mirroring South Korea’s transformation from the 1960s to the present. 

The drama dives into themes of true love, resilience and the passage of time, resonating deeply with viewers worldwide. Critics have lauded it for its emotional depth and historical context, drawing comparisons to the acclaimed “Reply 1988” for eliciting nostalgia and warmth rooted in the Korean experience. 

Ae-sun, a spirited and strong young woman with dreams of becoming a poet, faced many hardships growing up in post-war Korea. After losing her father, she learned to carry her pain with quiet strength.

Her relationship with Gwan-sik, a loyal and steadfast man, blossomed in the middle of all those struggles. Despite the heavy weight of society’s judgment and family expectations, their love only grew deeper.

Eventually, they got married and had a daughter named Geum-myeong. 

Even though Ae-sun could have chosen an easier life by marrying a rich man, she stayed true to her heart and built a simple, honest life with Gwan-sik. But her journey wasn’t easy. She had to endure a mean and controlling mother-in-law who made her life miserable.

Still, Ae-sun kept her head high and sacrificed her dreams to create a stable home for her daughter. 

Gwan-sik, devoted as ever, worked tirelessly: first in the village, making fish nets and catching fish, and later, even crossing the sea to be with Ae-sun while she was pregnant.

Together, they poured all their love and effort into raising Geum-myeong, making sure she got to study abroad and live the life they never could.

Ae-sun became the backbone of her family, quietly carrying everyone’s burdens with grace. 

Geum-myeong grew up to be strong, kind and determined just like her parents.

Her first love was Yeon-woo, a man gentle and loyal like her father. But sadly, their engagement fell apart because of her wicked mother-in-law, who treated her the same way Ae-sun had once been treated.

Yet, fate had another plan.

Later, Geum-myeong met Jin-ho, a warm-hearted and caring man who reminded her of her father’s strength and kindness. They married happily, and Geum-myeong went on to have a successful career and a daughter of her own, continuing Ae-sun’s legacy of resilience and true love.

The story revolves around true love, finding that one person who stays with you for a lifetime, no matter how hard life gets. It is also about the strength of family bonds between a father and daughter, a mother and daughter, and how a husband should truly care for his wife. 

Geum-myeong becomes the heart of their story, the living proof of her parents’ love and sacrifice.

Ae-sun gives up her own dreams to raise her daughter, and Gwan-sik never stops working to give her a better life.

They send Geum-myeong to study abroad, making her the backbone of the family. 

Geum-myeong’s first love, Yeon-woo, reminds everyone of her father, who is extremely calm, loving, and sincere. But just like her mother, she faces the cruelty of a wicked mother-in-law, which leads to their broken engagement. Later, fate brings her to Jin-ho, a man who truly understands what love and respect mean. He becomes her safe place, her strength, and her home. 

One of the most emotional and famous scenes in the story is when Geum-myeong gives birth. Lying on the hospital bed, weak and in pain, she sees Jin-ho crying beside her like a child. He holds her hand and says softly, “We won’t have another baby if it risks your life again.” The moment he asks the doctor about her condition, even before seeing their baby, shows what real love and care look like, the kind of love that puts your partner’s life above everything else. 

This story is not just about romance, but it is about sacrifice, loyalty and the generations of love that hold a family together. From Ae-sun and Gwan-sik to Geum-myeong and Jin-ho, it shows that love can survive anything if it is real.