When Life Gives You Tangerines

Set on Jeju Island, When Life Gives You Tangerines traces the long, changing connection between Oh Ae-sun and Yang Gwan-sik, beginning in their youth and moving into middle age. Ae-sun is lively and impulsive, Gwan-sik calm and steady, and the series watches how ordinary events, family duties, and missed chances alter the course of their relationship over years. The storytelling emphasizes slow shifts instead of sudden twists, pairing scenes of youthful hope with quieter, later-life reckonings. Tangerine groves and island rhythms recur as visual motifs, tying seasons to memory and reminding viewers how small choices accumulate into the pattern of a life.

Released in 2025, this South Korean television drama was created by Lim Sang-choon and Kim Won-suk and stars IU and Park Bo-gum, with Moon So-ri and Park Hae-joon portraying the leads in middle age and Yeom Hye-ran in a key supporting role.

There aren't widely reported major international awards attached to the show as of now. The series did spur industry and fan attention around performances and production, but confirmed listings of big nominations or wins are not available here.

The reunion of IU and Park Bo-gum generated notable online conversation, and Jeju's scenery and seasonal imagery became frequent topics on social platforms. Fans shared artwork, scene breakdowns, and episode reactions, helping sustain interest between broadcasts and highlighting the show's visual and tonal choices.

Audience response has been largely positive, with an average rating of 8.705/10 from 443 votes. Critics and viewers highlighted patient pacing, strong lead performances, and careful attention to daily life, noting themes of time, memory, commitment, and the quiet costs of caring for others. Many praised how the series treats aging and long-term relationships with restraint, letting small moments carry emotional weight.