By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- In Netflix's Korean original series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," singer-actress IU takes on the challenge of playing both the young Ae-sun and her daughter, Geum-myeong.
Portraying two characters -- an experience new to IU -- was undeniably a challenge, but it was also the key factor that drew her to the project.
"When I first met with the scriptwriter, she told me I would have to take on both roles. That challenge actually made my heart race," she said in an interview with local media Wednesday.
"I can't say I wasn't worried, but I had deep faith in the script. In addition, when I heard director Kim Won-seok would be leading the project, I knew this wouldn't be a challenge I had to face alone," she said. IU and director Kim collaborated in the critically acclaimed TV series "My Mister" (2018).
Singer-actress IU is seen in this photo provided by Netflix on April 2, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The nostalgic drama spans over 60 years in the lives of its main couple on the southern island of Jeju: Ae-sun, a spirited rebel played by IU and Moon So-ri, and the steadfast Gwan-sik, played by Park Bo-gum and Park Hae-joon, with the latter actors portraying the characters' older selves.
Since its premiere March 7, the series has earned rave reviews for its heartwarming narrative, bringing both laughter and tears, as it follows the couple's unwavering resilience through life's hardships.
Netflix released the 16-episode series in a four-episode-per-week format, each set reflecting a different season. Filming also spanned a full year to authentically capture the passage of time.
"As the filming took a long time, I certainly faced difficult moments at times. It would be a lie to say it wasn't tough, as director Kim is meticulous and uncompromising, setting high standards to meet," she said.
"But it was truly a rewarding experience. I spent each day on set giving my all to the character and cheered myself on at night to prepare for the next day's filming," she said.
IU plays the young Ae-sun and her daughter, Geum-myeong, in Netflix's Korean original series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," in this photo provided by the streaming platform. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
For the entire year of the filming, she carried on, thinking "Let's do as well tomorrow as I did today," she said, adding she "rarely went to sleep feeling regretful or exhausted."
Her "big" family, as she described it, was also a big fan of the drama, from her mother to her grandmother. Her mother has watched the entire series three times and is now on her fourth rewatch.
The actress portrayed both the mother and daughter roles, drawing inspiration from her own mother, whom she described as "lovely and resilient, and always trying to see the world in a positive light despite the hardships she has faced."
This still, provided by Netflix, shows Geum-myeong (L) and Ae-sun of "When Life Gives You Tangerines." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"This is the first time my family has shown this much interest in any of my projects," she said. Even her father, who she noted is neither like the affectionate and hardy Gwan-sik nor the patriarchal, oppressive yet somehow pathetic Sang-gil, has been closely following the drama, she added.
"My father has a distinct taste. If my work isn't his style, he would never watch it," she said with a smile. "I think they deeply empathize with the characters, seeing it as their own story."
"I like the fact that they all enjoy the drama as a story on its own, not just as my project," she said.
For her, one of the most touching and tear-jerking moments was the funeral scene of Ae-sun's grandmother, Chun-ok, in Episode 12. In that scene, the grandmother delivers poignant lines about her life.
When asked, "So, was it a picnic or an ordeal?" by Ae-sun's mother, Chun-ok replies, "It was definitely a picnic where I got to see all my children. It was an unbelievable picnic."
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
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