On the afternoon of the 24th, during a press interview held at the Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, Park Bo-gum shared his thoughts on acting alongside IU, saying, "It was fun to act with someone my age."
"When Life Gives You Tangerines" is a series that unfolds the adventurous lives of Ae-soon, a rebellious spirit, and Gwan-sik, a steadfast character, across the four seasons. The story spans from their teenage years in 1960s Jeju to their unpredictable youth and into their middle-aged years in 2025 Seoul, capturing their 70-year journey.
In the series, IU and Park Bo-gum portray the young Ae-soon and Gwan-sik, while Moon So-ri and Park Hae-jun play their middle-aged counterparts. Park Bo-gum skillfully brings to life the character of young Gwan-sik, who is pure-hearted and deeply devoted to Ae-soon, balancing his role as a steadfast family man.
Born in 1993, Park Bo-gum and IU are the same age, and this project marked their first collaboration. Park Bo-gum noted, "I've grown closer to IU during the promotional activities than when we were filming 'When Life Gives You Tangerines.'"
He explained, "During filming, Ae-soon is a character with a lot of lines and emotions to express, which requires a lot of energy. So, we focused on our scenes and lines. But now, during promotions, we've had more conversations and become closer. I realized how fun and delightful she is. I wish we had talked more back then."
Park Bo-gum further expressed, "Meeting a peer who is both an actor and an artist is rare and valuable. I hope we continue to support and encourage each other as colleagues."
He also praised IU's exceptional talent across various fields. "What amazed me during filming was seeing her prepare for both Ae-soon and Geum-myung's roles, while also getting ready for her concerts as a singer. Her 'emotional stamina' is truly impressive, and it inspired me," he said, referring to IU's dual role in the series and her simultaneous world tour.
Park Bo-gum added, "IU excels as a singer, actress, and MC. I aspire to give my best in my roles, just like her. Working with IU was a lot of fun."
Meanwhile, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" tells the life stories of Ae-soon and Gwan-sik across four acts, each representing a season, with four episodes released weekly over four weeks. The series, currently up to its third act, will release its final act on Netflix on the 28th.
Reporter Kang Sun-ae sakang@sbs.co.kr
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)