“When Life Gives You Tangerines” Explores Love, Growth, and Resilience

March in South Korea has been dominated by the emotional drama, When Life Gives You Tangerines. This Netflix series offers a touching exploration of family dynamics, personal struggles, and enduring love. With strong performances and a poignant message, the drama has struck a chord with audiences.

Lee Ji-eun, who plays the dual roles of Ae-sun in her youth and her daughter Geum-myoung, shared her perspective on the series. She emphasized its central theme of resilience: “Life goes on if you keep living.” She believes the drama encourages people to endure hardships and find strength in the face of loss. “It instills strength in people to keep going,” Lee explained in a recent interview in Seoul.

Lee highlighted how the series delivers its message with warmth. She compared the drama to a fable about the wind and the sun, where the sun gently persuades a traveler to remove his coat. In the same way, When Life Gives You Tangerines encourages viewers to find strength through gentle but powerful means.

The drama is especially meaningful for viewers who may be struggling or feeling lost. Lee explained that the series offers a simple yet powerful message: “Maybe I should try living a little longer.”

Drawing from her own experiences, Lee found it easy to relate to her character, Geum-myoung. She described how Geum-myoung often says, “You’re annoying” to her parents, a phrase that masks deeper emotions of love and concern. “I understand that feeling,” Lee said, recalling moments when she felt frustrated with her own parents.

The series marks another achievement in Lee Ji-eun’s career, which includes iconic roles in Dream High (2011), Producer (2015), and Hotel Del Luna (2019). When asked if she felt she had grown as an actor, Lee reflected on her journey in the industry. She admitted that she struggles to define growth in her field. “There’s no clear moment when you can say, ‘I’ve grown,’” she said.

Moon So-ri, who portrays Ae-sun in her middle age, spoke about the series’ exploration of interconnectedness. She believes that the series’ core theme revolves around how no one lives in isolation. “The emotional depth of the relationships between characters is what makes the drama special,” Moon said.

Moon also noted that the series speaks to a wide range of viewers. Some might connect with the mother-daughter relationships in the story, while others may relate to the struggles of second-born children or characters like Eun-myoung. The broad emotional appeal allows many people to find something that resonates with their personal experiences.

As When Life Gives You Tangerines continues to capture hearts, it’s clear that its message of love, growth, and resilience is something viewers across the world are embracing.