• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

When Life Gives You Tangerines has swept the globe, enthralling viewers with its straightforward plot. This slice-of-life series is now the most popular non-English program on Netflix. 

When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring IU and Park Bo Gum, potrays a loyal husband named Gwan Sik who did everything for his wife Ae Sun and their children,  in spite of numerous obstacles. The celebrated show offers a novel twist on the typical K-drama romance formula.

Did you that Gwan Sik was more than just another 'green flag' K-drama character? He is a real individual who served as the inspiration for the character in When Life Gives You Tangerines. The emotional base of the drama is grounded in reality and loosely tells the tale of Hong Kyung Ja, a woman from Jeju Island, South Korea.

Also Read - When Life Gives You Tangerines: 5 Life Lessons From Park Bo-Gum And IU's Korean Drama On Netflix

Real-Life Couple Who Inspired IU, Park Bo Gum's Character

Astute viewers  found a tewak, a floating instrument known as haenyeo that was used by female divers from Jeju and bearing the name Hong Kyung Ja. This wasn't merely a coincidence; rather, it was a sincere tribute to the real-life woman who served as the inspiration for When Life Gives You Tangerines's Ae Sun character. Born on Jeju Island in 1950, Hong Kyung Ja led a childhood full of hardships and sacrifices, according to KBIZoom.

Kyung Ja lost her mother when she was just 5. Unlike Ae Sun, who only looks after two younger siblings, she had to take care of her eight younger siblings following her death. She started working as a haenyeo, catching seafood to sell and support her family at a very young age. Kyung Ja was brought up by a stepmother, as opposed to the stepfather who reared Ae Sun in the Netflix drama. She had to struggle to afford education and she frequently skipped lessons to support her family.

Over time, Kyung Ja developed feelings for a boy who had been her friend since childhood and who, like her, enjoyed diving in the ocean. Before being married, their courtship lasted for six years. The main source of support for Kyung Ja throughout her life was her husband, as the K-drama depicts. He supported her when she chose to run against a strong opponent in their village's local elections. For his love and devotion to his family, the Jeju YWCA even gave him the 'Beautiful Husband Award' in 2002.

Kyung Ja and her spouse brought up three kids: a girl and two sons. Kyung Ja and her husband were able to raise all three of their children, in contrast to the drama of Ae Sun and Gwan Sik, who lost one of their boys to the sea on a stormy night.

 Also Read - When Life Gives You Tangerines Ending: IU And Park Bo Gum’s Kdrama Shows 'Life Goes On'; Fans Say 'Tears Won't Stop...'

They created a loving and resilient life together, which the audience found even more endearing than the IU and Park Bo Gum reel life tale.