On the afternoon of the 24th, Park Bo-gum attended a press interview for the Netflix original series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' (written by Im Sang-chun, directed by Kim Won-seok) at the Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. Addressing the concerns about the reduced screen time of his character, young Gwan-sik, after the release of the third act, he said, "I'm thankful for such reactions. It shows how much people love the character Gwan-sik."
Park Bo-gum further explained, "I am soon to be (Park) Hae-jun and (Lee) Cheon-moo. I believe Gwan-sik is a timeless character, like gold, that doesn't change over time." He emphasized that regardless of screen time, the character of Yang Gwan-sik is a collaborative creation by actors Park Hae-jun and child actor Lee Cheon-moo, who portrayed the character at different ages.
He added, "In the fourth act, young Gwan-sik will appear here and there, so I hope viewers will enjoy those moments."
'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is a series that unfolds the adventurous life of 'rebellious spirit' Ae-soon and 'steadfast iron man' Gwan-sik, born in Jeju, across four seasons. Despite growing up together in Jeju, Ae-soon and Gwan-sik are different in every way. The series captures their pure teenage years, unpredictable youth, and the challenges they face in middle age, spanning from 1960s Jeju to 2025 Seoul, covering their tumultuous 70-year journey. IU and Park Bo-gum play the young Ae-soon and Gwan-sik, while Moon So-ri and Park Hae-jun portray their middle-aged counterparts.
Park Bo-gum has compellingly portrayed the character of young Yang Gwan-sik, who is pure and full of sincerity. From his unwavering devotion to Ae-soon to his steadfast role as the head of the family, he has delivered a nuanced performance.
'When Life Gives You Tangerines' has released up to the third act (12 episodes). However, after the third act, the story shifted to focus on the 1990s, highlighting the narratives of middle-aged Ae-soon (Moon So-ri), Gwan-sik (Park Hae-jun), and their daughter Geum-myung (IU). Consequently, the screen time for young Gwan-sik, played by Park Bo-gum, diminished, leading to disappointment among viewers.
Park Bo-gum mentioned that he was aware of his limited screen time and showed no desire for more. He shared, "I talked with IU about how it would have been nice to show more of Gwan-sik with his buzz cut and Ae-soon with her bob haircut. There's a sense of nostalgia for those beautiful times."
He continued, "'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is a story about the lives of Ae-soon and Gwan-sik, and every character in it is alive. I'm just happy to be part of this project," expressing his satisfaction.
Park Bo-gum also praised the show's soundtrack, which adds emotional depth to each episode. He said, "Every line and scene touches the heart, and I think the music plays a big role in that. The music director did an amazing job selecting the tracks. The music subtly enhances the emotional moments, doubling the impact." He urged viewers to look forward to the fourth act, promising more of such scenes and stories.
'When Life Gives You Tangerines' tells the life story of Ae-soon and Gwan-sik across four acts, each representing a season, with four episodes released weekly. With the third act already available, the final fourth act will be released on Netflix on the 28th (Friday).
[Photo=Netflix]
Reporter Kang Sun-ae sakang@sbs.co.kr
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)