On March 16, a video titled “Big Aesun Cries Again: Aesun, Gwansik, and Geummyeong Actors React to When Life Gives You Tangerines Act 2 Highlights | Netflix” was released on Netflix’s official YouTube channel. In the video, IU sat down with veteran actress Moon Sori and co-star Park Hae-jun to watch key moments from the second act while reminiscing about the filming process.
One of the most talked-about scenes was a heartfelt conversation between IU and Park Hae-jun at a Chinese restaurant. As the scene played, IU shared an interesting behind-the-scenes fact, revealing, “I actually had a drink during this scene. If the redness was created with makeup, it could have looked cute, which wasn’t the intention.” Her dedication to capturing the raw emotions of the moment truly speaks to her commitment as an actress, ensuring that every detail felt natural and believable.
Park Hae-jun, reflecting on the same scene, humorously recounted the challenges of getting everything just right. “It was challenging to match the timing of picking up the squid, slurping the noodles, and keeping the flow right. I kept wondering, ‘Should I eat it now or not?’ I hesitated a lot,” he admitted, drawing laughter from the cast. His lighthearted take highlighted the precision and effort that go into making even the most seemingly casual scenes appear seamless on screen.
Beyond her on-screen performance, IU also put tremendous effort into narrating Geummyeong’s lines, a crucial element of the drama’s storytelling. She revealed that the recording process was far from simple, stating, “It took almost two months of recording. When discussing the voice tone before filming, I aimed to keep it natural so that it wouldn’t feel like a completely different person, allowing a smooth transition between me and the senior actor. Geummyeong’s regular voice is close to my natural low tone, while for the narration, I used my lowest possible tone to differentiate and reflect the character’s age.” This meticulous approach ensured that the character’s growth and maturity were conveyed subtly yet effectively, adding depth to the drama’s emotional impact.
IU’s performance in “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is a testament to her incredible versatility as an actress, seamlessly blending youthful innocence with emotional depth. Whether through physical acting, vocal nuance, or even the smallest details like natural redness from alcohol, she continues to prove that she is not just a talented singer but a dedicated performer who brings her characters to life with authenticity and heart.
