When Life Gives You Tangerines” Pays Tribute to Late Kang Myung-joo at 2025 Baeksang Awards
At the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, held on May 5 at COEX D Hall in Seoul, the Netflix drama When Life Gives You Tangerines achieved a stunning four wins—Best Screenplay, Best Drama, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Amid the celebration, one name echoed with both reverence and sorrow: the late Kang Myung-joo.
Director Kim Won-seok, who accepted the Best Screenplay award on behalf of writer Lim Sang-choon, took a moment to pay tribute, “As writer Lim wished, we hoped this drama would remind people of family. I thank every actor and staff member who made that dream real. I also remember actress Kang Myung-joo, who delivered a truly gem-like performance but sadly left us before the show aired. This moment is in her honor.”
Kang portrayed a middle-aged woman carrying quiet burdens with profound grace. Though her screen time and dialogue were limited, her presence resonated powerfully with viewers, many asking, “Who is that actress?” Her nuanced performance became one of the drama’s most cherished elements.
Supporting Actress winner Yeom Hye-ran also held back tears as she said, “To our dear ladies—Kim Yong-rim, Na Moon-hee and the late Kang Myung-joo—I offer my deepest respect and thanks.” Fellow cast members like IU and Kim Tae-yeon quietly mourned from their seats, visibly moved by the tribute.
Kang Myung-joo passed away in February 2025 at the age of 53 after a battle with cancer. When Life Gives You Tangerines was her final work, and now stands as a poignant farewell—an artistic eulogy that immortalizes her legacy.
In a night filled with accolades and applause, it was Kang’s absence that left the most lasting impression.
