Lee Jun-young Portrays A Good Boyfriend But Still A Mama-boy In “When Life Gives You Tangerines”

Actor Lee Jun-young captured hearts with his sweet and emotional romance with IU in the latest arc of the Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines (written by Im Sang-chun, directed by Kim Won-seok), released on March 21.

Portraying the character Park Young-beom in episodes 9 to 12 (Act 3), Lee Jun-young delivered a touching love story filled with excitement, affection, and heartbreak opposite IU, who plays Geum-myeong.

The drama tells the life story of Ae-soon, a fiery rebel, and Gwan-sik, a devoted and unshakable man, set against the beautiful backdrop of Jeju Island. From their youth filled with innocent dreams to the unpredictability of adulthood, and the burdens of middle age, the series explores their lifelong relationship across the four seasons.

In Act 3, the relationship between Young-beom and Geum-myeong blooms into a dreamy romance. Young-beom surprises Geum-myeong at her movie theater job during Christmas, after returning from overseas. The reunion features a tight embrace and a sweet, passionate kiss that left viewers swooning.

“I didn’t tell my family I was back in Korea. I was supposed to return at the end of the month, but I came secretly,” Young-beom says, revealing his hopelessly romantic side. He continues with a cheesy yet adorable line, “If it’s about being cute, you’re even cuter than a puppy,” as he gazes at Geum-myeong with eyes full of love.

However, their long-term relationship faces turmoil due to disapproval from Young-beom’s mother. Eventually, the couple breaks up. The heartbreaking moment arrives when Geum-myeong declares, “I will be happy without you,” and Young-beom pleads through tears, “Are you really going to live without me?” His emotional performance struck a chord with viewers, making the pain of separation feel all too real.

Lee Jun-young continues to impress with each role, showcasing deeper emotional depth and mature acting. With When Life Gives You Tangerines, he once again proves why he’s considered one of the hottest rising stars in Korean entertainment.

The final arc of When Life Gives You Tangerines (episodes 13–16) will be released on March 28 exclusively on Netflix.