Park Bo-gum has revealed that one of the most emotional and physically demanding scenes in “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” his character Gwan-sik’s dramatic ocean swim to reach IU’s Ae-soon, was not enhanced with CGI, but performed in the raw.
In a behind-the-scenes video released by Netflix on April 3, titled “Unveiling All the TMIs and Behind-the-Scenes: Commentary Special,” director Kim Won-seok and lead cast members IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, and Park Hae-joon offered commentary on the making of the fan-favorite series.
IU highlighted the difficulty of the now-iconic moment when Gwan-sik dives off a boat and swims through open waters. “Bo-gum really struggled with this scene, the entire sequence,” she shared, praising his dedication.
Director Kim added more context, “We even filmed on rainy days. It took two days in Busan and two in Jangheung. Everyone worked so hard. Since we shot this early on, the writers and actors were thrilled when they saw the edited version. It was worth the effort.”
When IU reiterated that “Bo-gum actually swam in the ocean,” Park Bo-gum himself confirmed, “Some might think it was CGI, but I really swam in the middle of the sea.”
Asked about his swimming background, Park quipped, “Since birth,” causing IU to laugh and respond with her character’s line, “Are you a whale or something?”
Moon So-ri playfully added, “At that level, you should’ve gone to the Olympics,” while Park Hae-joon remarked, “I’m a decent swimmer too, but his form was impeccable.”
The scene ends with Gwan-sik reaching Ae-soon at the breakwater for a heartfelt embrace, filmed under freezing conditions. IU recalled, “We were so cold that we were both shivering when we embraced,” to which Park Bo-gum added, “We shared each other’s warmth,” drawing laughter from the cast.
“When Life Gives You Tangerines” continues to resonate with viewers not just for its heartfelt story and nostalgic charm, but also for the authenticity and passion poured into its production, down to every shiver and swim.