Hidden Names in the Ending of “When Life Gives You Tangerines” Move Viewers to Tears—The Touching Meaning Behind the Credits

After its release on Netflix, When Life Gives You Tangerines quickly captivated audiences at home and abroad, climbing into Netflix Korea’s Top 10 and dominating online discussions. Iconic quotes and emotional scenes spread across social media, drawing praise for its immersive storytelling. Viewers even dubbed it “a dragon’s head with a dragon’s tail,” applauding its consistently high quality from start to finish.

But what truly deepened the emotional impact of the drama was the ending credits—a detail filled with unexpected meaning and heart.

Director Kim Won-seok described the series as “a tribute to the grandparent and parent generations, and a message of encouragement to the younger generation.” At a press conference, he urged viewers to “watch slowly, from the opening scene to the very end of the closing credits.”

Among the most poignant touches was the inclusion of “Production Babies”—a tradition originating from Pixar’s Toy Story (1995) that honors babies born to crew members during production. This custom has since become common in Disney and animation projects, symbolizing the blending of work and personal life.

“When Life Gives You Tangerines” embraced this tradition wholeheartedly. After listing the full cast and crew, the credits ended with six names or nicknames—from Kim Jung-won to Dallok—under a special “Production Babies” section, accompanied by the touching phrase:

“Under the same sky, same stars, engraved with the same hearts.”

Different acts of the drama even featured unique credit messages. In Act 2, for instance, viewers saw:

“May our resonance flow and reach you.”
These thoughtful additions reflect the show’s meticulous direction and emotional depth.

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The 16-episode drama follows the journey of Ae-soon, a rebellious girl from Jeju, and Gwan-sik, a steadfast and kind-hearted man. Told across four seasonal arcs, it explores the rich, multigenerational story of love, hardship, and family—from childhood to parenthood.

“Production Babies” editor Lee Unkrich once said that the tradition “makes our families part of the film forever.” Disney director Byron Howard called it a “symbol of connection among creators,” showing how the lives of the crew are embedded in their work.

This mirrors the heart of _”When Life Gives You Tangerines”_—a story about how generations build upon each other, creating homes and futures together. By incorporating this tradition, the drama extends its message of legacy, love, and continuity beyond the screen.

The series, starring IU, Moon So-ri, Park Bo-gum, and Park Hae-joon, was fully released on March 28, and continues to receive rave reviews:

“The drama of a lifetime. The dialogue was breathtaking.”
“It made me realize how passionate our parents’ generation really was.”
“I cried from the first episode to the last—this is storytelling at its finest.