When Life Gives You Tangerines: The Hidden Meaning Behind the Names of Ae Sun and Gwan Sik’s Three Children
What do parents hope for when they name their children? Every name carries a message, a hope for a meaningful and successful life. It could symbolize strength, resilience, or gentleness and compassion. A name is not just a label—it’s a spiritual gift parents give to their child, a blessing and a wish for them to grow along a good and hopeful path.
In “When Life Gives You Tangerines”, Ae Sun (IU) and Gwan Sik (Park Bo-gum) had such thoughts when naming their children. The eldest daughter is named Geum Myeong: “Geum” means gold. The second son is Eun Myeong: “Eun” means silver. And the youngest is Dong Myeong: “Dong” means bronze.
Gold, Silver, Bronze—three meaningful and prestigious medals that Ae Sun and Gwan Sik earned in their lifetime. In the drama, Gwan Sik once dreamed of becoming a track and field athlete in his youth. But that dream was set aside when he married Ae Sun. After starting a family, he took a job on a fishing boat to support them.
That dream of winning medals eventually became the names of his three children. They are the most precious medals Gwan Sik ever received. And perhaps for every parent, children are life’s greatest treasure—something they are willing to sacrifice everything for, asking for nothing in return, so long as their children are safe and happy.
Children are the most honorable and valuable medals a parent could ever receive. They are forged through unconditional love and silent sacrifices, without expectation of any repayment. Whether in fiction or real life, a parent’s love for their child knows no limits and never demands anything in return.
A name given by parents is not just a label—it’s a message, a dream, a deep hope they wish to entrust to their child’s life. Whether simple or complex, every name holds its own story. It could be a wish for a bright future, a prayer for health and safety, or a hope that the child will overcome life’s many challenges.
For Gwan Sik, his three children are the prestigious medals he never got to win in his youth—but never once did he regret it. Instead of an athlete’s medals, he gained a happy family, something he would still choose if given the chance again.
Perhaps that father once longed for the glory of sports victories, but now he understands that happiness doesn’t always come from triumphs on the outside—it comes from life’s simple moments, things he wouldn’t have without his family. The love of his wife, the innocence of his children, and small acts of care in daily life are the true victories he cherishes above all.
Even without a single medal hanging on the wall, every time he sees his children happy and healthy, Gwan Sik feels like the ultimate winner. He has everything he needs: love, warmth and joy—things no one can take from him. And if he had the chance to go back to his youth, he would still choose this family—because it’s where he found life’s truest meaning.
Some people say that the children’s names may reflect the dreams Gwan Sik never achieved. But any parent would understand that a child’s name is not just a reflection of unfulfilled dreams—it is a choice filled with love and hope. Not to force upon them what the parent couldn’t become, but to give them their own path, a future they can explore freely.
No parent wants their child to carry the burden of unrealistic expectations. A name should not be an extension of incomplete dreams, but a reminder that every child has the right to build their own future and overcome their own challenges in life.
Gwan Sik firmly believes that no matter what path his children choose, the names he and his wife gave them will be a silent encouragement, a source of strength that helps them walk their journey with confidence. Those names are not only filled with hope—they represent freedom. They are gifts that allow his children to freely write their own stories. He doesn’t want them to live in the shadow of dreams that never came true, but to have the chance to shine in their own unique ways.
