What 'Sealed the Deal' for IU, Park Bo-gum

For IU and Park Bo-gum, the chance to work together was reason enough to say yes to starring in the newest K-drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines."

- By Nathalie M. Tomada

Set against the backdrop of 1960s to present-day Jeju Island, the series follows the lifelong love story of Ae-sun (IU), a high-spirited dreamer, and Gwan-sik (Bo-gum) a devoted man, as they go through the seasons of life together.

Directed by Kim Won-suk ("Misaeng: Incomplete Life, My Mister") and written by Lim Sang-choon ("When the Camellia Blooms, Fight for My Way"), the drama explores love and how the passing of time shapes relationships.

During a virtual roundtable with select press from the Philippines and Thailand, IU and Bo-gum shared more about the project, which world-premiered on Netflix over the weekend. Below are excerpts from the interview:

On the main attraction of the series:

IU: "First of all, I think I was moved mostly by the fact that it's such a beautiful love story and secondly, the fact that I get to portray different stages of life of one character.

"That was very appealing to me because it was a new challenge that I can take on as an actor. And also, of course, the fact that I would be working alongside Bo-gum as my partner. That sealed the deal. It's something that I cannot pass up."