2 weeks Ago By Aashna Nadkarni
Starring Lee Ji-eun, popularly known as IU, and Park Bo-gum Netflix’s recent release When Life Gives You Tangerines has been making waves on social media, captivating the audience with its relatable storyline. Ever since its release, the slice-of-life series has become the No 1 non-English show on the streaming platform. A post shared by PARK BO GUM (@bogummy) For those who don’t know, the drama is set against the picturesque landscapes of Jeju Island.
It weaves a tale spanning from the 1950s to 2024. Following the journey of Oh Ae-sun (played by IU), who is wholeheartedly supported by her husband Yang Gwan-sik (portrayed by Park Bo-gum), the story goes on to tell the story of their ever growing family and how their love perseveres through all four seasons. SEE ALSO: ‘Why Is An Adult Marrying A Child?’: IU’s Dialogue Goes Viral Amid Kim Soo-Hyun Controversy, Netizens Agree Well, with the chatter about the show all over the world, did you know that When Life Gives You Tangerines draws inspiration from a real-life couple from South Korea’s Jeju Island? Loosely based on the life of a woman named Hong Kyung-ja and her husband, the show captures their hardships, and their will to live and celebrate their life together.
According to a report by News18, in the first episode of the show, eagle-eyed fans noticed a tribute hidden for Hong in plain sight. A post shared by 이지금 IU (@dlwlrma) Netizens pointed out a tweak, a floating device used by Jeju Island’s female divers called haenyeo, inscribed with the name Hong Kyun-ja. It was a heartfelt tribute to the real-life woman who inspired IU’s character Oh Ae-sun in the show.
Quoting a report by KBIZoom, the media publication stated that Hong, born in Jeju Island in 1950, lived a life full of struggles and sacrifices. SEE ALSO: From Being A Successful Singer, To WLGYT’s Success: Here’s How Much IU Has Earned in 2024 Hong was 5 years old when her mother passed away and had to take care of her eight younger siblings, unlike Ae-sun who only had two siblings. While the latter was raised by a stepfather in the Netflix show, the former was raised by a stepmother.
She had begun working as a haenyeo at a young age, catching seafood and providing for her family. Education too had become a luxury for her as she would often miss her classes so she could provide for her family. A post shared by Netflix Korea | 넷플릭스 코리아 (@netflixkr) She eventually fell in love with her childhood best friend, who just like her would spend his days diving in the sea.
Their romance blossomed for six years, before they decided to tie the knot. Just as it is shown in the Kdrama, Kyung-ja’s husband remained her biggest pillar of support and source of encouragement, especially when she decided to run for local elections in their village against a powerful opponent. Reportedly, he was even awarded the ‘Beautiful Husband Award’ in 2002, by the Jeju YWCA, for his love and devotion towards his family.
Just like Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, the couple were also parents to three kids, however unlike in the show, where their youngest son passes away during a stormy night, Kyung Ja and her husband raised all their children. Together they built a life full of love and respect for each other. Unfortunately, Hong lost her husband seven years ago, similar to the Netflix series where Gwan-sik battles cancer and arthritis, before passing away.
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