DYK IU, Park Bo Gum starrer When Life Gives You Tangerines’ Jeju Island set was built from the scratch?

When Life Gives You Tangerines has it all, from the romantic tale of IU and Park Bo Gum to the stunning setting of Jeju Island. However, did you know that Ryu Seong Hee and her team’s tremendous effort allowed IU and Park Bo Gum’s poignant drama to come to life? She posted a behind-the-scenes look during the production of this Netflix drama on her Instagram on March 29, showcasing the amount of work that went into constructing Jeju’s universe.

Ryu Seong Hee penned, “For 15 months, our art team slept, woke up, and breathed within the world of When Life Gives You Tangerines.” The team meticulously reproduced Jeju’s homes, marketplaces, and landscapes across several decades, and this commitment was evident in every frame.“From memories of 1950s Jeju to the present day, we built landscapes that transcend time and carefully crafted spaces where emotions could settle.”

When Life Gives You Tangerines was not produced on a shoestring; KRW 60 billion, or roughly USD 45 million, was spent. This series was painstakingly created by hand, down to the volcanic rocks. According to a Google translation, Ryu Seong Hee revealed, “We even made individual volcanic rocks.” The sets, which were intended to immerse the audience in that time period and the history of Jeju Island, included everything from traditional thatched-roof homes to vintage wallpaper, notebooks, and other relics from the 1950s.

The intergenerational cooperation and sharing of ideas and experiences was one of the project’s most fulfilling aspects, according to Ryu Seong Hee.

“One of the most rewarding parts of this job is seeing people from their early 20s to 50s come together in one space—talking, listening, and collaborating deeply to build a single world,” she stated.

The drama combines romance, history, Jeju Island’s ancient culture, and adventure as it follows the lives of Oh Ae Sun (played by IU and Moon So Ri) and Ywan Gwan Sik (played by Park Bo Gum and Park Hae Joon).