When Life Gives You Tangerines: Park Bo Gum addresses his limited screen time in the recent episodes

IU and Park Bo Gum had an open discussion about their experiences filming When Life Gives You Tangerines as the highly anticipated series draws to a finish. In a special section titled Mini Palette | Sweet Chemistry with Park Bo Gum, which was posted on IU’s official YouTube channel on March 22, the two lead performers discussed the drama’s emotional effect, audience reactions, and the developing plot that has generated conversations among fans.

IU disclosed during the discussion that she had just finished watching episode 13 and was struck by how the plot developed. “I cried so much,” she stated. Park Bo Gum said he enjoyed the drama’s deep narrative and compelling characters. “All the characters are alive and well-developed. I’m really thankful and proud,” he said.

“Many people congratulated me but also wished there were more scenes of my buzz-cut days and Ae Sun’s short bob era. The story quickly moves into our roles as parents, but I tell my friends to keep watching because we still appear throughout,” he added.

IU affirmed,  “Our storytelling approach is unique. Even from episode one, the first scene starts with the older Ae Sun. For those who miss our younger selves, we’re still there, so please stay with us until the end.”

Despite receiving a lot of praise for its exquisite storytelling and profound emotional depth, When Life Gives You Tangerines has disappointed some viewers with what they see as a major cutback in Park Bo Gum’s screen time. Fans have noted a decrease in his appearances since Volume 2 (episodes 5-8), which has sparked conversations regarding the drama’s shifting focus.

On March 22, Netflix posted an official note, “When Life Gives You Tangerines is a story filled with adventure, chronicling the life journey of Ae Sun and Gwan Sik. Just as much as the younger versions of Ae Sun and Gwan Sik brought joy, the middle-aged versions of these characters will also deliver plenty of entertainment and emotion. We ask for your continued interest in the stories of Ae Sun, Gwan Sik, Geum Myeong, and Eun Myeong in the remaining four acts”.

This change might have been surprising and even annoying to those who were hoping for more encounters between IU and Park Bo Gum in subsequent episodes. But it’s crucial to understand that When Life Gives You Tangerines is more than just a romance drama. Naturally, as the plot develops, the focus shifts to Moon So Ri’s and Park Hae Joon’s respective middle-aged portrayals of Ae Sun and Gwan Sik.