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When Life Gives You Tangerines star Oh Min-ae, who played Ae-sun’s strict mother-in-law, shared a touching behind-the-scenes story, when IU was determined to take ten slaps.
When Life Gives You Tangerines stars IU, Park Bo-gum and Moon So-ri. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
When Life Gives You Tangerines has become one of the most talked-about K-dramas for its emotional plot and relatable characters. Among the talented cast, IU’s performance as Oh Ae-sun has captured hearts. The way she portrayed her character’s emotional struggle and intense pain left both her co-stars and viewers impressed. In a recent interview, Oh Min-ae, who played Gwon Gye Ok, Ae-sun’s strict mother-in-law, shared a touching behind-the-scenes story when IU was determined to make a particular scene feel authentic. She revealed that IU volunteered to be slapped for real in the intense scene where Ae-sun goes against Gwon Gye Ok to protect Yang Geum Myung. IU was not afraid of the slap and was prepared to take ten slaps if necessary.
In an interview with Star News, Oh Min-ae explained, “I think IU wanted to feel Ae-sun’s pain and the feeling as it is. That’s probably why she said she would get slapped herself and wasn’t afraid of getting slapped. Rather, I was worried, saying, ‘Please, let’s end it with one. One is enough.’ But IU came prepared to take ten hits. Fortunately, she was able to finish it well in one go without any mistakes. IU was so professional that I felt a sense of responsibility as an actress and as a main character.”
“Not only IU, but Park Bo-gum also led the set atmosphere well and was kind and considerate. I thought to myself that they are actors who truly have a good influence. In fact, usually the main characters have a lot of lines and are so immersed in their roles that they sometimes don’t notice their surroundings, but these two were different. They took great care of the people around them and were like angels,” Oh Min-ae added.
Speaking about her initial interaction with her on-screen son, Park Bo-gum, Oh Min-ae mentioned that in their first meeting, he looked so pure and happy that she jokingly felt like even a small conversation with him might spoil his innocence.
Set in Jeju Island in the 1960s, Gwan-sik, who is reliable and steady, falls in love with Ae-sun, a talented but troubled woman. From that moment, he dedicates his life to her. Over the years, despite facing challenges like Gwan-sik’s family’s disapproval and Ae-sun’s personal struggles, they built a life together. When Life Gives You Tangerines stars IU, Park Bo-gum and Moon So-ri, and was created by Kim Won-suk and Lim Sang-choon.