Actor Park Bo-gum shared his sincere thoughts about "When Life Gives You Tangerines."

On the 24th, an interview was held with lead actor Park Bo-gum of the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" at the Conrad Seoul Hotel.

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" is a work that unfolds the adventurous life of 'a rebellious child' Ae-sun, born in Jeju in the 1960s (played by IU), and 'a clueless yet steadfast' Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum) across the four seasons. It has drawn praise for bringing together writer Lim Sang-chun, recognized for works like "When the Camellia Blooms" and "Fight for My Way," and director Kim Won-seok, acclaimed for his delicate direction in shows like "My Ajusshi," "Signal," and "Misaeng."

Since the second act was released, the series has ranked 2nd in the global top 10 series for non-English content, gaining popularity beyond South Korea. He noted, "People have enjoyed the character Gwan-sik's story, and the warmth of the drama makes them appreciate it. As everyone who has watched it knows, the work conveys great warmth and comfort, so I was happy just to be part of it. I believe it is a work that I would want to watch for a long time and hope it can continue to stay in 2nd place. It’s quite fascinating that, in some ways, the Korean sentiment and family stories resonate globally. At first, I thought if it had aired on Korean broadcasters, older people would have liked it. Now, friends tell me, 'Hyung, it’s so fun, I’ve installed Netflix for my parents.' Of course, being number one would be great, but it’s already doing well, and I expect it to be loved and talked about for a long time to come."

For Park Bo-gum, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" holds various meanings. He chose this as his first series (drama) after his debut, saying, "I liked the writer. I found the portrayal of adults protecting the weak to be admirable. If you watch it to the end of the opening, you’ll see the visuals show the whole story. There’s a scene where hands come together to embrace and cover. It conveys a sense of care shared not just among the villagers but also with everyone, including elders caring for Gwan-sik and Ae-sun. It resonated with me as I read the script. Being a fan of the writer, I had a strong desire to be part of it," adding, "I knew the extent of my role. After reading the script, I thought, 'It’s so good, I want to do it,' and I felt it meaningful just to have it in my filmography. I believe that all the senior actors appearing with me are protagonists too. I want this project to bloom a beautiful flower in everyone’s hearts until the end."

Park Bo-gum, who played the young male lead Gwan-sik, showcased the youthful and passionate love between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik. Receiving praise as the 'legendary male lead of pure love' after "Reply 1988," he said, "Thank you for all the support and love. Having these two projects in my filmography is meaningful. When comparing Choi Taek and Yang Gwan-sik, the love for one person is the greatest, but while Choi Taek is a boy you want to protect, Gwan-sik feels like a reliable person you can lean on. I believe the line that expresses Gwan-sik was probably 'I want to eat cabbage.' That expression seems to encapsulate Gwan-sik's support, affection, and encouragement for Ae-sun."

He also played a father for the first time, noting, "I really like children, so I enjoyed filming. Seeing the parents of the child actors present was very touching. I thought about how precious and lovely a creature resembling Ae-sun and me would be while filming with the perspective of a parent. Everyone must have found it difficult, but I’m glad we could portray the three children successfully thanks to everyone’s full concentration during those moments," adding, "I wanted to express well the love I received from my parents, what they call ‘downward love.’ Gwan-sik is a young friend but has quickly become a fatherly figure. He must have matured faster than expected, so I looked through many of my childhood photos reminiscing."

He also shared behind-the-scenes stories from the scene where Ae-sun and Gwan-sik lose Dong-myung, which brought tears to many. Park Bo-gum recalled, "It was a grayish filming set. The atmosphere, where everyone cherished and loved Dong-myung, like a child or a grandchild, resonated deeply when filming and acting. In some ways, there was a cautious part because even though I played a father, how could I express the sorrow of losing a child? I had many thoughts about whether I could express that pain and sadness well. I approached it with the mindset, ‘What if it were really like that?’ I wished to convey a bit of comfort to someone with this sentiment," and added, "I remember the script did not express Gwan-sik holding the child. It stated, 'The father's wail shook greatly.' Just the expression itself makes me think about how much pain and disbelief he must have expressed through his cries. So, I believe Gwan-sik would have been at a loss and just sat there."

He also expressed gratitude to the actors who played young Gwan-sik. Park Bo-gum said, "Thanks to the young Gwan-sik friends, I believe I gained significantly. There weren't scenes where all four of us meet, but I thought, 'How could one person express so smoothly?' watching the senior actor and being grateful to them. Since I tend to be quiet, I appreciated Ha-jun and the child actors for their performances," adding, "When I first met senior Ha-jun, he was tall, and so handsome, I wondered how he would portray Gwan-sik. The reading was probably the only moment I could match the acting tone with the senior, but when I watched the drama, he portrayed Gwan-sik so naturally. I felt both grateful and sorry that during filming, I should have relayed, 'I’m going to do it this way, what do you think?' but he did so well after hearing my tone during the reading. I think I benefited a lot from it."

Outside of the work, insights into Park Bo-gum’s story were also shared. When asked about any changes in his acting approach, he replied, "I think my interests in genres, roles, and professional aspects have broadened. The first project I enjoyed in the military was 'Good Boy,' which is an action genre. I find myself wanting to try it, feeling a lot more than before. During my military service, I met many people, and over time, I've accumulated so many experiences. Getting to know many emotions through others seems to have diversified my artistic expressions. I think the vessel of understanding and empathy in my heart has broadened a bit now."

Having been solidified in a 'good man' image through his roles, Park Bo-gum shared his willingness to challenge 'villain' roles, saying, "I've kept those kinds of projects in mind. I believe the time when I can express them well is not far off." He added, "Currently, it seems that only one or two projects are produced each year, and some that are made occasionally do not materialize. Nonetheless, I am grateful that the entertainment world is progressing well. Perhaps that’s why, I feel a bit regretful. I genuinely want to act, work, and take on challenges, but there are time constraints. I’m trying to create more opportunities to meet the audience for an extended period."

Regarding his plans for this year, he said, "Once the promotion for 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is over, the promotion for 'Good Boy' will begin. This year is, in some ways, a happy year for me, as I expect to meet many fans. Since I acted as a different character from Gwan-sik, I hope many will find it enjoyable. I’ll keep pushing forward without rest. I’ve already finished filming ‘Good Boy’, and once the promotions are done, I am diligently reading and contemplating for my next project. I’ll strive to present a new aspect and profound villain roles while sharing interesting stories."

In conclusion, regarding the upcoming release of the final fourth act of "When Life Gives You Tangerines" on the 28th, he shared, "I believe it is a work that not only families but also beloved friends and fans will enjoy, and I want to recommend it. I too, like Gwan-sik, have come to realize I must live a life expressing love and care openly whenever I want to. In the fourth act, memorable episodes that will remain for a long time will be revealed. I think once the fourth act is released, it will have a long run in the rankings. It seems to be a work suitable for viewing with family, friends, and lovers. It’s a work that has many stories to share."

[Photo] Provided by Netflix

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