The popularity of 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' reached its peak in China, where Netflix is unavailable. It received the highest ratings this year on China’s largest rating site, and actor Kim Seon-ho's wink challenge has become a hot topic.

'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is a drama that unfolds the adventurous life of Ai-sun (IU), a 'feisty rebel' born in Jeju, and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), a 'clumsy ox', across four seasons. The series began its first release on 7th of last month and has been releasing four episodes every Friday, completing the release of all episodes by the 28th of the same month.

'When Life Gives You Tangerines' entered the Netflix Global TOP10 Series (non-English) with a ranking of 4th in its first week, 2nd in the second week, and climbed to 1st in the third week but dropped to 3rd in the fourth week, creating some disappointment. However, it regained 1st place in the fifth week, demonstrating its resilience.

The popularity of 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' has resonated with audiences, sharing relatable stories of parents and showcasing family love, primarily gaining traction in Asian countries. Notably, its popularity in China, where Netflix is not available, draws attention.

In China, where Netflix is not officially available, viewers cannot legally watch 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'. Consequently, Chinese viewers are reportedly accessing the series through various means, including proxy access and illegal downloads. Multiple OTT platforms feature videos of 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', and Chinese media are also actively commenting on it.

'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is currently rated highly, with a score of 9.4 on the Chinese rating site known as 'Douban'. There was even a case where a viewer required hospital transport due to breathing difficulties while watching the series, drawing significant attention. Additionally, a supermarket has been selling specialty tangerines from Jeju, the backdrop of the series, using a poster from 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'.

In particular, the 'Kim Seon-ho Challenge', which involves winking, has become a trend online in China. Local social media platforms like TikTok and Douyin are seeing an increase in followers attempting to replicate the scene. Regarding this, China’s Sina News reported, "The scene where actor Kim Seon-ho tilts his head and smiles in the drama 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' is spreading rapidly online. The 'Kim Seon-ho Challenge' is being followed by celebrities, influencers, and regular individuals alike."

There are speculations that the popularity of 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' might lead to the lifting of the ban on Korean content in China. The Global Times reported on its popularity, stating, "It has become the highest-rated Korean drama on 'Douban' in recent years," and due to the Global Times’ notorious record of downplaying Korean Wave culture, there are opinions suggesting this could indicate a softening of restrictions.

However, there are rising criticisms regarding illegal viewing and piracy. Professor Seo Kyung-duk has also criticized China in this matter. He pointed out a scene where the middle-aged Ai-sun (Moon So-ri) says to Gwan-sik (Park Hae-jin), 'Let's go see the autumn leaves in Zhangjiajie next year,' indicating that Zhangjiajie, China, is reprimanding the production team and actors of 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' by sending them an invitation.

Professor Seo Kyung-duk remarked, "Netflix is not officially available in China. This publicly acknowledges that viewers are secretly indulging in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines.' Recently, during 'Squid Game Season 2', 'pirate viewing' has become a norm in China. It is particularly astonishing that there is a complete lack of shame about it."

[Photo] Netflix

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