IU has gracefully concluded her three-year journey embodying the spirited Ae-soon and her determined daughter Geum-myeong, characters from whom she’s gleaned invaluable memories and a wealth of affection and comfort in When Life Gives You Tangerines.
In a recent media interview, she opened up about her transformative experience working on the Netflix original series When Life Gives You Tangerines (written by Im Sang-chun, directed by Kim Won-seok). The drama follows the lives of spirited Jeju native Ae-soon (played by IU and Moon So-ri) and the stoic Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum and Park Hae-joon) as they navigate love and life across the four seasons.
IU took on a unique acting challenge in the project, portraying both Ae-soon and her daughter Geum-myeong in an emotional journey that spanned generations. Critics and fans alike praised her soulful narration and emotionally nuanced performance.
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Reflecting on the overwhelming love from viewers, IU shared, “When I first got the script, I was just amazed something so beautiful came my way. Sure, filming wasn’t always easy, but the support I’ve received has made it all worth it.”
Known for her raw performance in My Mister, IU said she approached When Life Gives You Tangerines with even greater ambition. “Ae-soon goes through so much, yet she radiates a resilient energy — like a beam of light in the darkest places,” she explained. “I definitely felt pressure, especially playing two characters, but I doubled my efforts. I asked the director endless questions and leaned on my senior co-stars whenever I could.”
IU effortlessly shifted across age ranges, from a teenage Ae-soon to a mature Geum-myeong in her 50s. While Ae-soon may be more fiery and optimistic, IU admitted they share a similar streak. “I might see myself as a bit pessimistic at times, but I bounce back quickly — maybe that’s just me rationalizing. Ae-soon’s bold hunger for life reminded me of my younger self. But you can’t live on ambition alone. I can be cold when I need to be — maybe that’s why her teenage years felt so personal to me.”
When asked what a “successful life” means, IU responded thoughtfully: “Not all desires have to be fulfilled for life to feel complete. Ae-soon’s story feels like a collection of poetry — raw, moving, and never wasted. To me, that’s success.”
Now in her 30s, IU says she’s learning to slow down. “In my 20s, I was completely immersed in work — borderline addicted,” she said with a smile. “Back then, work was my only source of joy. I think people mistook that for being diligent, but honestly, it was pure pleasure-seeking. These days, I’m trying to reflect more.”
Comparing her current life stage to a season, she chose autumn: “It feels like a time of harvest. I’ve held on to Fooled By Chance for so long, and now I’m sharing it with the world and feeling so much love in return. That’s autumn for me.”
IU explained further, “Summer was intense — rich and green, but too hot to revisit. Autumn is about preparing — for winter, for change. I’m reorganizing, recharging.” If she had to title this moment in her life as a book of poems, she’d call it “I’ll Sharpen My Pencil Again.” “I’ve been writing hard, and now the pencil feels a little dull. But there’s beauty in that, too. At this point in my 30s, sharpening my pencil again feels like a fresh promise to myself.”
As the interview came to a close, IU was asked to pick her favorite line from the series. She paused, then said warmly, “I really like you.” “After everything Ae-soon goes through, when she says that line, it’s like everything falls into place. It’s simple, but it holds all the weight of her life. That’s what makes you root for her — hoping she gets one more day to say it again.”
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