When Life Gives You Tangerines Season 1 (Episode 1 – 4 Added) | Korean Drama

When Life Gives You Tangerines Season 1, launched on Netflix on March 7, 2025, kicks off with a heartfelt ode to resilience and romance, set against the rugged beauty of 1950s Jeju Island. IU dazzles as Ae-sun, a spirited dreamer with poet’s soul, while Park Bo-gum’s stoic Gwan-sik, the “unyielding iron,” anchors their budding love with quiet devotion. Directed by Kim Won-seok, the first four episodes (Volume 1: Spring) weave a tender, slow-burn tale—think Ae-sun selling cabbages with Gwan-sik’s help, their shy glances blooming amid poverty’s grind.

The Jeju dialect title, translating to “Thank you for your hard work,” sets a tone of gratitude that shines through Moon So-ri and Park Hae-joon’s older counterparts in flash-forwards. At 70 minutes per episode, the pacing luxuriates in character beats—sometimes too much—yet the Haenyeo divers’ harsh realities and a tragic maternal loss hit hard. Early buzz (85% on Rotten Tomatoes) praises the chemistry and visuals, though some call it overly sentimental. With 12 episodes left (released weekly through March), it’s a promising start—nostalgic, raw, and poised for heartbreak.