60 Billion Won Budget Netflix Korean Drama Expected to Surpass 'Queen of Tears'
2025-02-05 09:12
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Unveiling Netflix’s Lavish New Korean Series with a 60 Billion Won Production Budget and a Top-Tier Cast
A Korean drama boasting a jaw-dropping production budget of 60 billion won and an all-star team of lead actors, writers, and directors is generating massive excitement. The highly anticipated When Life Gives You Tangerines will premiere on Netflix on March 7.

Set in a small coastal village in Jeju Island, the drama tells the story of spirited and ambitious young girl Oh Ae-soon (played by IU) and a diligent, intelligent boy named Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum) through the changing seasons of their lives. The title, When Life Gives You Tangerines, is a play on the idiom “when life gives you lemons,” swapping lemons with Jeju’s iconic tangerines to reflect the local flavor of the story.
A Star-Studded Cast Featuring IU and Park Bo-gum
The drama’s cast is a who’s who of top Korean stars, including IU, Park Bo-gum, Na Moon-hee, Oh Jung-se, Yum Hye-ran, and Jo Jae-yoon.

Leading actress IU made her debut as a singer in 2008 and became a national icon through hit songs like Good Day, You & I, and Through the Night. With her exceptional vocal talent and charm, she has amassed a massive following, transcending music and earning acclaim as an actress in dramas like You Are the Best!, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, My Mister, and Hotel Del Luna.
In When Life Gives You Tangerines, IU plays Oh Ae-soon, a passionate young girl with a fragile side, revealed when her voice trembles during moments of defiance. Despite having less than others, she shines with hope and dreams of becoming a poet, even though she can’t afford to attend school.

Park Bo-gum, one of Korea’s most popular actors since his 2011 debut, has won hearts with his roles in Reply 1988 and Love in the Moonlight, along with performances in films like A Hard Day and Coin Locker Girl. In this drama, he takes on the role of Yang Gwan-sik, a quiet and resilient young man. Gwan-sik is hardworking, intelligent, and dependable, though he’s awkward in matters of love. His innocent nature is evident as he becomes flustered whenever Ae-soon laughs or cries.
An All-Star Creative Team
The drama is helmed by writer Im Sang-choon, known for hits like When the Camellia Blooms and Fight for My Way, and director Kim Won-seok, celebrated for Misaeng, Signal, and My Mister. Their collaboration is a major reason fans are eagerly awaiting the show’s release.
When Netflix dropped the teaser on January 23, fans flooded social media with comments:
“I can’t wait! The teaser alone is so fun.”
“I’m binge-watching this the moment it’s out.”
“The cast and creative team are a dream combination.”
“I’ve been rewatching the teaser every day.”
“This is exactly the kind of drama I’ve been waiting for.”
Episodes and Release Schedule
When Life Gives You Tangerines consists of 16 episodes, with a unique release strategy. Instead of dropping the entire series at once or airing weekly, the episodes will be released in four batches of four episodes over four weeks.
At the Next on Netflix 2025 Korea event on February 4, Baek Jong-byeong, Netflix’s Senior Director, explained: “We worked closely with the creators to choose a release format that complements the storytelling. Since the drama is designed to unfold in four acts, we wanted viewers to experience it that way.”
Here’s the release schedule:
Episodes 1-4: March 7, 2025
Episodes 5-8: March 14, 2025
Episodes 9-12: March 21, 2025
Episodes 13-16: March 28, 2025
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