When Life Gives You Tangerines: Meet real-life couple of Jeju who inspired IU and Park Bo Gum’s character

Also read: When Life Gives You Tangerines ending explained: 5 burning questions finally answered in IU and Park Bo Gum’s story finale

The real-life couple who inspired When Life Gives You Tangerines

There is actually a hidden tribute in the drama that fans were able to uncover in the very first episode. The name “Hong Kyung Ja” was written on a tewak, a traditional floating device used by Jeju’s female divers (haenyeo). It was a tribute to the real woman who inspired Ae Sun’s character. According to KBIZoom, Hong Kyung Ja was born in 1950 on Jeju Island and lived a life of struggle and sacrifice, similar to Ae Sun’s character but in ways that even the show couldn’t fully capture.

Mungkin banyak yang tidak menyadari kalau di episode awal, ada nama Hong Kyeongja di taewak, pelampung yang digunakan para haenyeo (penyelam wanita) yang sempat disorot.

Saat mencari tahu tentang Hong Kyeongja, ternyata kisah hidupnya mirip sekali dengan Aesun, pemeran utamanya. pic.twitter.com/dzvqLCYVMW

— Apri D (@apriseuldiyana) March 30, 2025

Hong lost her mother when she was just five years old. From then on, she was asked to take on the responsibility of her younger siblings. She would dive into the sea with other Haenyeo’s at such a young age, catch octopuses, sell them at the market, and use the money to buy snacks for her little sister. However, unlike Ae Sun in the drama, who was raised by a stepfather, Hong was brought up by a stepmother. She took care of her eight younger siblings, while in the show, IU’s character was seen taking care of her 2 younger siblings. For Hong, education wasn’t a priority in her household, and she had to fight just to attend middle school.

Also read: When Life Gives You Tangerines Review: Don’t skip IU & Park Bo Gum’s K-drama if you’re dealing with life’s sour moments

“They told me I couldn’t go,” Hong said in a Korean media interview (Via Kbizoom). “I cried and fought for the chance. But even when I went, I was often late or absent because I had to cook and feed my siblings before school. That was my reality.

Circula una nota en línea que sugiere que el drama Si la vida te da mandarinas protagonizado por IU y Park Bo Gum se basa en una historia real de una pareja en la isla de Jeju. Aunque no hay confirmación oficial, la nota revela detalles conmovedoressobre la vida de Hong Kyung Ja pic.twitter.com/mvaNmb9OhY

— 𓍯 ִֶָ isabello🕸️ (@IsaUcros) March 31, 2025

A love that stood the test of time

Hong Kyung Ja fell in love with her childhood friend, a boy who, like her, spent his days diving for sea bream and octopus. Their romance lasted six years before they got married, and just like Gwan Sik (Park Bo Gum) in the drama, her husband remained her pillar of strength throughout her life. He stood by her side when she decided to contest an election in her village against a powerful opponent and was even honored with the “Beautiful Husband Award” in 2002 by the Jeju YWCA for his love and devotion to their family. Together, they raised two sons and a daughter. (In the show, Ae Sun and Gwan Sik, however, lost one of their son to the sea during one stormy night.) Hong and her husband created a home filled with warmth and support, something that fans of the show found even more heartwarming than what was shown on screen.

Танжериний 2 чинь бодит хүмүүс юм бна шүү 🍊

Ae-soon and Gwan-sik were inspired by a real couple from Jeju Island. Her name was Hong Kyung-ja. She was born in 1950. Her life was hard from the start. She lost her mother at 5, she raised her younger siblings. She dove for octopus… pic.twitter.com/p1dhUQRLxG

— Zoya Kafka 🤍 (@ZoyaKafka) March 31, 2025

Hong’s husband passed away seven years ago. When fans first discovered the real-life connection between the on-screen couple and their true story, they feared the worst, that Gwan Sik’s character might meet the same fate. And their fears weren’t unfounded. In the show, Park Bo Gum’s character was seen battling cancer, followed by severe arthritis, which worsened due to a lack of early treatment. But instead of a tearful ending, fans found a sense of closure. The couple shared countless springs together, raised their children on their own terms, and fulfilled their duties to the fullest. And even when Gwan Sik was gone, Ae Sun still felt his presence through a simple yet powerful gesture, a little tap on her head with the hairpin he used to buy for her. This bittersweet love story is a reminder that sometimes, the most touching tales aren’t scripted — they’re lived.