When Life Gives You Tangerines 2025 Kdrama Cast And Information

When Life Gives You Tangerines 2025 Kdrama Cast And Information

This is not just a story—it’s a nostalgic tribute to the tender and quietly radiant seasons of our parents’ youth. It takes us back to a time when our mothers and fathers were young and full of dreams, when emotions were raw, and life was yet to unfold in all its complexity.

At the heart of this tale is Ae Sun, a spirited girl whose rebellious streak is often betrayed by the nervous flutter of her heart. Her family may not be well-off, but Ae Sun shines with a rare and unshakable positivity. She dreams of becoming a poet, even though life keeps her from attending school. What sets her apart is her honesty—she wears her heart on her sleeve and never hides how she feels. Bold, radiant, and full of yearning, Ae Sun embodies a generation that dared to dream beyond their circumstances.

Then there is Gwan Sik, a quiet soul, grounded and tirelessly hardworking. He isn’t the kind of boy who knows how to handle a girl’s laughter or her tears, especially not Ae Sun’s. Romance doesn’t come naturally to him, but his love is steady and profound. From the very beginning, he has only ever loved Ae Sun. He doesn’t speak of it much, but in his silent, unwavering way, he gives her everything he has.

Alongside their story, this narrative weaves in the first flutter of a mother’s love, the quiet heroism of a father’s youth, the unexpected rebellion of a grandmother once young and wild, and the romantic spirit of a grandfather whose stories have long since faded into black-and-white photographs.

Together, these moments form a timeless mosaic—a reminder that before they were our parents and grandparents, they too lived, loved, rebelled, and dreamed with the same intensity we often forget they once possessed.

K Profile

Other Name: When Life Gives You Tangerines ( English title ) | Thank You for Your Hard Work ( literal title )
Native Title: 폭싹 속았수다
Also Known As: Life , Insaeng , Pogssag Sogassuda , Pokssak Sogasssuda , Sugo Manheusyeossseubnida , Thank You For Your Hard Work , You Have Done Well , You Were Fooled , 수고 많으셨습니다 , 인생
Director: Kim Won Suk
Genres: Kim Won Suk
Country: South Korea
Type: Drama
Episodes: 16
Aired: March 7 – 28, 2025 ( 4 Episodes Per Week )
Aired On: Netflix Friday
Original Network: Netflix
Duration: Unknown

When Life Gives You Tangerines 2025 KDrama Cast

Main Role In When Life Gives You Tangerines

IU As O Ae Sun | Yang Geum Myeong (Main Role)

Park Bo Gum As Yang Gwan Sik (Main Role)

Moon So Ri As O Ae Sun [Middle-age] (Main Role)

Park Hae Joon As Yang Gwan Sik [Middle-age] (Main Role)

Support Role In When Life Gives You Tangerines

Kim Yong Rim as Park Mak Cheon [Gwan Sik’s grandmother] (Support Role)

Na Moon Hee as Kim Chun Ok [Ae Sun’s grandmother] (Support Role)

Yeom Hye Ran as Jeon Gwang Rye [Ae Sun’s mother] | Chloe H. Lee (Ep. 16) (Support Role)

Oh Min Ae as Kwon Gye Ok [Gwan Sik’s mother] (Support Role)

Choi Dae Hoon as Bu Sang Gil [Local leader] (Support Role)

Jang Hye Jin as Park Yeong Ran [Middle-aged] (Support Role)

Cha Mi Kyung as Park Chung Su [Gwang Rye’s friend] (Support Role)

Lee Soo Mi as Choi Yang Im [Gwang Rye’s friend] (Support Role)

Baek Ji Won as Hong Gyeong Ja [Gwang Rye’s friend] (Support Role)

Jung Hae Kyun as O Han Mu [Ae Sun’s uncle] (Support Role)

Kang You Seok as Yang Eun Myeong [Ae Sun and Gwan Sik’s son] (Support Role)

Lee Soo Kyung as Bu Hyeon Suk [Sang Gil and Yeong Ran’s daughter] (Support Role)

Lee Jun Young as Park Yeong Beom [Geum Myeong’s boyfriend] (Support Role)

Kim Tae Yeon as O Ae Sun [Child] (Support Role)

Lee Cheon Mu as Yang Gwan Sik [Child] (Support Role)

Guest Role In When Life Gives You Tangerines

Choi Hye Seo as Yeom Sun Nam [Child] (Ep. 1–2) (Guest Role)

Jang Soon Mi as Market customer (Ep. 1–2) (Guest Role)

Baek Soo Ryun as Jung Gong Rye (Ep. 1, 16) (Guest Role)

Oh Jung Se as Yeom Byeong Chul [Ae Sun’s stepfather] (Ep. 1, 2, 6) (Guest Role)

Hwang Jae Yeol as Homeroom teacher (Ep. 1, 8) (Guest Role)

Jeon Jin Oh as Captain (Ep. 2–3) (Guest Role)

Kwon Oh Kyung as Reporter (Ep. 2–3) (Guest Role)

Kang Mal Geum as Motel owner (Ep. 2–3) (Guest Role)

Kim Young Woong as Motel owner (Ep. 2–3) (Guest Role)

Lee Joon Gyu as Police officer (Ep. 2–3) (Guest Role)

Lee Jae Ha as Police officer (Ep. 2–3) (Guest Role)

Kang Jung Woo as Hye Ran’s father (Ep. 2–3) (Guest Role)

Shin Mi Young as Jewelry store owner (Ep. 2–3) (Guest Role)

Uhm Ji Won as Na Min Ok [Byeong Chul’s second wife] (Ep. 2, 4, 6) (Guest Role)

Kim Ga Hee as Motel customer (Ep. 2, 8) (Guest Role)

Han Seo Hee as Hye Ran (Ep. 3) (Guest Role)

Park Chan Kuk as Tailor (Ep. 3) (Guest Role)

Yoon Dae Yeol as Coach (Ep. 3) (Guest Role)

Park Jae Chul as Reporter (Ep. 3) (Guest Role)

Kim Sung Hyo as Ae Sun’s mother (Ep. 3) (Guest Role)

Kim Hwi Gyu as Motel customer (Ep. 3) (Guest Role)

Jung Sun Chul as Mr. Park (Ep. 4) (Guest Role)

Kang Myung Joo as Bu Yeong (Ep. 4) (Guest Role)

Kim Deok Ju as Buddhist nun (Ep. 4) (Guest Role)

Jung Eun Kyung as Hanyeo (Ep. 5) (Guest Role)

Jeon Gyu Il as Photo studio photographer (Ep. 5) (Guest Role)

Kim Tae Yun as Ae Sun’s neighbor (Ep. 5–6) (Guest Role)

Lee Mi Do as Mi Suk (Ep. 5, 7, 14) (Guest Role)

Han Myung Hwan as Bus passenger (Ep. 6) (Guest Role)

Lee Kyu Hoe as Park Geum Myeong [Yeong Beom’s father] (Ep. 6–12) (Guest Role)

Eom Ok Ran as Gye Won (Ep. 7) (Guest Role)

Moon You Kang as Bu O Seong [Sang Gil’s son] (Ep. 7) (Guest Role)

Kim Jae Yeong as Driver (Ep. 7) (Guest Role)

Kim Gook Hee as Professor (Ep. 7) (Guest Role)

Park Eun Young as Pork restaurant owner (Ep. 7) (Guest Role)

Park Jong Sang as Apartment security guard (Ep. 7) (Guest Role)

Kim Soo An as O Jenny (Ep. 7–8) (Guest Role)

Kim Geum Soon as Mi Hyang [Jenny’s mother] (Ep. 7–8) (Guest Role)

Park Jae Yun as Teacher (Ep. 7–8) (Guest Role)

Nam Mi Jung as Housekeeper (Ep. 7–8) (Guest Role)

Kim Jun as Lee Man Gi (Ep. 8) (Guest Role)

Yang Shin Ji as Ko Chang Suk (Ep. 8) (Guest Role)

Seo Mun Ho as Police officer (Ep. 8) (Guest Role)

Park Sung Hoon as Police officer (Ep. 8) (Guest Role)

Seo Young Sam as High school teacher (Ep. 8) (Guest Role)

Yoon Jong Goo as Mover (Ep. 8–9) (Guest Role)

Kim Dong Gon as Projectionist (Ep. 9) (Guest Role)

Lee Ji Hyun as Bun Hui [Cheong Seop’s mom] (Ep. 9) | Hyeon Ja [Trafficker] (Ep. 10) (Guest Role)

Jeon Bae Soo as Song Yeong Sam (Ep. 9–10) (Guest Role)

Kim Seon Ho as Park Cheong Seop [Artist] (Ep. 9–16) (Guest Role)

Kim Hae Gon as Cannes Theater president (Ep. 9–13) (Guest Role)

Jo Kyun Hyung as Kong Beom (Ep. 10) (Guest Role)

Shim Young Min as Doctor (Ep. 10) (Guest Role)

Park Hee Jung as Movie customer (Ep. 10) (Guest Role)

Jung Seung Jin as Movie customer (Ep. 10) (Guest Role)

Lee Bong Ryun as Doctor (Ep. 11) (Guest Role)

Yoo Mi Ran as Dress shop owner (Ep. 11) (Guest Role)

Kim Sung Ryung as Jung Mi In [Actress] (Ep. 11, 15) (Guest Role)

Cho Myeong Yeon as O Jong Gu (Ep. 12) (Guest Role)

Byun Jung Hee as Cheon Sim [Chun Ok’s sister] (Ep. 12) (Guest Role)

Lee Joong Yul as Bus driver (Ep. 13) (Guest Role)

Park Kyung Chan as Fired employee (Ep. 13) (Guest Role)

Park Boo Gun as Kang Suk Sam (Ep. 13, 15) (Guest Role)

Heo Jin as Eul Nam (Ep. 14) (Guest Role)

Jin Mi Sa as Won Bok (Ep. 14) (Guest Role)

Park Ji Hong as Buyer (Ep. 14) (Guest Role)

Han Hye Ji as Buyer’s wife (Ep. 14) (Guest Role)

Park Ki Ryung as Boat captain (Ep. 14) (Guest Role)

Jung Hye Kyung as Seafood seller (Ep. 14) (Guest Role)

Kim Nam Jin as Rice cake buyer (Ep. 14) (Guest Role)

Song Yo Sep as Rice cake buyer (Ep. 14) (Guest Role)

Kim Yong Jun as Mr. Byeon (Ep. 14–15) (Guest Role)

Lee Sang Goo as Realtor (Ep. 14–15) (Guest Role)

Seo Suk Gyu as PD (Ep. 15) (Guest Role)

Jin Yong Wook as Boat captain (Ep. 15) (Guest Role)

Chae Yeon Jung as Restaurant owner (Ep. 15) (Guest Role)

Song Na Yeong as Jeong Mi In’s assistant (Ep. 15) (Guest Role)

Kim Kang Hoon as Yang Je Il [Teen] (Ep. 16) (Guest Role)

Ko Seo Jeong as Nurse (Ep. 16) (Guest Role)

Jung Hyung Suk as Doctor (Ep. 16) (Guest Role)

Lee Seung Jun as Doctor (Ep. 16) (Guest Role)

Yeo Min Goo as Instructor (Ep. 16) (Guest Role)

Park Sung Jin as Bus passenger (Ep. 16) (Guest Role)

Kim Gye Rim as Ju Gyeong (Guest Role)

Yoon Seo Yeon as O Ae Sun [Teen] (Guest Role)

Park Byung Ho as Hal Bang [Landlord] (Guest Role)

Choi Ha Yoon as Bu Hyeon Suk [Child] (Guest Role)

Moon Woo Jin as Yang Gwan Sik [Teen] (Guest Role)

Chae Seo An as Park Yeong Ran [Young] (Guest Role)

Kim Se A as Yang Gyeong Ok [Child] (Guest Role)

Lee Chae Hyun as Yang Eun Myeong [Child] (Guest Role)

An Tae Rin as Yang Geum Myeong [Child] (Guest Role)

Lee A Ra as Yang Geum Myeong [Child] (Guest Role)

Yoo Byung Hoon as Yang Sam Bo [Gwan Sik’s father] (Guest Role)

Seo Hye Won as Yang Gyeong Ok [Gwan Sik’s sister] (Guest Role)

Lee Yeon Joo as Yeom Sun Nam [Ae Sun’s half-sister] (Guest Role)

Pyo Young Seo as O Ye Rim [Geum Myeong’s classmate] (Guest Role)

Kim Su Yeon as Min Seon [Geum Myeong’s classmate] (Guest Role)

Jeong E Suh as Song Bu Seon [Cheong Seop’s girlfriend] (Guest Role)

Jeon Young as Hanyeo (Guest Role)

Ha Eun Seom as Stall woman (Guest Role)

Hyun Bong Sik as Mi In’s manager (Guest Role)

Hwang Mi Young as Theater audience (Guest Role)

Cameo Role In When Life Gives You Tangerines

Kang Ho Dong as Himself (Ep. 14) (Cameo)

Lee Seung Yuop as Himself (Ep. 14) (Cameo)

Joon Park as Himself (Ep. 15) (Cameo)

Im Young Woong as Himself (Ep. 16) (Cameo)

Lee Jong Suk as An Ju Hyeong (Main Role)

When Life Gives You Tangerines 2025 Trailer