Acclaimed Korean singer and actress IU has recently revealed that she had to consume real alcohol to achieve a natural flushed look in Netflix's "When Life Gives You Tangerines."
The revelation came during a highlight reaction video posted on the streaming platform's official YouTube channel. IU made the confession while she and co-stars Moon So Ri and Park Hae Joon were watching clips from certain scenes of the series' second act, particularly the scene depicting her character Geum-Myeong breaking down in front of her father while seated in a Chinese restaurant.
"I was actually drinking for the scene. If we tried to do it with makeup, it could have looked too cutesy," she said.
Earlier, on March 14, IU shared behind-the-scenes photos from the drama on her social media, showcasing her chemistry with Park Bo-gum, who plays Yang Gwan-sik. The photos, set against the backdrop of Jeju Island, captured the actors in 1970s attire and depicted the excitement of their characters' engagement and wedding preparations.
"When Life Gives You Tangerines" follows the journey of Oh Ae-soon, a spirited rebel from Jeju who dreams about becoming a poet, and Yang Gwan-sik, her steadfast partner who made a living selling cabbage from her shop. The series shows the characters as they navigate life's challenges across multiple decades. "When Life Gives You Tangerines" was directed by Kim Won-Seok and written by Im Sang-Choon and has been lauded for its rich narrative.
IU's standout performance has also been lauded, with the actress playing both Oh Ae-soon and Yang Geum-myeong—Ae-soon's daughter. Both roles highlight the generational struggles and the enduring love between mother and daughter.
The second act of the series premiered last week and included four episodes. The streaming platform is set to drop two other acts in the coming weeks with four additional episodes each.
