Touching Unscripted Heart-Fluttering Moment Between IU and Park Bo Gum Revealed as Spontaneous Ad-Lib During Filming of ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines
The hit K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines has taken the world by storm, and one moment between IU and Park Bo Gum is making fans lose their minds. This Netflix series, set on the beautiful Jeju Island, follows the heartfelt love story of Ae-sun (played by IU) and Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo Gum) across decades. But a recent revelation about an unscripted hug has sent netizens into a frenzy, proving once again why these two stars shine so brightly together.
Fans canโt stop talking about this scene, and itโs easy to see why. Itโs raw, itโs real, and itโs packed with emotion. Hereโs everything you need to know about this viral moment and why itโs got everyone buzzing.
The Scene That Started It All
In Episode 3 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, titled “Yesterday Was Your Spring,” viewers watched a powerful moment unfold. Gwan-sik, desperate to reunite with Ae-sun after leaving for Seoul to chase his dreams, swims across the ocean to get back to her. The two share a tearful reunion on the shore, clinging to each other in a tight hug that left fans emotional.
The scene was already a standoutโPark Bo Gum swimming through freezing waters and IU running through the rain to meet him. But what made it even more special was just revealed in a Netflix commentary video featuring the cast. That heart-pounding hug? It wasnโt in the script. It was a spontaneous ad-lib by the two actors, born out of the raw feelings of the moment.
In the video, IU explained how it happened naturally. She said:
“It came about naturally between the two of us. We just looked at each other and then hugged.”
Park Bo Gum chimed in, adding:
“Itโs fascinating that we didnโt discuss this beforehand. When we were in that situation, with all the emotions of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, it just happened. We looked into each otherโs eyes, and the tears came right away.”
The behind-the-scenes footage backs this up. You can see Park Bo Gum emerging from the water, shivering from the cold, and IU rushing to him. They embrace, hold each other close, then pull back to look at each other before hugging againโthis time with loud, emotional sobs. The camera caught it all in one take, proving their chemistry was pure magic.
A Tough Shoot Made Real
Filming this scene wasnโt easy. Park Bo Gum shared that he swam in the actual ocean for the shot, taking multiple takes to get it right. He said:
“It took about three takes, maybe more. We had the drone shot from far away, the close-up, and a few other angles. It wasnโt warm outside yet, so I was really cold.”
IU added her perspective, noting how tough it was for her too:
“I was cold, running through the rain. But I thought, โThis is nothing compared to what Gwan-sik had to do, swimming in open waters.โ”
The harsh conditions only made their performance more real. Shivering and emotional, they turned a challenging shoot into a moment thatโs now unforgettable.
Netizens Lose It Over the Reveal
Once the commentary clip hit the internet, it spread like wildfire. Fans on X and other platforms couldnโt believe the hug wasnโt planned. Hereโs what some had to say:
“IU and Park Bo Gumโs chemistry is insane! That unscripted hug made the scene 100 times better. You canโt fake that kind of emotion.”
The clip showed more than just the hugโit showed how in sync IU and Park Bo Gum were. Posts on X praised how their natural bond made the drama feel alive, with many begging for them to work together again.
Why It Worked So Well
This unscripted moment fits perfectly into When Life Gives You Tangerines. The drama, directed by Kim Won-seok and written by Lim Sang-choon, is all about real, human emotions. It follows Ae-sun and Gwan-sik from their youth in the 1960s on Jeju Island through decades of love, hardship, and growth. The show doesnโt rely on big, flashy romanceโitโs the quiet, everyday moments that hit hard.
Thatโs why this hug feels so right. Itโs not forced or overdone. Itโs two people, caught up in the weight of the scene, acting on instinct. IU, already a powerhouse from shows like My Mister and Hotel Del Luna, brings a raw vulnerability to Ae-sun. Park Bo Gum, known for Reply 1988 and Love in the Moonlight, gives Gwan-sik a steady warmth that makes you root for him. Together, theyโre unstoppable.
The fact that it happened in one take, unplanned, shows how deeply they understood their characters. Park Bo Gum even thanked IU in the commentary, saying her emotional acting pulled him in and made it easy to react naturally.
A Hit Drama Keeps Winning
When Life Gives You Tangerines is already a massive success. Released on March 7, 2025, itโs climbed to the top of Netflixโs non-English charts and earned a 9.4 rating on IMDb, beating out fan favorites like Lovely Runner and Queen of Tears. With 16 episodes rolled out over four weeks, itโs kept viewers hooked with its mix of love, history, and Jeju Islandโs stunning backdrop.
This unscripted hug just adds to its charm. Itโs a reminder that sometimes, the best moments come from the heartโnot the script. Fans are now rewatching the scene, picking up on every little detailโthe way IU clings to him, the way Park Bo Gum holds her back, the sobs that werenโt planned but felt so true.
Whatโs Next for IU and Park Bo Gum?
The buzz around this moment has fans hoping for more from IU and Park Bo Gum. Theyโve known each other since their teens, working together on a commercial, and later crossed paths in The Producers. Now in their 30s, When Life Gives You Tangerines marks their first full project as leadsโand itโs clear theyโve got something special.
Will they team up again? Only time will tell. For now, this unscripted hug has cemented their place as one of K-dramaโs most beloved pairs.
To know the latest developments about When Life Gives You Tangerines, keep an eye on VvipTimes, and allow notifications from us to get instant updates on your device.
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