Lee Jun-young steals spotlight in “When Life Gives You Tangerines”

By KTimes

Actor Lee Jun-young is emerging as a scene-stealer in the second act of Netflix’s "When Life Gives You Tangerines," captivating global viewers with his impressive performance.

In episodes 5 through 8 of the series, released on March 14, Lee plays Park Young-beom, a pure and devoted young man who only has eyes for one woman. His portrayal of a lovestruck yet earnest character has drawn praise for its warmth and sincerity.

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" tells the life story of Ae-soon and Gwan-sik, two individuals born and raised on Jeju Island, portrayed across different decades. The series explores their unpredictable lives through the changing seasons, depicting their innocent teenage years, the challenges of youth, and their eventful journey into adulthood and parenthood.

The second act focuses on the characters in their twenties as they face the hardships of the real world and begin their lives as young parents.

Lee appears as Young-beom, the boyfriend of Yang Geum-myung (played by IU). He makes a strong first impression at a Seoul National University entrance ceremony, instantly falling for Geum-myung and unable to take his eyes off her.

Later, after enlisting in the military, Young-beom visits her during his leave and runs into her father, Gwan-sik (played by Park Hae-joon). Recognizing Gwan-sik from the ceremony, Young-beom confidently greets him with, “Hello, Father,” only to be met with Gwan-sik’s curt response, “Why would I be your father?” a humorous moment that added lightness to the drama.

Despite being rejected by Geum-myung eight times, Young-beom remains steadfast in his feelings, and Lee’s charming portrayal of this unwavering affection adds both humor and heart to the story.

His steady acting skills, honed through numerous previous roles, have elevated the emotional depth of the series and heightened anticipation for what’s to come.

The third act of "When Life Gives You Tangerines," featuring Young-beom and Geum-myung’s evolving relationship, is set to premiere on Netflix on Friday.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.