Park Bo-gum, long known for his youthful charm, has captured viewers in a new light as a quietly powerful father figure in the Netflix drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines."

The 31-year-old actor plays the younger version of Yang Gwan-sik, a steadfast husband and father who remains devoted to his wife Ae-soon (played by IU) and their children as they navigate hardship and loss.

Though his character is soft-spoken, Park delivers deep emotion through subtle expressions and controlled gestures, bringing viewers across generations to tears.

The drama, which began streaming on March 7, has remained No. 1 on Netflix Korea’s popularity chart and climbed to No. 2 globally in the non-English TV category. Episodes are released in sets of four each week, with the final episodes scheduled for release Friday.

A return with emotional weight

“When Life Gives You Tangerines” marks Park’s first project since completing his military service in 2022. He was so drawn to the role he even postponed another drama to take on the part.

"I was deeply moved by the adults in the script who protect the vulnerable. The warmth in this story made me want to be part of it," he said Monday at a press conference at Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul.

As Gwan-sik, Park embodies the spirit of a man who rarely speaks but expresses love through action. He sells vegetables at the market in place of his shy wife, gives his children the best portions of every meal and never once complains about his hard life as a fisherman.

Park described Gwan-sik as someone who quietly protects and cherishes those he loves. “Everyone has the heart to care for and look after their people, just like Gwan-sik,” he said. “They just don’t always show it. I believe there are people like Gwan-sik out there in the world.”

He reflected on the character’s emotional foundation, attributing it to the love he received from his own family. “I think the love Gwan-sik gives is rooted in the love he received from his grandmother, father and mother. When you’ve experienced deep love, you’re able to give even more of it.”

Because Gwan-sik lives surrounded by the people he loves, Park said he never saw the character as pitiful. “I always thought Gwan-sik’s happiness level was fully charged,” he said. “He gave everything so his family could do what they wanted to do. That’s not sad to me. It’s admirable.”

Yet even the strongest man can break, and Gwan-sik does when he loses his three-year-old son. Park said he grappled with how to convey such sorrow. “There was a line in the script that read, ‘A father’s cry shook the earth.’ I felt the most honest way to show that grief was for him to simply collapse in silence. I hoped that moment might bring someone comfort.”

Another scene that captured viewers’ attention was Gwan-sik swimming from a boat to the harbor to reach Ae-soon. Park, a former competitive swimmer through middle school, performed the scene himself.

“It was my first time swimming in the ocean, and the current kept pushing me sideways,” he said. “But I thought, ‘When else will I get a chance like this?’ and just did it.”

On working with IU

Park also expressed his admiration for screenwriter Lim Sang-choon. Despite portraying a father of three in the 1950s, Park said the role felt surprisingly natural thanks to the script's strength.

“It’s not a time I’ve lived through, but when I read what writer Lim Sang-choon wrote, I understood it all. I could relate,” he said. “During the script reading, it felt like every single character was alive.”

To bring Gwan-sik to life, Park also made physical changes to suit the role. “Since the character used to swim, I gained some weight. The makeup team helped create a sun-tanned look. And because Gwan-sik doesn’t talk much, I lowered my voice for the role.”

Although Gwan-sik is from Jeju Island, he rarely speaks in the Jeju dialect. “The director told me that Gwan-sik’s father is from Jeju, but his mother is from another region. So I tried to blend a bit of the Jeju dialect with the rhythm of his mother’s speech," Park explained.

On working with IU, his co-star who portrays Ae-soon, Park said, “It’s rare to act alongside someone your own age, and I had so much fun working with her. Seeing her go through every emotional beat as Ae-soon, then play her own daughter Geum-myung and prepare for her concerts at the same time, I thought, ‘She has incredible emotional stamina.’ I really wanted to tell her, ‘You’ve truly given your all to this project.’”

Looking ahead to the final episodes, Park said, “After watching the ending, I think people will feel a desire to express their love more openly to those they care about. I hope this drama stays in their hearts for a long time.”

A singer at heart

Though best known as an actor, Park originally dreamed of becoming a singer-songwriter. He first submitted videos of himself singing and playing piano to entertainment agencies but was encouraged to pursue acting.

He made his debut in the 2011 film “Blind” and rose to fame as Choi Taek, a genius go player, in the hit drama “Reply 1988.”

His passion for music remains strong. Park hosted KBS’s “Music Bank” for over a year and now leads the KBS music variety show “The Seasons: Park Bo-gum’s Cantabile,” which began airing this month.

He is also set to star in JTBC’s upcoming comedy-action drama “Good Boy” in May, playing Yoon Dong-joo, a gold medal-winning boxer-turned-special recruit police officer. (The Korea Times)