'When Life Gives You Tangerines' Was Named The Best K-Drama Of 2025—Here's Why Everyone Fell in Love

Not every unforgettable K-drama comes with fantasy worlds or plot twists that leave you screaming at your laptop screen. When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring IU and Park Bo-gum, was crowned TIME Magazine's Best K-Drama of 2025 for doing the opposite. It's about life, in all its messy, beautiful, laugh-out-loud, tear-jerking glory with scenes that hit a little too close to home (in the best way).

Directed by Kim Won-suk and written by Lim Sang-choon, the show follows Ae-sun (IU) and Gwan-sik (Bo-gum) across four seasons of life—from Jeju Island childhood adventures to the adult grind of love, family, and friendship. Won-suk has said the series was meant to "[help] break down the invisible barriers between generations, genders, and just people in general."

The magazine praised the drama as "one of the year's best TV series, full stop," highlighting how it turns ordinary moments into compelling, heartfelt storytelling. Translation: it's deep, relatable, and so moving—you might need tissues… or maybe a cheeky bottle of soju.

What sets the series apart is its heart. Ae-sun's journey from a spirited child to a resilient woman, alongside Gwan-sik's steadfast devotion, is enriched by a cast of ordinary-yet-unforgettable characters (shoutout to Ae-sun's haenyeo mom and the whole community who just get it) who make you feel like you're part of their world. These authentic, heartfelt connections pull you right into their world, making you laugh, cry, and root for them episode after episode.

IU shared in a Netflix interview that portraying Ae-sun across different stages of life was what initially drew her to the role. "It is such a beautiful love story, and working alongside Bo-gum as my partner, that sealed the deal," she said.

For Bo-gum, it was the drama's multi-seasonal arc and timeless message that made it impossible to say no. "It's a drama series I would be proud to watch with my family even though quite a lot of time has passed," he shared, adding that working with IU was, obviously, a major plus.

And the industry felt the same way. When Life Gives You Tangerines emerged as one of 2025's biggest awards darlings, earning top honors at major ceremonies like the Blue Dragon Series Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards, including wins for Best Drama and acting accolades for IU and Yeom Hye-ran. IU and Bo-gum also took home the Best Couple Award at the Asia Artist Awards, sealing their status as one of the year's most beloved on-screen pairings.

While other K-dramas like Way Back Love, Squid Game Season 3, and Tempest also made TIME's Top 10, When Life Gives You Tangerines stood out for its emotional storytelling, cultural impact, and ability to make the ordinary feel remarkable. TIME wrote: "Anyone can make the fantastical seem extraordinary. But to make the ordinary feel extraordinary without losing any of its complexity or texture? What a rare and precious feat."

You can stream all episodes of When Life Gives You Tangerines on Netflix. 🍊