IU is embarking on a new acting challenge, taking on two roles in the upcoming Netflix drama ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’, set to premiere on March 7th KST.

This drama marks IU’s first return to television in six years since ‘Hotel Del Luna’ (2019) and is gaining attention as a 600-billion-won blockbuster production. With screenwriter Im Sang Chun (‘Fight for My Way,’ ‘When the Camellia Blooms’) and director Kim Won Seok (‘Signal,’ ‘My Mister’) collaborating, anticipation is high.

Titled in Jeju dialect as a way of saying “Thank you for your hard work,” ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ tells the four-season story of rebellious Ae Soon, born in 1950s Jeju, and the steadfast Gwan Shik, who remains silently strong by her side.

IU plays Ae Soon during her teenage and young adult years, while veteran actress Moon So Ri takes over the role in adulthood. Notably, IU also plays Ae Soon’s daughter, showcasing her first-ever dual role.

Given her versatile performance as Jang Man Wol in ‘Hotel Del Luna’, a character haunted by centuries of resentment, expectations are high for IU’s acting transformation in this long-awaited return.

IU’s Ae Soon is described as a “yomangjin” character—a Jeju dialect term meaning “smart and spirited.” Despite facing poverty, island life, and gender discrimination, she fights through adversity with resilience and charm—a role that aligns well with IU’s natural charisma.

Director Kim Won Seok emphasized IU’s perfect fit for the role, stating, “You can’t separate Ae Soon from IU. This drama will showcase every charming side of IU that audiences have loved.”

To promote the drama, IU and her co-star Park Bo Gum will make a special appearance on KBS 1TV’s ‘Gayo Stage’, a long-running program traditionally dedicated to trot and adult contemporary music.

In a unique marketing move targeting older audiences, IU and Park Bo Gum will perform a duet in 1970s-style school uniforms, inspired by their drama characters. Their special stage is set to air mid-March.

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