SISTAR’s Soyou Points Out This Inaccuracy In IU And Park Bo Gum’s K-Drama When Life Gives You Tangerines

As a Jejuan, this is what Soyou thinks the drama got wrong.

Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines is now one of the most popular K-Dramas of 2025. With its stellar cast and heartwrenching plot, the show gained instant worldwide popularity soon after its release in March this year. Based on Jeju Island, the IU and Park Bo Gum drama portrays the lifestyle, culture, and emotional lives of the residents of Jeju Island. In a recent interview, SISTAR’s Soyou pointed out a big inaccuracy in the drama that is now catching everyone’s attention.

What SISTAR’s Soyou Said About When Life Gives You Tangerines

Yet not everybody was satisfied or smitten by When Life Gives You Tangerines, specifically Jeju-born idol Soyou. The SISTAR member was recently a guest on Sung Si Kyung’s YouTube channel, and he asked her about her opinions concerning When Life Gives You Tangerines. In her response to the question, Soyou said that she was a little disappointed by the drama.

The remark surprised Sung Si Kyung, who jokingly exclaimed, “Let’s cut that part out.” But Soyou was quick to explain herself. She said she enjoyed the drama as a whole and was not criticising the acting or plot. What disappointed her, however, was that there was no use of Jeju dialect in the series. This made the drama feel a bit inauthentic in its portrayal of Jeju.

#Soyou of #SISTAR who was born in Jeju,moved to Seoul at age of 8,honestly saying that she was “a little disappointed” with #WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines.There wasn’t as much Jeju dialect as she expected,so as someone from Jeju,she didn’t feel there was much she could contribute pic.twitter.com/3dQoFF29CX

— Susu (@Susu668891Susu) July 17, 2025

SISTAR’s Soyou clarified that she had hoped for more genuine native speech, particularly as the drama heavily revovles around Jeju culture. She contrasted it to Our Blues, another Jeju-set K-Drama that was set on the Jejy Island and incorporated the dialect in its dialogues masterfully.

Soyou said with Our Blues, she felt represented while eatching the drama, the singer also elaborated how she would explain her culture to her friends through the show. This was something she could not do with When Life Gives You Tangerines, “It wasn’t that I was dissatisfied with the quality,” she said, “but as a person from Jeju, I just didn’t think I could specifically add anything.” 

Also Read: Did You Know When Life Gives You Tangerines Is Based On A True Story? More Details Inside!

Even though SISTAR Soyou’s remarks drew some criticsm from fans of the show, most people agreed with her and urged filmmakers to pay more attention and accuracy to detail while making their K-dramas.

Also Read: When Life Gives You Tangerines’ Jeju Island Will Make You Obsessed With THESE 3 Skincare Secrets

First Published: July 17, 2025 11:52 AM