Basic Korean Knowledge to Enjoy "When Life Gives You Tangerines"-(2)

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" Last Friday, the final episode (Part 4) was released, bringing the drama to a grand conclusion. Following up on my previous post, here are more intriguing details that will enhance your appreciation of the show.

when Life Gives You Tangerines

1. Why Park Chung-seob Was Scolded by the Cannes Theater Owner

At the time, the South Korean president had seized power through unconventional means. To suppress public discontent, the government implemented the ‘3S Policy’ (Sex, Screen, Sports), which led to a surge in erotic films being screened in theaters.

Park Chung-seob’s theater posters were not mere reflections of the movies; they incorporated his personal interpretations and artistic expressions. For instance, films like Byun Kang-soe and Madam Aema contained explicit content, yet his posters downplayed such elements, opting for a more stylized representation.

 

Madam Aema Poster(Left) - Byun Kang-soe Poster(Right)

2. Why Oh Ae-soon Hates the Color Red Bean

In a scene where Yang Geum-myeong prepares hanbok for her wedding with Park Yeong-beom, Park Yeong-beom’s mother forces Oh Ae-soon to wear red bean-colored hanbok, despite knowing she dislikes the color.

Why does Oh Ae-soon dislike this color?

The reason lies in her mother. Yang Gwan-sik’s grandmother, a shaman, believed that the spirit of Oh Ae-soon’s mother was attached to her, bringing misfortune to Yang Gwan-sik’s future. To counter this, the grandmother frequently scattered red beans, a traditional Korean practice believed to ward off spirits. Over time, this association made Oh Ae-soon develop a deep aversion to the color.

3. Why Park Chung-seob Couldn’t Catch the Bus

After completing his military service, Park Chung-seob sees Yang Geum-myeong on a bus and tries to chase after it but is ultimately blocked by a group of young girls.

This scene reflects the cultural shift in 1990s South Korea. During this time, Seo Taiji, a sensational pop icon, had an enormous fan following. His car would often be swarmed by teenage girls, causing chaos. Park Chung-seob’s failed attempt to catch the bus symbolizes the unprecedented influence of fan culture at the time.

4. The Significance of Jajangmyeon on Yang Eun-myeong’s Birthday

In the past, dining out at a Chinese restaurant and eating jajangmyeon was considered a luxury in Korea. Yang Gwan-sik, unable to provide a proper birthday celebration for his son, makes a heartfelt decision to treat him to jajangmyeon.

Jajangmyeon was more than just food—it was a symbol of celebration. Families would often eat it on special occasions like entrance or graduation ceremonies, making it a cherished tradition.

5. Korean Naming Culture

If you’ve noticed similarities in siblings’ names in the drama, it’s no coincidence. Korean names typically follow the structure: Surname (1 character) + Given Name (2 characters).

 

Traditionally, siblings or cousins would share one character in their given names, a practice known as hangnyeol, which signifies generational lineage. While this tradition is fading, if two people have the same surname and share a character in their names, they are likely relatives.

6. Why All Men Serve in the Military

The drama depicts characters like Park Yeong-beom, Park Chung-seob, and Yang Eun-myeong all serving in the military.

Since the Korean War armistice in 1950, South Korea has maintained mandatory military service for men between the ages of 19 and 35. The service period used to be 36 months but has now been reduced to 18 months. Refusing service results in legal consequences.

 

Why, then, is there no mention of Yang Gwan-sik’s military service? The drama does not explicitly explain this, but it may be related to Korea’s traditional preference for male heirs. In the past, military service often involved significant risks, with many soldiers being injured or even losing their lives. Because of this, if a family had only one male descendant for three generations, that individual was often exempt from military service to preserve the family lineage. This suggests that Yang Gwan-sik’s grandfather may have been an only son.

7. The Meaning of Chloe H. Lee (Hye-ran)’s Character

Korean society is heavily influenced by Buddhism, and many believe in the concept of reincarnation. According to this belief, good deeds in a past life result in a better rebirth.

 

Jeon Gwang-rye, Oh Ae-soon’s mother, lived a life of hardship and sacrifice for her daughter. The drama suggests that her accumulated virtue has returned through reincarnation. When Oh Ae-soon says, “Did you get to be reborn in this wonderful world?” it subtly alludes to this Buddhist philosophy.

8. Korean Wedding Traditions

In Korea, marriage involves multiple steps:

1. Both families must approve the marriage.
2. A sangyeonrye (formal meeting) is held, where both families dine together to confirm the marriage plans.
3. Wedding preparations begin: The groom prepares a house, while the bride furnishes it. Traditionally, the bride’s family also provides a monetary gift (ye-dan).
   • Ye-dan was originally intended to leave a good impression on the groom’s family. In the past, the bride would present bedding or clothing to the groom’s relatives, but today, this has been replaced with a monetary gift.
   • In the drama, the money Oh Ae-soon gives to Park Yeong-beom’s mother is ye-dan.
4. Wedding invitations (cheongcheopjang) are distributed.
   • When Yang Geum-myeong visits Oh Ae-soon, the stack of invitations spilling from the drawer symbolizes that her parents never distributed them, meaning few people knew about the wedding.
5. The wedding ceremony takes place.

9. The Meaning of the Drama Title

The Korean title, Poksak Sogassuda, is a Jeju dialect phrase that translates to “You’ve worked so hard.”

It is a heartfelt expression of gratitude, often directed at parents who sacrificed everything for their children. This phrase encapsulates the central theme of the drama—acknowledging the struggles and devotion of the older generation.

 

TMI 

Do you remember the child who received tutoring from Yang Geum-myeong? That high school girl was actually the same child actress who played the protagonist’s daughter in the Korean film Train to Busan.

 

Same actress

 

 

 

Basic Korean Knowledge to Enjoy "When Life Gives You Tangerines"-(1)

 

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