₩60 Billion Blockbuster 'When Life Gives You Tangerines Soars'—But a New Nightmare Unfolds

As 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', the latest Netflix original series, continues to gain worldwide popularity, concerns over illegal streaming in China have resurfaced once again. This issue has become an ongoing nightmare for K-content creators.

Recent reports reveal that Douban (豆瓣), a popular Chinese content review platform, has opened a discussion board for the series, with over 30,000 user reviews already posted. Since Netflix is not officially available in China, this suggests that many viewers there are accessing the drama through illegal downloads and streaming platforms.

K-Content Piracy in China: A Recurring Problem

Professor Seo Kyung-duk from Sungshin Women's University addressed the issue, stating, “The same thing happened with Squid Game Season 2. At this point, illegal streaming of K-content in China seems to have become the norm. What’s even more concerning is that there is no sense of guilt about it.”

China’s piracy problem is nothing new. As K-content has gained global recognition, Korean dramas, films, and variety shows continue to be illegally distributed in China. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that Netflix does not officially operate in China, leading many viewers to use VPNs or illegal sharing sites to access the platform's content.

Beyond illegal streaming, the unauthorized use of Korean celebrities’ images and the production of copycat content inspired by hit K-dramas have also become widespread issues in China.

Professor Seo further criticized this trend, saying, “Instead of falsely claiming that Korea is stealing Chinese culture, Chinese netizens should first learn to respect the creative works of other countries.”

Global Popularity & Record-Breaking Success

Meanwhile, When Life Gives You Tangerines is dominating Netflix charts worldwide. The series has ranked in the Netflix Top 10 in 41 countries, including South Korea, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Turkey, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

According to Netflix’s latest report on March 19, the drama recorded 6 million views (calculated by dividing total watch hours by the series’ runtime) in its second week and secured the No.2 spot in Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English TV Series category).

A Story Rooted in Jeju’s History, Capturing Generations

The title When Life Gives You Tangerines comes from a Jeju dialect phrase meaning “You’ve worked hard”. The drama tells the life story of Ae-soon (played by IU) and Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum), spanning across the four seasons of Jeju. The narrative stretches from the 1960s to 2025, with Moon So-ri and Park Hae-joon portraying the characters’ middle-aged versions, delivering a deeply moving generational story.

The second act (Episodes 5-8), released on March 14, beautifully intertwines the past struggles of the parents’ generation with the experiences of their children, leaving a profound emotional impact on viewers. The show’s detailed depiction of historical transitions from 1960s Jeju to 1980s Seoul has been particularly praised for enhancing its immersive storytelling.

With the drama’s popularity soaring, anticipation for Act 3 (Episodes 9-12) is growing. When Life Gives You Tangerines Act 3 is set to premiere on Netflix on March 21.