The Devil’s in the Details… Is the Book IU Holds in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' a Hidden Clue?

Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines has captivated audiences worldwide, and now, even the smallest props in the drama are drawing attention.

The series follows the adventurous life of rebellious dreamer Ae-soon (played by IU) and steadfast Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum), unfolding their story through the four seasons on Jeju Island. Within just two weeks of release, the drama recorded 6 million views, ranking No. 2 in Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English) TV category, and securing a Top 10 spot in 41 countries, including Korea, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Turkey.

With such immense popularity, even the books and props featured in the drama have become a hot topic.

The Book That IU’s Character Holds: A Literary Treasure

One standout detail is the book Ae-soon holds while selling cabbages at the market during her school days—none other than the first issue of Changjak and Bipyeong (창작과비평), a historic Korean literary magazine. The cover displays the words “Winter 1966” along with the number “1”, confirming that this edition was first published on January 15, 1966.

Founded by Changjak and Bipyeongsa, the magazine has played a pivotal role in Korean literary and social criticism for over 60 years. It was even banned for seven years during South Korea’s military dictatorship in the 1980s, making it a powerful symbol of intellectual resistance.

📖 Yoo Chi-hwan’s Poetry Collection Cheongma Sicho (청마시초)

Ae-soon cherishes Yoo Chi-hwan’s first poetry collection, which features handwritten notes on the cover that read “A Handkerchief of Eternal Nostalgia.” Originally published in 1939, this book includes some of Yoo’s most iconic poems, such as Flag, Ipchu, and Yellow Sun. Ae-soon even exclaims, “I’ll only marry a man from Seoul! Never a guy from this island—especially one who doesn’t even know what nostalgia is!”

📖 The Norton Anthology of English Literature

In the later episodes, Ae-soon’s daughter, Geum-myung (played by IU again), who studies English literature at Seoul National University, is frequently seen carrying a book—the Korean-translated version of The Norton Anthology of English Literature, a must-read for English majors at the time.

📖 Yallasung Pamphlet (얄라셩 유인물)

Another intriguing prop is the “Yallasung” pamphlet, which Geum-myung holds on her first day of college. The flyer, featuring phrases like “A chance to experience a real film set in a friendly atmosphere”, references Yallasung, a film club founded at Seoul National University in 1979, recognized as Korea’s oldest university film society.

Director Kim Won-seok praised the art team’s dedication in crafting such a realistic and immersive setting. “Thanks to the incredible efforts of art directors Ryu Seong-hee, Choi Ji-hye, and props master Jang Jung-woo, we were able to achieve this level of detail,” he shared.

From literary classics to historically significant student pamphlets, When Life Gives You Tangerines is proving itself to be not just a drama, but a meticulously crafted period piece, drawing even deeper admiration from viewers worldwide.