That’s Her? Park Bo-gum’s Mom in ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ Was Also in ‘The Glory’

As When Life Gives You Tangerines continues to leave a lasting impression with each new episode, viewers are now buzzing over a surprising revelation: the actress playing Gwan-sik’s mother is none other than Oh Min-ae—who also made a memorable appearance in The Glory.

In The Glory, she played the elegant yet calculating mother of Ha Do-yeong (Jung Sung-il), famously gifting her newborn granddaughter a “first Gucci” item, leaving a striking impression despite limited screen time. Now, in Tangerines, Oh Min-ae stuns again as Gye-ok, the emotionally complex mother of Gwan-sik.

But Gye-ok is no typical K-drama mom. She's a woman torn between deep affection for her son and a suffocating desire to control his life. While she once eloped for love in her youth, she can’t accept her son’s romantic devotion to Ae-sun, unleashing harsh judgment on her would-be daughter-in-law. Still, her eventual surrender to motherly instinct offers a powerful, humanizing twist.

Oh Min-ae plays the role with astonishing precision—whether clashing with young Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) or quietly fading into the background in later episodes with middle-aged Gwan-sik (Park Hae-joon). She even pours affection onto the family dog, Nureong, in a subtle portrayal of emotional displacement. Her performance resonates as deeply real—equal parts stern, fragile, and familiar.

From Bit Roles to Breakthrough

Though she's only recently come into the spotlight, Oh Min-ae is no newcomer. She debuted in 1999’s Memento Mori but spent decades in relative obscurity. “I was a bit-part actor for 30 years,” she once recalled. Along the way, she worked part-time jobs to stay afloat and even changed her stage name to Oh Joo-hee before eventually reclaiming her real name.

Her turning point came with a lead role in the stage play Arirang, followed by greater recognition in The Penthouse series and a breakout moment in The Glory. From the icy charisma of a chaebol mother to the earthy realism of a Gyeongsang Province matriarch, she’s proven her ability to embody vastly different worlds.

Most recently, she starred in the film About My Daughter, portraying a mother who unexpectedly ends up living with her daughter’s lesbian partner. The character—a caregiver by profession—was brought to life with extra depth thanks to Oh Min-ae’s own real-life experience caring for her in-laws and earning a caregiver license. Her performance reveals the layers and contradictions in what it means to be a mother—beyond just the title.

In When Life Gives You Tangerines, her portrayal of Gye-ok is drawing praise for being one of the most "real" depictions of motherhood in recent K-drama. She's calculating yet tender, controlling yet painfully human. And she’s doing it all while wearing a hanbok under the Jeju sun, as seen in a recent behind-the-scenes Instagram post that reveals the warm, smiling Oh Min-ae behind the stern screen persona.

In a past interview, she described acting as her way of “traveling through life.” She may have postponed her actual backpacking trip to India to pursue theater—but now, after 30 years of steady persistence, Oh Min-ae is finally arriving. Whatever role she takes on next, one thing is certain: she never just plays a character—she becomes someone real.

What’s Coming in Volume 4?

With When Life Gives You Tangerines set to wrap up with Volume 4 on March 28, fans are bracing for a final emotional rollercoaster. Titled “Winter,” the upcoming batch of episodes (13–16) will tie up the decades-long story of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, and potentially offer closure on their family's generational narrative.

The newly released trailer shows IU as both Ae-sun and her grown daughter, Yang Geum-myeong, dressed in a wedding gown—hinting at major developments and a full-circle moment for the family. Viewers can expect continued focus on family tensions, reconciliation, and love’s endurance across time.

A Drama That People Can't Stop Talking About

When Life Gives You Tangerines has consistently ranked among Netflix Korea’s Top 10 and is now gaining attention internationally as well. According to trending search data, these are the hottest keywords right now tied to the series:

IU and Park Bo-gum chemistry: Fans are still reeling from their emotionally charged performances as Ae-sun and Gwan-sik. The phrase “IU Park Bo-gum youth romance” has been trending.

Kim Seon-ho cameo rumors: Online chatter has spiked with speculation that Kim Seon-ho may make a special appearance in Volume 4, further heightening anticipation.

Tangerines Volume 4 ending theories: Korean and global forums are filled with predictions on whether Ae-sun and Gwan-sik will get a happy ending—or be left with bittersweet partings.

With its poetic storytelling, rich visuals, and layered characters, the drama has struck a rare balance between artistry and emotional resonance. Viewers are already calling it a future classic of Korean streaming content.