INTERVIEW Park Hae-joon sheds 'nation's adulterer' image, plays devoted husband in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'

Actor Park Hae-joon / Courtesy of Netflix

Park Hae-joon, once infamously known as the "nation's adulterer" for his portrayal of an unfaithful husband in the 2020 drama "The World of the Married," is reclaiming his screen persona — this time as the "nation’s romantic lead."

In the Netflix's acclaimed series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," Park delivers a heartfelt performance as Yang Gwan-sik, a devoted husband and selfless family man.

Park shared that he laughed and cried along with viewers while experiencing the story of "When Life Gives You Tangerines," adding that portraying the devoted Gwan-sik proved to be more challenging than his previous role as an adulterous husband.

"Portraying a shameless character committing adultery had a certain thrill and catharsis because it allowed me to act out something that I don't do in real life. However, playing Gwan-sik was more demanding as it constantly made me reflect on myself and draw parallels to my own life," he said during an interview with The Korea Times at The Ambassador Seoul — A Pullman Hotel in central Seoul, Tuesday.

In the 16-part drama, telling the life stories of spirited Ae-sun and steadfast Gwan-sik set against the backdrop of Jeju Island, the 48-year-old actor portrays the middle-aged Gwan-sik, taking over from Park Bo-gum, who played the younger years of the character.

Understanding Gwan-sik

While filming, Park at times felt a sense of embarrassment when reflecting on his own family life.

"It was a role that pushed me to question whether I deserved to portray such a character. After filming, I would come home and look at my wife, feeling determined to treat her better. This role became a turning point for me in real life, inspiring me to change and grow alongside the character," he explained.

Actors Park hae-joon, left, and IU are seen in a scene from the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines." Courtesy of Netflix

Park received praise for his depiction of Gwan-sik as he transitions from youthful days to a dedicated family man striving to protect his loved ones. Injured while working on a squid boat, he loses the ability to bend his right index finger. As he ages, one of his legs becomes impaired, making it difficult for him to walk the stairs and as he falls ill from cancer, he gets weaker.

The actor put significant effort into preparing for the hospital scenes in which Gwan-sik is shown undergoing chemotherapy. To show a visibly gaunt appearance, he lost 7 to 8 kilograms in one week using methods similar to how martial artists cut weight before matches.

"I prepared for these scenes over two weeks. During the first week, I drank 3 liters of water daily and then reduced it to 500 milliliters per day for another week. I also did half-body baths and cardio exercises to drain water weight from my body," he said.

"On the day of filming, I didn’t drink any water starting the previous day, which left me completely drained. I had no strength in my gaze. Since there were three hospital scenes to shoot, I asked the director to film them all in one day and that's how we managed it."

Bringing Jeju to life

With a production budget exceeding 60 billion won ($41 million), the drama recreated a Jeju village entirely at a set in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, and seamlessly added the ocean scenes with computer-generated graphics.

"They basically built an entire village," the actor said. "They even created a harbor where they could film fishing boats up close. When I first arrived there, I was completely blown away. I couldn’t help but wonder how they managed to pull it off. Even the small details, like the props in the supermarket or the furnishings in each room and house, were crafted with such care and precision."

He spilt the beans that scenes involving close-up shots of boats and sunrise moments on the water were mostly created using computer graphics.

"I’m hesitant to reveal this because it might break the viewers’ sense of wonder, but on set, there was a pool of water, strong wind machines blowing and cranes shaking the ship constantly. Then, once the crane stopped and the boat was still rocking, we had to deliver our lines. It was such a chaotic environment where even a slight lapse in focus could ruin everything," he said.

Despite the physical and emotional demands of the role, Park said he was drawn in not by the character, but by the whole story — written by the elusive Lim Sang-choon, known for her deeply human storytelling.

"The writer's words were so beautiful — so much so that I couldn't fully grasp them. I was amazed at how perfectly the dialogue matched each moment. The direction was equally impressive; seeing the effort behind every scene made me realize how much care went into the production. It's gratifying and humbling that viewers continue to discover and appreciate these details," he said.