Portrait of IU and Park Bo Gum Discussing Their 13-Year Friendship

IU and Park Bo Gum revealed more about their 13-year friendship in a recent interview with Teen Vogue. 

IU explained that one of the main reasons she accepted the role in When Life Gives You Tangerines was because Park Bo Gum was her co-star.

"If I remember correctly, when I first heard that Bo-gum would play Gwan-sik, the first thing that came out of my mouth was, 'Is it allowed for him to be that handsome? Can Gwan-sik be that beautiful?' Because if he is that handsome, I’m sure everyone on the island will have a crush on him, and I think he won’t be able to stay there," IU's reaction when she was going to be Park Bo Gum's co-star.

Park Bo Gum added, "For me too, when I heard the news about this casting, he is someone I have long wanted to work with, both as an actress and an artist."

He then shared the story behind their friendship, "When we were teenagers, we first met while shooting a commercial together. Then in our 20s, I had a cameo appearance in the drama The Producers, so we met briefly at that time. Now, in our 30s, we are finally working on the same project."

Park Bo Gum also said that he feels very comfortable with IU, "Moreover, because we are the same age, our chemistry feels very natural. We really feel comfortable with each other. I even wish the time we spent together could be longer. Now, when I look back, I feel that the shooting was very enjoyable, and I hope we can work together again in the future."

When Life Gives You Tangerines is a Korean drama set in the 1960s on Jeju Island, telling the story of a young poet named Ae-sun (played by IU) and Gwan-sik (played by Park Bo Gum), her loyal best friend who is always by her side.