Who is the enigmatic author behind Netflix hit When Life Gives You Tangerines?

By Park Jin-hai Netflix’s Korean drama series When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring IU and Park Bo-gum, is a heart-rending drama that delicately portrays the beautiful yet harsh stories of three generations of women – Ae-sun’s mother, Ae-sun and her daughter – from the 1960s to the present day against the backdrop of South Korea’s Jeju Island. In a Korean society permeated with patriarchy, Ae-sun’s mother, a woman of unwavering strength, vows to shield her daughter from the demanding life of a haenyeo diver. Meanwhile, Ae-sun (IU), a young poet at heart, confronts the harsh reality of poverty, forgoing her university dreams, yet instils in her own daughter Geum-myeong (also played by IU) the belief that she can achieve anything. In an episode when Ae-sun brings home a tricycle for her daughter, her mother-in-law tells her, “What’s the point of a girl riding a bike”? and insists she sell it for money. Ae-sun retorts: “If she can’t even ride a tricycle, she’ll spend her whole life in the kitchen. I want her to have everything. I don’t want her to set the table. I want her to be the one to flip it.” Geum-myeong, an ambitious English major at Seoul National University, resolutely forges her own path, despite persistent financial hardships. The series captures both the beauty and struggles of the three generations of women, unfolding against the backdrop of Jeju Island’s four seasons, a metaphor for life’s cyclical nature. The drama’s broad appeal has sparked a strong fascination with its reclusive creator, known only by the pen name Lim Sang-choon. Despite her growing influence in the industry, Lim has remained largely anonymous since her debut in 2013 and her reclusive nature has generated considerable intrigue. She typically avoids interviews and remains secretive about her personal details. In a previous interview, she noted: “I don’t think it’s good for the writer to be in front of the work. I want to remain in the role of delivering the story to the viewers.” She opted not to reveal her age, face or real name. Based on scant clues from a 2017 interview during the drama Fight For My Way, she is believed to be a self-taught female writer now in her early forties, who began screenwriting in her late twenties. Lim has established her unique domain by presenting universally relatable and deeply humane dramas. She is credited with storytelling that draws out the extraordinary from the stories of ordinary people. The four-part KBS drama Becky’s Back (2016) catapulted Lim into the spotlight. This work, set on tranquil Seomwol Island, centred on the return of the island’s Scarlett O’Hara figure Yang Baek-hee, also known as Becky, with her daughter after an 18-year absence. Her quest to identify the girl’s father creates comedic chaos as three men – each with a past connection to Baek-hee – undertake their own idiosyncratic investigations into Ok-hee’s parentage, drawing comparisons with Mamma Mia. The drama offered a narrative on healing, exploring Baek-hee’s past traumas, the circumstances that led to her departure and the redemptive power of community. Initially conceived as a filler, the series defied expectations, securing high ratings and acclaim for its compelling depiction of love and redemption through time. This laid the groundwork for the writer to pen more dramas for KBS. Fight for My Way (2017) is Lim’s first full-length drama, and stars Park Seo-jun and Kim Ji-won. It tells the story of four young people who are treated as “second grade” because of their poverty and lack of qualifications. Their love for each other in the face of adversity brought joy to viewers. The drama encouraged those who are weary, urging them to go for it and to embrace the spirit of youth by taking chances. When the Camellia Blooms (2019) shows the power of love through Hwang Yong-sik (Kang Ha-neul), who offers unwavering support to Oh Dong-baek (Gong Hyo-jin), a single mother who faces loneliness and prejudice. Despite the hurtful judgment from villagers, Dong-baek finds solace in the quiet support of her neighbours. Dong-baek’s maternal love and Yong-sik’s pure affection made drama fans laugh and cry. With its compelling mix of romance and thriller, the drama achieved over 20 per cent in viewership ratings, cementing Lim as one of Korea’s most influential drama writers. It vividly depicts how harsh and despairing women’s lives can be. But it still maintains hope, love and the humanity of gender equality Kim Hern-sik, TV critic on When Life Gives You Tangerines Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said Lim is the one who began to incorporate social themes into melodramas that had previously mostly focused on personal love. “These ‘social melodramas’ began to explore love within the context of society or class and even addressed issues of social minorities and discrimination. Lim is a prime example,” he said. “Fight for My Way captured the raw, vibrant struggle of young hearts forging their own paths, defying a world that dismisses them as ‘lesser’. And in When the Camellia Blooms, she gifted us a vision of profound community, where love triumphs over prejudice, a tender story of belonging spun from the purest affection.” When Life Gives You Tangerines bears all the hallmarks of Lim’s storytelling: resilience, human connection and the strength to challenge the status quo. It portrays the spirited and rebellious Ae-sun, who yearns to escape Jeju but finds herself trapped in an inescapable cycle, forced to compromise with reality. By her side stands the steadfast Gwan-sik. Despite their challenging circumstances, Ae-sun and Gwan-sik are surrounded by neighbours who genuinely support and cheer them on. Even in the face of losing a child and struggling to find meaning in life, the neighbours offer silent assistance. Although their words may seem gruff, their hearts are filled with warmth. The drama highlights the importance of human connection. In this drama, IU takes on two roles as the younger version of Ae-sun and Ae-sun’s daughter Geum-myeong. Actor Moon So-ri portrays the middle-aged Ae-sun. Critic Jung says IU’s dual role was an ingenious move for the drama. “It is not just a single actor playing two roles for functional convenience, but a device that supports the parent-child narrative, where the mother’s story continues through the daughter,” he explained. “While the work is filled with Korean elements in its historical background, the universality of this story can be seen as being created within the framework of family. Relationships and affection, though from different cultural spheres, can be relatable or aspirational not only in Korea and neighbouring Asian regions, but also beyond.” Another critic, Kim Hern-sik, noted how the strength of this drama lies in authenticity. “While focusing on women’s narratives, spanning three generations, it vividly depicts how harsh and despairing women’s lives can be. But it still maintains hope, love and the humanity of gender equality,” he said. “Ae-sun and Gwan-sik show that no matter how difficult life’s twists and turns may be, they can be overcome with a steadfast companion by their side. The storyline, which makes you dream of the future despite despair, provides positive strength to live and leaves a deep impression.” Read the full story at The Korea Times.

Who is the enigmatic author behind Netflix hit When Life Gives You Tangerines?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}K-drama writer Lim Sang-choon likes to stay out of the limelight, but her dramas, telling deeply humane stories, deserve recognition

K-drama writer Lim Sang-choon likes to stay out of the limelight, but her dramas, telling deeply humane stories, deserve recognition