The swim that broke the internet: When Life Gives You Tangerines cast reveal BTS behind that iconic scene

The world is currently crushing on Netflix's recent K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines and for all the right reasons.

The K-drama follows childhood best friends Oh Ae-sun (IU) and Ywan Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) as they navigate their teenage and adulthood years with their strong love for each other. The show is being praised for their passionate love story that perseveres even through time and seasons.

Even if you have not watched the show yet, you must have come across Park Bo-gum's iconic swimming scene. In the K-drama, after Ae-sun and Gwan-sik part ways and the latter is aboard a ship, Ae-sun calls for him.

Gwan-sik hears her distant cry and jumps from the ship, crossing the ocean amidst a storm. The two lovers finally reunite on the shore and embrace each other in an emotionally charged scene.

The scene is making rounds on social media and people are swooning over Gwan-sik's unconditional love for Ae-sun, which even made him cross an ocean for her.

While the scene is intense and emotional, the behind-the-scenes are equally intriguing.

Here is how the iconic scene in When Life Gives You Tangerines was executed.

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The flawless execution behind Park Bo-gum's viral scene in When Life Gives You Tangerines

Even long after watching When Life Gives You Tangerines, the scene where Gwan-sik heroically crosses an ocean for the love of his life stays with you. Knowing their love and the context of that situation makes it even more emotional and there's a reason it was trending all over social media.

While the scene was visually and emotionally aesthetic and a turning point in the main character's story, the behind-the-scenes were equally challenging. Many people were even assuming that it was CGI, as who would actually cross oceans in freezing temperatures when technology exists? The answer is Park Bo-gum!

In a BTS special released by Netflix, the When Life Gives You Tangerines cast takes you behind the execution of this viral swimming scene that made Bo-gum's Gwan-sik a hit among the ladies.

Talking about her co-star's dedication and execution of that scene, IU revealed Bo-gum actually performed it:

“He actually swam in the ocean. Bo Gum really struggled with the entire sequence.''

Confirming this, Park Bo-gum added:

“Some might think it was CGI, but it wasn’t. I really swam in the middle of the ocean. What I really liked about this was when I was swimming, I actually heard them cheering for me.''

Actress Moon So-ri, who plays the middle-aged Ae-sun was equally impressed with Bo-gum's swimming skills and even playfully hoped that the actor would have gone to the Olympics for their country.

Looking at Bo-gum's determination and performance in that scene, it is clear that the actor is also cut out to pursue athletics like his character in When Life Gives You Tangerines.

Remembering the filming conditions on that particular day, Director Kim Won Seok added:

“We even filmed on rainy days. It took two days in Busan and two in Gangneung. Everyone worked so hard. Since this was filmed early on, both the writers and actors were thrilled when they saw the edited version. It was worth the effort.”

In Netflix's BTS special, IU even says the iconic dialogue Ae-sun said to Gwan-sik, asking him if he is a whale. Bo-gum's swimming skills and how he managed to perform that scene in such freezing temperatures are testaments to his professionalism and passion for acting.

Like many K-drama scenes that are etched in fans' memories, Gwan-sik's swimming scene from When Life Gives You Tangerines is here to stay and will be remembered as an iconic scene even after many years.

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Also Read: After his breakthrough role, Park Bo-Gum will star in an action K-drama