IU Says She Still Does Not Skip Shorts From When Life Gives You Tangerines Ahead of 20th Debut Anniversary

Singer-actress IU shared her continuing affection for the Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines and spoke about the mindset she is carrying as she approaches the 20th anniversary of her debut at the handprinting event for the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards.

The handprinting ceremony for the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards, also known as the BSA, was held on the morning of July 7 at CGV I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The event brought together winners who helped lead the previous year's K-content success, giving them a place to record and commemorate the honors they received last year.

IU, who won Best Actress at last year's Blue Dragon Series Awards, referred on site to When Life Gives You Tangerines. In the Netflix series set on Jeju Island in the 1950s, IU played both Ae-sun and Geum-myeong, taking on a dual role within the work.

"It has been one year since Blue Dragon, but I still cannot believe When Life Gives You Tangerines was last year's work," IU said. "I still often watch the series at home, and even when Shorts related to When Life Gives You Tangerines appear in my algorithm, I do not skip them. When Life Gives You Tangerines still takes up a large share of my algorithm."

Looking ahead to her 20th debut anniversary, IU emphasized diligence. "In my own way, I have tried to work sincerely for nearly 20 years," she said. "Working feels much more natural to me than everyday life, and I want to keep working for several times longer than 20 years." She added, "I am grateful to the fans who have protected and supported all of my activities. I think a steady person is the coolest kind of person, so I want to become someone like that."

Yum Hye-ran, who worked opposite IU in When Life Gives You Tangerines, also appeared at the event. Yum, winner of Best Supporting Actress, played Gwang-rye in the series and portrayed a mother-daughter relationship with IU's character.

Speaking about IU's appearance in Perfect Crown, Yum said, "I found myself thinking, how can she act like that so well too? I was proud of her, she acts so well, and I wanted to boast, 'Oh my, that is our daughter.'" IU responded to Yeom, who played her mother in the drama, by saying, "Because Hye-ran sunbaenim invited me, I happily watched the film No Other Choice. I feel reassured to be here together with her today."

Many of last year's winners attended the ceremony. Best Actor and Best Actress winners Ju Ji-hoon and IU were joined by Best Male Entertainer and Best Female Entertainer winners Kian84 and Lee Su-ji, as well as Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress winners Lee Kwang-soo and Yum Hye-ran. Choo Young-woo and Kim Min-ha, who won the rookie actor awards, also attended, along with rookie entertainer winners Moon Sang-hoon and Mimi.

Ju Ji-hoon, who won Best Actor for The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, delivered a witty comment, saying he had arrived after neatly trimming his fingernails. Lee Kwang-soo, who won Best Supporting Actor for Karma, joked that he had placed "Dad's handprint." Recalling an anecdote from last year's awards ceremony, when fellow actor Doh Kyung-soo had a lucky dream before the event, Lee said, "I hope he has that kind of dream again for the main ceremony."

The rookie award winners also shared their thoughts. Kim Min-ha, who won Best New Actress for the TVING original Way Back Love, said she found herself wondering whether a year had already passed. Choo Young-woo, who won Best New Actor for his role as Yang Jae-won in The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, said, "Thinking about last year makes me feel overwhelmed again, and I feel a sense of responsibility."

Kian84, winner of Best Male Entertainer, appeared alongside Lee Su-ji and IU. Saying he still felt dazed "to the point that I wonder if this is right," he spoke about Yoo Jae-suk Camp: "If Yoo Jae-suk hyung comes, I will become an employee and hyung will become the chief, so I think it would be good if everything came together." Asked about the possible addition of Lee Kwang-soo, a staff member on Yoo Jae-suk Camp, Kian84 held back with, "Then there would be more employees, so..." drawing laughter from the room.

The 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards will be held on July 31 at 8:30 p.m. at Chroma in Paradise City, Incheon, and will be broadcast live on KBS 2TV.