When Life Gives You Tangerines tops IMDb charts, beats Squid Game

Life Gives You Tangerines creates new IMDb records

Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines is rewriting the K-drama playbook. Starring IU and Park Bo Gum, the emotional drama has achieved an extraordinary feat—becoming the highest-rated Korean drama on IMDb, surpassing global hits like Squid Game, Kingdom, and The Glory.

As of early April 2025, the series holds a stunning IMDb rating of 9.3 out of 10, a leap from its initial score of 8.7. Its finale, Episode 16, alone received a near-perfect score of 9.8, while 12 of the 16 episodes have scored over 9.0—an unheard-of accomplishment in the world of Korean dramas. For comparison, Squid Game sits at 8.0, Move to Heaven and Kingdom Season 2 at 8.5, and The Glory Season 2 at 8.1.

When Life Gives You Tangerines has taken over Netflix viewership too. According to Wikitree, Netflix Korea reached 14.09 million monthly active users in March 2024, setting a new national record previously held by The Glory. On March 29, 2025, the show attracted 4.05 million daily active users, marking its highest single-day engagement since Squid Game Season 2 aired in late 2023.

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Globally, it continues its domination. As per FlixPatrol, the series held the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s non-English TV charts from March 17–23 and currently ranks No. 8 worldwide.

Much of the drama’s success can be attributed to its unique storytelling and powerful performances. IU, in a remarkable dual role as Oh Ae Sun and her daughter, delivers a tour-de-force performance. Park Bo Gum’s portrayal of Yang Gwan Sik is equally compelling, with critics and fans hailing it as a career-defining role.