When Life Gives You Tangerines ending explained: A profound farewell and the legacy of love

Netflix's When Life Gives You Tangerines concluded its 70-year tale on March 28, 2025, leaving viewers moved. The last episode, 'Here's to All You've Been Through,' ends with the tragic yet deeply poetic goodbye of Yang Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum, subsequently Park Hae-joon).

His terminal condition casts a show over the final few episodes of When Life Gives You Tangerines, but his last scenes are devoted to making sure his loving wife, Oh Ae-sun (IU, later Moon So-ri), can resume her life with a sense of direction.

Gwan-sik’s passing is a testament to the power of love, as Ae-sun reassures:

“Thanks to you, I was never lonely for a day”.

The episode does not linger only on sorrow, it is also a portrait of resilience as Ae-sun, their children, and the people of Jeju carry Gwan-sik's spirit.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. Readers’ discretion is advised.

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When Life Gives You Tangerines Ending: The symbolism behind Gwan-sik’s act and Ae-sun’s tribute

Gwan-sik's behavior reflects his commitment to Ae-sun. He gets her hairpins, fixes up their house, and reorganizes kitchen items so she won't have a hard time with high shelves—all actions that represent his love.

In return, Ae-sun shows her love by publishing a book of her poems, something she had earlier thought marriage had kept her from doing. She assures Gwan-sik that his existence in her life made her poetic life possible, not impossible.

As Gwan-sik dies in the hospital, Ae-sun bestows upon him one final warm smile—a tribute to his desire to recall her this way. All love must end in a goodbye, but Ae-sun doesn't regret holding Gwan-sik's hand and never letting go.

The final shot of When Life Gives You Tangerines is of her holding the book, which has a dedication:

“To my love, from age nine to now… every day was spring because of you.”

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When Life Gives You Tangerines ending: Ae-sun’s life after Gwan-sik

After Gwan-sik's death, their kids, Eun-myeong and Geum-myeong, follow different but equally significant trajectories.

Eun-myeong and his wife inherit the family restaurant in Jeju, while Geum-myeong becomes a successful CEO and wins back their grandmother's house—a reference to the determination across generations.

Ae-sun, instead of being consumed by isolation, directs her sorrow into poetry and teaching. She starts teaching older women in a Jeju nursing home, making literature and self-expression available to the women, who were denied similar opportunities in the past.

This represents Ae-sun's transformation from a defiant girl denied an education to a mentor transferring knowledge to future generations.

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When Life Gives You Tangerines Ending: Is Chloe Lee reincarnated?

One of the reveals in the finale is Chloe H. Lee, the editor who assists in the publication of Ae-sun's poetry. The show subtly hints that Chloe could potentially be the reincarnation of Ae-sun's mother, Gwang-rye.

Years ago, a teenage Chloe had found Ae-sun's ring in a canola field. Now, as a grown woman, she resembles Gwang-rye physically.

This poetic nod returns to an early observation of Ae-sun's:

“Why did you leave so soon, Mom? Were you reborn into a better life?”

When Life Gives You Tangerines, though open-ended, suggests that patterns of loss and rebirth characterize human life.

The last glimpse of Ae-sun looking out at the ocean, thinking about rebirth, leaves audiences with a sense of awe about destiny and connection.

Director Kim Won-seok explained to Netflix Korea:

“We focused on creating visually stunning yet realistic scenes, delivering nuanced performances, and selecting music that resonates with the audience.”

When Life Gives You Tangerines' stunning depiction of Jeju Island, from its haenyeo divers to its canola fields, not only creates an evocative setting but also roots the narrative in Korea's cultural heritage.

Although part of the series takes place in Seoul, its essence is in Jeju Island, paying tribute to the strength of its women. Establishing a Haenyeo Museum in the last episode also seals this tribute, focusing on the self-reliant nature of Jeju's women—a story also reflected in Ae-sun's own story.

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When Life Gives You Tangerines is streaming on Netflix.