Two Blockbusters Defining the 2025–2026 Season: Why "When Life Gives You Tangerines" and "When the Phone Rings" Are Breaking Records

Behind-the-scenes details, broadcast analytics, and official links for IU & Park Bo-gum’s Jeju period epic and Yoo Yeon-seok & Chae Soo-bin’s mystery-romance phenomenon.

K-Dramazing News & Broadcast Desk · Seoul · 2026-10-29

South Korean television and global streaming platforms are experiencing a landmark season led by two contrasting sensations: the sweeping generational period drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" (폭싹 속았수다) and the high-stakes romantic thriller "When the Phone Rings" (지금 거신 전화는).

Starring IU (Lee Ji-eun) and Park Bo-gum, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" reunites "My Mister" director Kim Won-seok with "When the Camellia Blooms" screenwriter Lim Sang-choon. Spanning from 1950s Jeju Island to modern Seoul, the series chronicles the lifelong bond between rebellious aspiring poet Ae-sun and steadfast Gwan-sik.

Meanwhile, MBC and Netflix’s "When the Phone Rings" pairs Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin as a presidential spokesperson and a sign-language interpreter trapped in a three-year political marriage of convenience—until a mysterious kidnapper calls every night at 10 PM.

Explore the official broadcast links, IMDb pages, and full drama cards below to add both series to your personal marathon tracker.

• When Life Gives You Tangerines: 16 Episodes · Netflix · Starring IU & Park Bo-gum.
• When the Phone Rings: 12 Episodes · MBC / Netflix · Starring Yoo Yeon-seok & Chae Soo-bin.
• Use the direct links below to open official IMDb, Netflix, and in-app drama detail pages.