Why Do the Characters in “When Life Gives You Tangerines” Speak Differently? — A Quick Guide to Jeju Dialect

👋 Introduction

If you started watching “When Life Gives You Tangerines” (폭싹 속았수다),
you may have noticed that the characters speak Korean — but it sounds… different.

You're not imagining things!
The drama uses a special regional language called Jeju dialect, or Jeju-eo (제주어), which is native to Jeju Island, South Korea’s southernmost province.

Let’s take a look at what makes Jeju dialect so unique — and why it’s so important to the story.

https://www.netflix.com/kr

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📍 What Is Jeju Dialect?

Jeju dialect (제주 방언) is a form of Korean spoken on Jeju Island.
But it's not just a different accent — it's almost a different language!

In fact, UNESCO classifies Jeju dialect as an endangered language because fewer young people speak it today.

https://www.netflix.com/kr

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💡 How Is It Different from Standard Korean?

Here are a few examples that show how Jeju dialect differs from the Korean spoken in Seoul:

MeaningStandard KoreanJeju Dialect

Thank you	고마워요 (go-ma-wo-yo)	고맙수다 (go-map-su-da)
I don’t know	몰라요 (mol-la-yo)	모르쿠다 (mo-reu-ku-da)
Where are you going?	어디 가요? (eo-di ga-yo?)	어딜 가쿠광? (eo-dil ga-ku-gwang?)

• Ending sounds like “-수다” or “-쿠다” are common in Jeju dialect.
• Many vocabulary words are totally different.
• Even native Koreans from the mainland may not understand it easily.

https://www.netflix.com/kr

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🎬 Why It Matters in the Drama

The drama takes place in 1950s–2000s Jeju, when people still used Jeju dialect in everyday life.

By using real Jeju dialect in the dialogue, the drama:

• Honors the island’s cultural identity
• Shows the hardships and warmth of Jeju women
• Creates a more authentic, emotional connection for viewers

It’s not just about the words — it’s about the feeling behind them.

https://www.netflix.com/kr

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🤔 Is It Hard for Foreigners?

Yes — and even for many Koreans!

That’s why subtitles may show “standard” Korean or simplified English, not the real Jeju phrases.
But don’t worry! You can still enjoy the drama and feel the emotion behind the words, even if you don’t understand every line.

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💬 A Word You’ll Hear Often: “수다 (su-da)”

In Jeju dialect, this is an ending used for verbs.
So instead of saying “합니다 (ham-ni-da)” or “해요 (hae-yo)” like in standard Korean,
people say “하수다 (ha-su-da)” — and that’s why the title is “폭싹 속았수다”.

Pretty cool, right?

https://www.netflix.com/kr

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🌺 Final Thoughts

Jeju dialect isn’t just a quirky way of talking —
It’s the soul of Jeju Island and a key part of what makes “When Life Gives You Tangerines” so special.

So next time you watch an episode, listen closely.
You might not understand every word, but you’ll feel the heart behind it. ❤️

 

폭싹 속았수다

제주에서 태어난 ‘요망진 반항아’ 애순이와 ‘팔불출 무쇠’ 관식이의 모험 가득한 일생을 사계절로 풀어낸 넷플릭스 시리즈

시간

(2025-03-07~2025-03-28)

출연

아이유, 박보검, 문소리

채널

Netflix

 

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