Netflix Signs New Deal with Jeju After Success of When Life Gives You Tangerines

On May 16 (KST), Netflix signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Jeju Province at Hyangsadang in Jeju City. This move comes after the success of When Life Gives You Tangerines, a 2025 Netflix original that connected deeply with viewers worldwide and brought attention to Jeju’s unique stories.

The new partnership is focused on developing and promoting content that captures Jeju’s local identity—from its traditions and history to its people and natural beauty. As part of the agreement, the Jeju government will help smooth out collaboration across public departments to make filming and production easier for Netflix teams working in the region.

Jeju’s governor Oh Young Hoon attended the signing ceremony along with Kim Min Young, who leads Netflix’s content operations across the Asia-Pacific region. Both emphasized that this collaboration would be good for everyone—boosting the local economy and helping Netflix bring new types of stories to its global audience.

This decision was clearly influenced by When Life Gives You Tangerines, a show that turned out to be more than just a streaming hit. It became a cultural moment—telling a mature, grounded story deeply rooted in life on Jeju Island. From the lives of the island’s famous Haenyeos (female divers) to the close-knit communities and rural rhythms, the show painted a sincere picture of Jeju. And viewers responded.

Right after it dropped on Netflix, Tangerines ranked in the Global Top 10 for non-English series across 42 countries. It proved that even deeply local storytelling could reach a massive international audience.

Now, with this new deal in place, Netflix is looking to bring more of that Jeju flavor to screens everywhere.