By Honorary Reporter Ghada Mohamed Ali from Egypt

Photos = Park Sung-il

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" is a coming-of-age hit series set on Jeju Island. Behind the emotional soundscape is Park Sung-il, one of Korea's top composers of K-drama soundtracks.

Hailing from Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, Park engineers the delicate balance between technical precision and emotional resonance. With a doctorate in practical music from Sejong University, he continues to refine his craft with each new project.

In this email interview from March 10 to April 8, Park discusses his creative approach to scoring the K-drama, how the setting influenced his musical choices and the reason for a unique sonic narrative.

Park Sung-il composes the soundtrack of a K-drama while watching the final edited footage.

Briefly introduce yourself and your musical influences.

I started learning piano at age 7 because my father encouraged me to take lessons. After studying classical composition at art school, I made my professional debut while in high school, writing for K-pop artists like Park Hyo-shin and Jang Nara. Growing up near a U.S. military base in Uijeongbu, Korea exposed me to diverse music ranging from piano-centric artists like Billy Joel and Elton John to R&B acts like Babyface and Boyz II Men. In 2002, I entered the K-drama industry with "Ruler of Your Own World"; I was drawn to the fusion of music and visual storytelling during K-dramas' rapid growth.  

How did you approach the music for "When Life Gives You Tangerines?"

Director Kim Won-seok, whom I previously worked with on the dramas "Signal" (2016) and "My Mister" (2018), invited me to join this project. My process began with an in-depth reading of the script, which moved me to tears and spontaneously compose "Ae-sun's Theme." The 65-year timeline presented a unique challenge, requiring me to blend traditional Korean instruments with Western arrangements across eras. For instance, I used the piri (traditional flute) for 1960s scenes while transitioning to modern instruments for contemporary moments.

Park uses the latest equipment and technology in his profession.

What is your philosophy for composing K-drama soundtracks?

I focus on creating melodies that resonate with character emotions, carefully considering elements like key selection and chord voicing. Rather than starting with genre, I prioritize emotional storytelling over technical aspects. Unlike K-pop, which emphasizes the performer, drama scoring must complement the narrative without overshadowing it. I often prefer discovering fresh voices to maintain story immersion.

What innovations are you bringing to your trade?

With "When Life Gives You Tangerines," we pioneered the use of Dolby Atmos for scoring, creating immersive spatial arrangements that match the visual elements like shifting music from front to back for seaside scenes or creating descending musical cascades to mirror camera movements. I'm applying these techniques to my latest project "My Youth," starring Song Joong-ki, scheduled to premiere this year on JTBC.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.