If you’ve been sucked into the heartfelt world of “When Life Gives You Tangerines” on Netflix, you already know how the character Gwan-sik feels like the ultimate dad goals. He’s the gentle rock of the family — dependable, selfless, quietly heroic in the way that real life often overlooks.
Now imagine watching this show and realizing… hey, that’s basically your own dad.
That’s exactly what happened to Singapore-born, Canada-based content creator Michelle Tiang. And honestly? Her story is the kind of family-centred reminder we all need right now.
We sat down with Michelle for an exclusive interview. Join us as we explore why Michelle believes her father, William Tiang, isn’t just like Gwan-sik — but in fact, he’s the real-life embodiment of Gwan-sik right here in Singapore. Together, let’s check out this powerful story behind a father’s unwavering dedication and the legacy he’s built through love, sacrifice, and quiet strength.
Isn’t it time we recognized the everyday heroes in our own lives?
Gwan-sik’s Quiet Strength Reminded Michelle of Home
From the first episode of When Life Gives You Tangerines, Michelle was hooked — and sobbing.
She didn’t expect to be so emotionally wrecked so quickly. After all, most family-centred K-dramas take a few episodes to warm you up. Not this one. The show hit her like a freight train of feels.
As Michelle watched the gentle yet fiercely loyal Gwan-sik love and protect those around him, all she could think about was her parents, especially her dad.
She shared that during the show’s tender moments — like how Gwan-sik admired his wife’s intelligence regardless of her background — it mirrored exactly how her father saw her mother.
“My dad worships my mom,” Michelle said, laughing. “Everything revolves around her. If you ask him what’s for dinner, he’ll just say, ‘Ask Mommy.'”
Now, that’s real Gwan-sik energy.
How William Tiang Embodies the Gwan-sik Spirit
It’s not just the big gestures that made Michelle’s dad feel like a real-life Gwan-sik.
It’s the small, everyday sacrifices that often go unnoticed — the kind that form the backbone of family life.
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Michelle remembers working part-time at a pub during her younger days. Even though her dad was someone who loved his early nights, he would wake up at 1:00 a.m. just to pick her up safely after work. Then he’d head back home, catch a few hours of sleep, and be up again bright and early to drive her mother to work.
That’s not movie magic. That’s real-life magic. And it’s exactly what makes a Gwan-sik so special — the quiet, invisible sacrifices they never brag about.
William Tiang didn’t just wake up for late-night pickups. He ironed Michelle’s school uniforms when she was too young to realize not every dad does that. He stood up to his own mother (Michelle’s grandmother!) who once scolded him for doing “women’s work.”
But for William, these weren’t acts of rebellion — they were acts of love. Love, simple and pure, like Gwan-sik himself.
Gwan-sik’s Unwavering Loyalty Resonated Deeply
One of the most touching aspects of Gwan-sik in the show is his unwavering belief in his loved ones — even when the world doesn’t give them the same credit.
Michelle saw this same loyalty in her own father.
Despite her mother not having had many academic opportunities, William always believed she was the smartest person in the room. Just like Gwan-sik, he admired her practical intelligence, her street smarts, her way with numbers that helped them build their business.
It’s easy to celebrate someone when society already puts them on a pedestal. But real Gwan-sik types? They celebrate their loved ones without needing external validation. They see the gold long before anyone else does.
Source: Michelle Tiang
“Even though my mom isn’t highly educated, my dad never stops believing she’s the smartest woman ever,” Michelle said, her voice full of pride.
Growing Up with a Gwan-sik Father
For many Singaporean parents reading this, you might find yourself nodding along.
You know what it’s like to give everything for your children — the sleepless nights, the long commutes, the relentless emotional labour that’s often taken for granted.
Michelle’s childhood was filled with these everyday acts of love.
Her father drove her daily from the East Coast to her school in Bukit Timah — an exhausting commute that most people would baulk at. But for William Tiang, ensuring Michelle had access to a good education wasn’t a question of effort. It was simply what love required.
Michelle shared how growing up, she didn’t even realize how rare this level of devotion was. It was just… normal. Isn’t that the most Gwan-sik thing of all? To love so selflessly that your children grow up thinking it’s the standard?
Watching Gwan-sik Made Michelle Miss Her Family More Than Ever
The emotional gut punches in When Life Gives You Tangerines felt extra raw for Michelle because they mirrored her own family’s sacrifices so closely.
Watching Gwan-sik quietly stand behind his loved ones — without fanfare, without asking for thanks — reminded her just how deeply her parents had shaped her.
Source: Michelle Tiang
Luckily, Michelle had just returned home to Singapore recently, so the distance didn’t feel quite as unbearable.
But still, it was impossible not to feel a deep pang of gratitude and longing as she watched the show unfold.
She reflected that, just like in many Asian families, her parents’ unwavering support wasn’t contingent on academic success or financial achievement. It was a value rooted deep in their belief system: unconditional support, no matter what path their children chose.
“Supporting our children is second nature,” Michelle said simply.
And if that doesn’t sum up the spirit of Gwan-sik, what does?
The Bittersweet Ending and What It Means for All of Us
Without giving too many spoilers away, Michelle described the ending of When Life Gives You Tangerines as “bittersweet.”
The show closes with the message that life — even when it’s filled with hardships — is meaningful when it’s spent in service to family and community.
Michelle loved that the story was inspired by true events, which made the lessons hit even harder.
It’s a reminder that the love and sacrifices of Gwan-sik — and of parents like William Tiang all around the world — don’t just fade away.
They build something enduring. They echo in the lives of the children they’ve raised with quiet dignity.
And sometimes, they even inspire tear-filled binge-watch sessions halfway across the world.
How Michelle’s Dad Shaped Her Own Marriage
Michelle’s reflections on her father, William, reveal a deep well of love and gratitude that many parents can relate to.
“Every time I think about my dad, I almost feel like I’m holding back tears,” she shared.
It wasn’t until Michelle left home that she truly understood the sacrifices her father made.
“I never knew how much he sacrificed until I left,” she said, adding that she now holds his love and devotion close to her heart.
Michelle’s message to her dad is simple yet profound:
“Thank you. I keep it all in my heart, and I hope you feel proud of me.”
It’s a sentiment shared by many who, like Michelle, realize the depth of their parents’ love only once they become parents themselves.
But Michelle’s reflections don’t stop with her dad. In an unexpected twist, she found that her husband Alex mirrors the same selfless devotion that her father showed. “I married a Gwan-Sik,” she jokes, referring to the character in When Life Gives You Tangerines. Alex’s love for her is unwavering, even after 25 years of marriage.
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“He doesn’t let me lift a finger around the house,” Michelle says, noting how Alex even cuts fruit for her and labels them “mama’s do not eat” to ensure the kids don’t take her favourite snacks.
What’s striking is that, as a teenager, Michelle never imagined marrying someone like her dad. She admits she was often annoyed with him back then, taking his sacrifices for granted.
“I always took him for granted,” she says, adding that she never intended to marry someone who mirrored her father’s qualities. Yet, life has a funny way of surprising us. Michelle married someone who, without realizing it, embodied the same care and devotion she had once taken for granted in her dad.
After all, isn’t that what Gwan-Sik is all about? It’s not about being a hero. It’s about being a constant, reliable presence in the lives of those you love.
And for Michelle, that’s exactly what her dad—and now her husband—are.
On Quiet Sacrifices
Maybe after reading this, you’re thinking about your own parents. Or maybe, as a parent yourself, you’re recognizing all the ways you are somebody’s Gwan-sik right now — even if they don’t see it yet.
Either way, here’s a little nudge. Take a moment today. Tell your parents thank you. Hug your kids a little tighter. Celebrate the small, invisible sacrifices that build our families from the inside out.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not the grand gestures that define us. It’s the everyday choice to love, protect, and believe — just like Gwan-sik would.
And honestly? That’s the sweetest thing of all. Sweet like tangerines.