The nascent actress Chae Seo-an is gaining a new fame thanks to her role in Netflix “When life gives you mandarin,” Where he played the youngest version of Young -ran, Bok-Sook’s wife. The spectators were so fascinated by his performance that he gained the affectionate nickname “Mrs. Hak”, a title that left Chae is surprised and grateful.
In a recent interview on YouTube Channel ICC, Chae reflected on unexpected recognition, “I never had a nickname attached to any of my past roles, so seeing” Mrs. Hak “associated with my name made me really grateful.”
He also shared a memory behind the scenes to work with IU, who plays AE-Soon. “The director told me not to think like iu, but just like Ae-Soon”, Chae laughed. “But it was so beautiful, it was difficult to concentrate. I was nervous to be close to her, but she kindly said to me:” Don’t feel under pressure, relax. “Thanks to this, I was able to immerse myself in the role.”
To portray Young -ran, Chae focused on the application of the strength and peaceful pain of a Korean woman from the 60s and 70s. “The director described it as a resilient”, He said, adding that he had studied interviews and styles of speech of that era to bring authenticity to his performance.
But the most surprising thing is Chae’s journey out of the screen. After filming wrapped in 2023, she moved away from acting and hired daytime work, even in a factory and in a closed circuit company, just to make ends meet. “Until last month, I was working in a company. Things were quiet. I was also thinking of stopping reciting completely”, He admitted.
It all changed after the drama was broadcast. “Now I go again auditions. Things have suddenly committed themselves and I’m working hard” He said with a renewed sense of hope. “I had doubts during my break, but this project gave me a new motivation. I am so grateful to the director and the writer.”
Looking to the future, Chae hopes to explore new roles, “I want to challenge myself in various genres, from crime thrillers to romantic comedies.” From anonymity close to being with affection called “Mrs. Hak”, the story of Chae SEO-AN is of a silent resilience and a reminder that sometimes a role can really change everything.
