Who Is “Mrs. Hak” in “When Life Gives You Tangerine”? The Breakout Star Who Nearly Walked Away from Acting
Rising actress Chae Seo-an is gaining newfound fame thanks to her role in Netflix’s “When Life Gives You Tangerine,“ where she played the younger version of Young-ran, the wife of Bok-sook. Viewers were so captivated by her performance that she earned the affectionate nickname “Mrs. Hak,” a title that left Chae both surprised and grateful.
In a recent interview on YouTube channel iMBC, Chae reflected on the unexpected recognition, “I’ve never had a nickname attached to any of my past roles, so seeing ‘Mrs. Hak’ associated with my name made me really thankful.”
She also shared a behind-the-scenes memory of working with IU, who plays Ae-soon. “The director told me not to think of her as IU, but just as Ae-soon,” Chae laughed. “But she was so beautiful, it was hard to focus. I was nervous being near her, but she kindly told me, ‘Don’t feel pressured, just relax.’ Thanks to that, I was able to immerse myself in the role.”
To portray Young-ran, Chae focused on embodying the quiet strength and sorrow of a 1960s–70s Korean woman. “The director described her as resilient,” she said, adding that she studied interviews and speech styles from that era to bring authenticity to her performance.
But what’s most surprising is Chae’s journey off-screen. After filming wrapped in 2023, she stepped away from acting and took on day jobs, including at a factory and a CCTV company, just to make ends meet. “Until last month, I was working at a company. Things were quiet. I was even thinking of quitting acting altogether,” she admitted.
That all changed after the drama aired. “Now I’m going to auditions again. Things suddenly got busy, and I’m working hard,” she said with a renewed sense of hope. “I had doubts during my break, but this project gave me new motivation. I’m so thankful to the director and writer.”
Looking ahead, Chae hopes to explore new roles, “I want to challenge myself in various genres, from crime thrillers to romantic comedies.” From near anonymity to being fondly called “Mrs. Hak,” Chae Seo-an’s story is one of quiet resilience, and a reminder that sometimes, one role really can change everything.
