China stars in South Korean variety shows

When Yeom arrived, she was amazed by the city's dazzling night views — but what stunned her most was Hualala's workplace, Pipayuan Hotpot Restaurant, built along a hillside with over 400 staff and 700 tables, serving more than 5,800 guests at once.

It was certified by the Guinness World Records in 2022 as the world's largest hotpot restaurant.

As evening falls, the restaurant's tiered lights illuminate the slopes, with the steamy hotpots and bustling crowd forming a lively scene. The venue was even featured in China's 2025 Spring Festival Gala.

"The South Korean producers seemed more drawn to the place itself," Hualala said. "They weren't very particular about casting." Initially, the producers wanted Yeom to experience the life of the restaurant's general manager. But since the manager's teenage daughter was shy, the role eventually went to Hualala — turning her into the "Chongqing protagonist".

Before filming, the South Korean crew did detailed research into Hualala's life. One of the biggest challenges was learning mahjong, a local favorite pastime. To help them out, Hualala's family taught the assistant director and scriptwriter how to play it at home using their own automatic mahjong table — a dinner table that transforms by lifting its lid. "In Chongqing, six out of ten families have one," she said. "They loved it — South Koreans also have card games a bit like that."