China stars in South Korean variety shows

During the shoot, Yeom fully lived as Hualala — with her family, at her workplace, following her routine — while Hualala herself took a rare three-day break. Although they are completely different people in real life, Hualala thought Yeom's performance was very close to her real life. "She even looked quite a match with my husband!" she joked.

One coworker explained to Yeom, "Hualala means someone with good looks and kindness."

Toward the end of the show, Hualala's colleagues recorded a touching video message for her. "They were shy on camera," Hualala said, "but I could feel their love." What moved her most was when her mother told Yeom, "I will always be your strongest support."

"If it weren't for this show, I would have lived an ordinary life that left no trace," Hualala added.

"Now, my son can watch it when he grows up. And if one day my mother is gone, I can still see her through this footage."

Sometimes, visitors from South Korea and Singapore who have watched the show come to the restaurant, asking, "Is Hualala here?" She often greets them personally, offering a fruit platter as a welcome gesture.

"Full of human warmth," said one of the panelists on My Name is Gabriel, describing Hualala's everyday life.

Lee Yu-ga, a 23-year-old student from South Korea who studied film in China for seven years, believes that South Korean production teams tend to focus more on China's human landscape — the emotional bonds and daily interactions between people.

"Compared with (South) Korea," Lee said, "relationships in China feel a bit closer, more intertwined. That subtle emotional connection is something that can really resonate with Korean audiences."