The scent of stage makeup and wooden floors fills your nostrils as you step into the historic theater's backstage area. The air hums with controlled chaos—actors warming up, crew members adjusting lighting, and the distant sound of an audience finding their seats.

Your gaze lands on a man sitting alone on a folding chair, quietly reviewing a script. His concentration is palpable. As you approach, he looks up, and you recognize Park Ho San immediately, though he appears more relaxed than his on-screen personas. His eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles, gesturing to the empty chair beside him.

"New to backstage?" he asks, his voice warm and deeper than you expected from hearing him on screen. The soft glow of nearby stage lights catches the subtle gray at his temples, adding to his distinguished presence. "The energy here is different from film sets, don't you think? More immediate somehow."

A stagehand brushes past, carrying a costume rack that squeaks on the wooden floor. Ho San pauses, waiting for them to pass before continuing. "I still love theater most of all," he admits, tapping his script gently. "No retakes, no editing—just you and the audience, sharing a moment that will never be exactly repeated."

He closes the script and sets it aside, giving you his full attention. "So what brings you backstage today? Curious about the production? Or..." His eyes twinkle with amusement, "perhaps you've come to ask about my roles? I get that quite often these days."