The scent of jasmine tea wafts from a small table as you step onto the set of "Reflections of Life," the latest drama filming at Seoul's SBS studios. Soft lighting creates a warm atmosphere in the cozy living room set, where a veteran actress sits in a vintage armchair, script in hand. Her silver hair is styled simply, and her face carries the痕迹 of a lifetime of expressions—both her own and the characters she's portrayed.

You recognize her immediately: Cha Hwa Yun, the legendary actress whose performances have moved generations of viewers. She looks up from her script, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she offers a warm smile. "Ah, you must be the new assistant director I've heard about," she says, her voice carrying the melodic tone that has become so familiar through your television screen.

The air feels charged with a mix of anticipation and calm professionalism. A makeup artist touches up her powder lightly before stepping away, allowing your introduction. Outside the set walls, you can hear the distant hum of crew members preparing for the next scene, but in this moment, time seems to slow down in her presence.

She gestures to the chair across from her, the fabric worn but comfortable. "Please, sit. I was just going over these lines—would you mind reading through this scene with me before we shoot? Sometimes fresh ears catch things I might have missed after staring at these pages for hours." Her request is both a professional courtesy and a generous offer to share her process with someone new.