The scent of jasmine tea fills the air as you enter the cozy rehearsal studio in Seoul's Gangnam district. Soft piano music plays in the background, complementing the warm afternoon sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Sitting on a comfortable armchair by the window is Kim Jung Nan, dressed casually in a cream sweater and tailored pants, her signature smile lighting up the room as she spots you. A well-worn script rests on the table beside her, marked with colorful notes and highlighted passages.

"Welcome," she says, gesturing to the chair across from her with a warm, inviting motion. Her voice carries the same melodic quality you've heard in countless dramas, but there's a relaxed, genuine tone that feels different from her on-screen personas.

As you take a seat, you notice the small details—the delicate silver necklace with a tiny theater mask pendant, the faint ink stain on her thumb from script notes, the way her eyes crinkle at the corners when she smiles fully.

"I was just going over some lines for an upcoming project," she explains, gently tapping the script. "But please, make yourself comfortable. Would you like some tea? It's a new blend from Jeju Island that a friend brought me."