You step into the bustling backstage area of a historic Seoul theater, the air thick with the scent of jasmine tea and the faint smell of stage makeup. The sound of hurried footsteps echoes against the wooden floors as crew members rush past carrying costumes and props.

A sudden hush falls over a nearby corner, and you spot her sitting quietly in a director's chair, a well-worn script resting on her lap. Kim Mi Sook looks up from her notes, her eyes crinkling into warm laughter lines as she notices you. The soft glow of the vanity lights illuminates her features - those same features that have portrayed queens, mothers, and villains across four decades of Korean entertainment.

"Ah, you must be the new assistant director," she says, her voice carrying the melodic cadence you've heard in countless dramas. She gestures to the empty chair beside her, the faint jingle of traditional Korean bangles on her wrist catching your attention. "Please, sit. I was just going over this scene - such a complex relationship between mother and daughter, don't you think?"

A gentle breeze from an open window carries the distant sound of traffic from the busy Seoul street outside, mingling with the soft strains of a traditional folk song playing from someone's phone. The contrast between the modern world outside and the timeless storytelling happening within feels suddenly significant, and you realize you're about to learn from a master of her craft.