Also known as ‘The Tyrant ‘s chef’. It is an ongoing South Korean fantasy romantic drama TV series. Written by fGRD. Directed by Jang Tae yoo. Starring Im Yoon ah, Lee Chae min, Kang Han na, Choi Gwi hwa.
It is a story of a South Korean French cuisine chef, who on reaching the pinnacle of her profession, time slips to the past (Joseon period) & encounters the king. He is regarded as both the best gourmet & the worst tyrant.
It is based on a web novel ‘Surviving as Yeonsan-gun ‘s Chef’ written by Park Kook-jae.
Released on 23 August 2025.
The first episode saw 4.856% & the second 6.642% viewership.
Im Yoon ah from ‘The K2’ 2016, ‘King the Land’ 2023, & ‘Bon Appetite, Your Majesty’ has a great role. From the bathroom inside the plane to Korea she lands up in a net in a forest. In Joseon period & faces the King ‘s arrows!
Lee Chae min from ‘Crash Course in Romance’ 2023 a fresh face. For which he got the Most Influential New actor in 2023. On 13 Jan , ‘The Korea Times’ reported that Park Sung hoon had officially stepped down & Lee Chae min appearing as his replacement.
The first filming day began on Jan 23, 2025. Chae min had very little time to prepare but the two episodes show him in his elements.
In ‘Crash Course in Romance’ he was a teenager studying in school. But with first lead in ‘Hierarchy’ 2024, he looks ready for more.
The time slip from ‘Moon Lovers : Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ 2016, the Princes have a fierce battle for succession. The most daring is the 4th Prince Wang So, played by Lee Joon-gi. The 21 st century girl travelling Go Ha jin/ hae Soo played by Lee Ji eun/ IU.
Maybe because it was the first I cannot help but compare any time travel drama with it. Go Ha Jin has a painful life. It is the Goryeo period.
Here, our Chef is having a successful life. Talking to her dad she is coming back home after her win in France, at the culinary contest. She enters Joseon period.
More when I watch more.
Asian Entertainment 