Park Ji-hoon is Back! From ‘Danjong’ to a Legendary Cook Soldier, Will This Be the Next National Hit?

Actor Park Ji-hoon, who touched everyone’s hearts as ‘Danjong’ in the movie “The Man Living with the King,” has returned as a cook soldier! After a movie hit with 17 million viewers, the signs of success for his next project are already looking strong.

“Become a Legendary Cook Soldier” is a military cooking fantasy drama that follows the journey of Private Kang Seong-jae as he transforms into a legendary cook. Park Ji-hoon takes on the role of Kang Seong-jae, who unexpectedly finds himself on the path of a military cook.

According to Nielsen Korea on the 12th, the TVING original “Become a Legendary Cook Soldier,” which premiered on the 11th, hit #1 in real-time channel viewership on TVING. It also topped the time slot for cable and general programming channels on tvN, recording an average rating of 5.8% and a peak of 7.3% for national households.

The show is receiving praise for its unique blend of military life, cooking, and quests, along with the realistic performances of characters that feel close to home.

In the first episode, Kang Seong-jae is assigned to the Gangrim Outpost with high hopes, only to encounter a “Chef’s Path” quest window. Appointed as a cook simply because his mother runs a food truck, he begins acquiring basic skills after encountering a mysterious voice and a status window.

Just as he starts building his skills, the first episode ends with a shocking twist: Battalion Commander Baek Chun-ik (played by Jung Woong-in) collapses after eating the sea urchin American soup prepared by Kang Seong-jae. Episode 2 will dive into the unpredictable military life of the rookie cook now in a precarious situation.

To make his role as a cook convincing, Park Ji-hoon reportedly spent time practicing cooking before filming began.

Regarding his decision to join the drama, he shared, “I found the character of Kang Seong-jae interesting because he is someone who adapts to an unfamiliar environment and carves out his own place.” He added, “The process of building trust within the unit and making friends through amazing skills was also very appealing.”