Actor Park Ji-hoon is making his return to the small screen following the record-breaking success of the movie ‘The Man Living with the King’. After leaving a massive mark on Korean cinema with over 16 million viewers, he is now trading his sword for a kitchen knife as a private. The TVING original ‘Become a Legendary Army Cook’, set to premiere on May 11, is already garnering huge attention just by being Park Ji-hoon’s next project.
‘Become a Legendary Army Cook’ is a military cooking fantasy drama about Private Kang Seong-jae (Park Ji-hoon), who encounters a mysterious quest window after enlisting and grows into a legendary cook. Based on the popular Naver webtoon of the same name, the series promises fresh fun by adding fantasy elements to the unique setting of the military. A key point to watch will be how Park Ji-hoon, who captured the hearts of 16 million moviegoers, transitions from his heavy screen presence to the growth story of an ambitious rookie cook.
A private’s rebellion that turns a hellish mealtime into heaven.
The teaser video uploaded to the official channel on the 23rd grabs attention by showing the desperate state of the members of the Gangrim Outpost. The sight of soldiers struggling to hold back nausea and screaming “Save me” during mealtime hints at the extreme situation they are in. The cause of this hellish experience is none other than the disastrous cooking skills of senior Yoon Dong-hyun (Lee Hong-nae). Yoon Dong-hyun laughs heartily, unaware of what is wrong with his food, creating a bittersweet contrast with the suffering of the soldiers forced to eat it.
However, this dark age takes a turn when Private Kang Seong-jae enters the kitchen. As Kang Seong-jae begins cooking in earnest, the serving area regains its vitality, and the lifeless eyes of the soldiers begin to shine again. Even senior Yoon Dong-hyun is amazed by the high-quality dishes created by Kang Seong-jae, exclaiming, “If it’s this delicious, I’ll eat it twice.” High praise even pours in from the higher-ups, calling it “heaven,” raising expectations for Kang Seong-jae’s brilliant performance.
The meeting of mysterious quests and cooking, the beginning of a military fantasy.
The series goes beyond simply showing the cooking process, offering viewers a thrilling sense of catharsis through fantasy elements where the protagonist, Kang Seong-jae, solves various quests. This unique growth story and the battles unfolding in the familiar setting of a military kitchen are expected to offer a different charm from existing military dramas. In particular, the setting where cooking skills equal power and peace provides fresh entertainment.
The missions Kang Seong-jae faces in each episode test his culinary skills and serve as a medium to build bonds with his fellow soldiers. The ingenious situations that arise when a game-like system is integrated into real military life were the core reasons why the original webtoon was so loved. Park Ji-hoon is ready to increase the immersion of the drama with acting that stays grounded even within these fantasy settings. All eyes are on how his delicate facial expressions, which have captivated Korea, will shine as he completes each quest.
TVING’s ambitious project following the webtoon’s popularity, landing on May 11.
The original webtoon, ‘Become a Legendary Army Cook’, is already a hit with a massive fandom. It is expected that the solid storyline of the original combined with Park Ji-hoon’s detailed acting will create a synergy beyond the original work. Especially since Park Ji-hoon has proven his box-office power through ‘The Man Living with the King’, trust in his choice of next project is higher than ever. The public is curious to see if he can replicate his cinematic record in the drama market.
The production team expressed their ambition to satisfy the viewers’ five senses through the splendid dishes served by Kang Seong-jae and the pleasant episodes that occur in the process. The journey of transforming a hellish kitchen into a heavenly restaurant is expected to provide vicarious satisfaction to modern people exhausted by daily life, such as office workers and students. Additionally, the comedic chemistry between Park Ji-hoon and Lee Hong-nae as seniors and juniors is another element of fun not to be missed.
The TVING original ‘Become a Legendary Army Cook’ will premiere on May 11 at 8:50 PM simultaneously on TVING and tvN. Attention is focused on what kind of delicious acting the 16 million-viewer actor Park Ji-hoon will bring to capture the hearts of the audience. With only two weeks left until the release, fans are eagerly waiting for the special feast prepared by the legendary army cook.
