Park Jihoon, who earned the nickname “Danjong Oppa” after attracting 16.8 million viewers with the movie ‘The King and the Man’, is being praised for creating another life-defining character in his new work, ‘The Legendary Army Cook’.
The TVING original ‘The Legendary Army Cook’ (Written by Choi Ryong, Directed by Jo Nam-hyung, Planned by Studio Dragon, Produced by Studio Dragon and Studio N, Provided by TVING) premiered domestically and globally on the 11th. The story follows Private Kang Seong-jae (played by Park Jihoon), who unexpectedly enters the path of a military cook after encountering a “Chef’s Path” quest window at the Gangrim Outpost, captivating viewers with its unique premise.
As a result, the first episode of ‘The Legendary Army Cook’ proved its popularity by ranking first in TVING’s real-time channel viewership. On tvN, it recorded an average rating of 5.8% and a peak of 7.3% nationwide, and an average of 6.2% with a peak of 7.4% in the metropolitan area, taking the top spot among cable and general programming channels in its time slot. It also ranked first across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasting, for the 2049 target audience, as well as ranking first among cable and general programming channels for all age groups from their 10s to 60s.
Kang Seong-jae, who was assigned to his unit with the title of top trainee, arrived at the Gangrim Outpost with a mix of nerves and excitement. While undergoing the admission process with the friendly guidance of First Sergeant Park Jae-young (played by Yoon Kyung-ho), he fell into confusion upon hearing a mysterious voice saying, “Welcome, Warrior.” His mind became even more cluttered when a mysterious status window appeared before his eyes during a meeting with Outpost Commander Jo Ye-rin (played by Han Dong-hee).
Then, a single comment from Company Commander Hwang Seok-ho (played by Lee Sang-yi) pushed Kang Seong-jae into another whirlwind. Simply because his mother runs a food truck, Kang Seong-jae was appointed as a military cook. Suddenly thrust into the role, Kang Seong-jae began organizing ingredients under the direction of his senior, Yoon Dong-hyun (played by Lee Hong-nae). As soon as he entered the warehouse, he experienced an unusual change, receiving notifications for basic cook skills such as “Organizing Ingredients” and “Chef’s Eye” from the status window.
With the system’s help, Kang Seong-jae leveled up and even obtained cooking recipes. He then found himself in a situation where he had to prepare breakfast for Battalion Commander Baek Chun-ik (played by Jung Woong-in) alone, without Yoon Dong-hyun. Using a sea urchin seaweed soup recipe he had acquired, he completed the dish, and Baek Chun-ik marveled at its appetizing appearance. However, the atmosphere froze instantly after the tasting. After taking a bite, Baek Chun-ik suddenly clutched his throat and collapsed. This unexpected shock ending has raised curiosity about what aftermath Kang Seong-jae’s first dish will bring.
‘The Legendary Army Cook’ captured viewers from its first release by adding the unique fun of cooking and quests to the familiar setting of the military. In particular, the sense of realism, as if an actual military unit had been transported to the screen, combined with unique elements like the mysterious voice and status window production, created a distinct charm.
The realistic, life-like characters also caught the eye. From the clumsy Private Kang Seong-jae to First Sergeant Park Jae-young, who slyly welcomes the new private, the reliable Outpost Commander Jo Ye-rin, Yoon Dong-hyun, who exudes the vibe of a sergeant nearing discharge, and Company Commander Hwang Seok-ho, who pushes through with whatever he wants, the diverse characters completed the cheerful atmosphere of the Gangrim Outpost, raising expectations for future developments.
Viewers who watched the series reacted by saying, “The impact of the Danjong character was so strong, but Park Jihoon acts so well that now I only see Kang Seong-jae.” In particular, praise is pouring in for the cast’s immersive acting, despite the fact that this work utilizes a large amount of CG, which required more demanding performances from the actors.
