A delicious romance that transcends 500 years and generations is born.

tvN‘s new drama ‘The Tyrant’s Chef’ (working title, directed by Jang Tae-yoo) is a fantasy survival romance that transcends 500 years when a French chef who time-slips meets the worst tyrant and the greatest gourmet, the king.

‘The Tyrant‘s Chef’, based on a popular web novel, is directed by Jang Tae-yoo who also directed the dramas ‘My Love from the Star’, ‘Hong Chun-gi’, and ‘Flowers that Bloom at Night’. The drama stars Im Yoon-ah, Lee Chae-min, Kang Han-na, and Choi Gwi-hwa.

First, Im Yoon-ah plays Yeon Ji-young, a French chef with a cheerful yet strong-willed personality. On the day of winning the best culinary competition in France, Yeon Ji-young suddenly finds herself in the Joseon Dynasty, where she was offered the job as head chef at a Michelin 3-star bistro in Paris, but instead meets the worst tyrant and cooks fusion royal cuisine just for him. Attention is focused on the survival story of Yeon Ji-young, the ‘unhappy chef’, who unexpectedly changes jobs, and the romance that unfolds within it.

Lee Chae-min plays the role of Lee Heon, the king of Joseon and the owner of the restaurant where Yeon Ji-young works. Lee Heon, the worst tyrant who has wielded absolute power since becoming king, is the owner of an absolute sense of taste whose tongue is so sensitive that he can sense the changes in the taste of food depending on the weather. He accidentally meets the ghost woman Yeon Ji-young and falls in love with her food, so he invites her into the palace. This makes us curious about the prime of Lee Heon’s appetite after meeting the best chef in his life.

Kang Han-na plays Kang Mok-ju, a greedy person who has received Lee Heon‘s favor and has risen to the position of a long-time concubine, adding tension to the relationship between Yeon Ji-young and Lee Heon. Kang Mok-ju, who has both beauty and talent and has become the king’s concubine, is a character who hides her endless ambition for power. Curiosity is growing about what kind of storm Kang Mok-ju‘s endless greed, who must have what she wants by any means necessary, will bring within the palace.

Choi Gwi-hwa plays the role of Prince Jesan, a member of the Joseon royal family. Prince Jesan, the most powerful enemy of King Lee Heon, has a cruel nature for which getting rid of people he doesn’t like is easier than drinking water. After the death of his father, he acts like a bandit to save his life, but he is always looking for a chance to oust Lee Heon and become king. Attention is focused on whether Jesan Daegun, who has been hiding his claws and waiting for the right time, will be able to ascend to the throne as he wishes.

‘The Tyrant‘s Chef’ will present excitement, comfort, and laughter as it depicts the process in which a chef from the future meets a tyrant with an absolute sense of taste and shares tastes and emotions. The first episode of ‘The Tyrant’s Chef’ will be full of things to see, from the sweet and savage romance between the chef and the tyrant to a mouth-watering feast of fusion food and fierce palace intrigue.

The production team said, “We will depict the extreme synergy created by people with different colors and tastes meeting in the fictional era of the Joseon Dynasty.”We will approach viewers with a delicious romance that connects people like tangpyeongchae, which symbolizes the tangpyeong policy, so please look forward to it.”‘The Tyrant‘s Chef’ will be aired for the first time in the second half of 2025.

Hong Se-young, Donga.com reporter projecthong@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.