After skyrocketing to fame through the blockbuster film The King’s Warden, Park Ji Hoon is once again winning viewers’ hearts with his latest drama The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, further cementing his status as a true trendsetter in the industry.
In The King’s Warden, Park Ji Hoon portrayed the tragic king Danjong. Despite it being his first commercial film debut, the movie attracted an astonishing 16.84 million viewers and became the second highest-grossing Korean film of all time.
Beyond its box office success, critics praised Park Ji Hoon’s emotional eye acting, saying his performance alone added depth and realism to the story. The role quickly became known as his “career-defining character.”
Following the film’s success, Park Ji Hoon was also selected as the advertising model for nine different brands, receiving endless love calls across the entertainment industry.
Park Ji Hoon Swaps Historical Robes For Military Uniforms – Proves Himself Again Through Comedy
In the tvN and TVING drama The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, Park Ji Hoon boldly stepped into comedy acting, showing a completely different side from his previous historical role.
He plays Kang Seong Jae, a young man who enlists in the military while carrying the pain of losing his father and unexpectedly begins life as a military cook. Through the role, Park Ji Hoon naturally portrays both emotional scars and comedic growth at the same time.
Viewers responded positively, commenting, “It’s not awkward at all watching Danjong transform into a military cook.”
During the two days after episodes 1 and 2 were released, the drama ranked No.1 in paid subscriber contribution on TVING. Episode 2 also recorded an average nationwide rating of 6.2% and peaked at 7.6%, continuing its strong upward trend.
In the Seoul metropolitan area, the drama ranked No.1 among all channels in the same time slot, including terrestrial broadcasters. It also topped ratings among tvN’s key 20-49 demographic audience.
At the production press conference, when asked whether he felt pressure about the drama, Park Ji Hoon calmly replied, “I’m not the type to feel burdened.”
Looking back now, many viewers believe his answer may not have been simple modesty, but confidence in his own acting abilities.
From films to television, from historical dramas to comedy, Park Ji Hoon continues showing completely new sides of himself while consistently captivating audiences. That is exactly why he is being called one of the defining stars of this era.
“100 Out Of 100 Chemistry” – Cast Praises Unbreakable Bond On Set
Park Ji Hoon, Yoon Kyung Ho, Han Dong Hee, Lee Hong Nae, and Lee Sang Yi also showcased strong camaraderie both on and off screen in The Legend of Kitchen Soldier.
The five actors, who portray soldiers living together inside a crowded military unit, reportedly developed exceptional chemistry during filming as well.
Park Ji Hoon shared, “It was an honor acting in the same frame with the senior actors. There was never any awkwardness with anyone, and filming was enjoyable the entire time.”
Yoon Kyung Ho, who plays administrative officer Park Jae Young, said the realistic military set naturally sparked conversations about their own military experiences.
He recalled, “From saluting methods and military songs to even ‘military burgers,’ we shared many memories from those days together.”
Han Dong Hee, who plays post commander Cho Ye Rin, also revealed that hearing the actors’ real-life military stories greatly helped her performance.
Meanwhile, Lee Hong Nae, who portrays senior sergeant Yoon Dong Hyeon, said, “The chemistry was 100 out of 100.”
Special appearance actor Lee Sang Yi, who joined as company commander Hwang Seok Ho, confidently added, “There was nothing but laughter throughout filming, and the chemistry at Gangrim Outpost was perfect.”
Originally scheduled for only a short appearance, Lee Sang Yi eventually filmed more scenes than initially planned. He commented, “Because my time on set became longer, I felt even happier and enjoyed it more,” hinting at a memorable presence beyond a simple cameo.
The cast’s consistent stories about laughter and teamwork behind the scenes prove that The Legend of Kitchen Soldier had already built strong chemistry even before appearing on screen.
Kang Seong Jae’s “Chef’s Path” Faces Its First Major Crisis
Meanwhile, Park Ji Hoon’s journey as a military cook recently faced its first major obstacle.
In episode 2 of The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, which aired on May 12, tension rose as Kang Seong Jae repeatedly encountered setbacks in his cook soldier duties.
The shocking incident involving sea urchin seaweed soup, which sent battalion commander Baek Chun Ik, played by Jung Woong In, to the emergency room was eventually revealed to be caused by a perilla seed allergy.
However, relief was short-lived after Kang Seong Jae gained a new ability called “favorability check,” allowing him to see the cold reactions and negative feelings from fellow soldiers toward him.
To make matters worse, company commander Hwang Seok Ho, who prioritizes maintaining a peaceful military life above all else, pressured Kang Seong Jae to switch positions entirely.
Despite the crisis, Kang Seong Jae refused to give up on remaining a cook soldier.
After counseling sessions, he remembered memories of his father, who once ran a restaurant, and attempted to win over Hwang Seok Ho by cooking pork cutlets together with senior soldier Yoon Dong Hyeon.
However, just as the carefully prepared dish was completed, Hwang Seok Ho unexpectedly said, “I don’t really like pork cutlets,” immediately followed by a “Chef Quest Failed” notification, bringing Kang Seong Jae’s dream of becoming a chef to an abrupt and heartbreaking halt.
Viewers can discover what happens next to Park Ji Hoon’s character in episode 3 of The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, which will air simultaneously on TVING and tvN on May 18 at 8:50 PM KST.
Sources: Nate
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