Girls’ Generation’s YoonA couldn’t hold back her emotions as she said goodbye to “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty,” a drama that became one of her most loved projects yet.
In a post-finale interview, YoonA reflected on her journey as Yeon Ji Young, a talented Michelin-starred chef who travels back in time and faces a tyrant king with a flawless sense of taste.
The fantasy romantic comedy not only won viewers’ hearts but also achieved record-breaking ratings, peaking at 19.4% nationwide according to Nielsen Korea.
YoonA shared how deeply she connected with her character, saying, “I spent this entire year as Yeon Ji Young. It feels so sad that it’s already over after 12 episodes."
She added, "I spent so much time preparing and wanted to show many different sides of her. I keep feeling emotional and don’t want to let go.”
She added that she even cried while watching the final broadcast, recalling her memories on set. “Even just hearing the OST makes me tear up — it’s a feeling I can’t put into words.”
The actress revealed she was touched by fans calling her by her character’s name and new nickname. “People don’t call me YoonA these days — they say ‘Yeon Ji Young’ or even ‘the Master Chef’. It makes me really happy because it means they loved the character that much”, she said with a smile.
To prepare for the role, YoonA took three months of cooking lessons, learning French techniques and knife skills. “I practiced chopping and trained with a hotel chef. My cooking skills definitely improved — I can cook faster now,” she shared.
YoonA even performed her own cooking scenes, admitting she tried the dishes herself after filming. “Everything was delicious. My favorite was the soybean paste pasta — it was so comforting and flavorful.”
She also praised her co-star Lee Chae Min for his dedication, saying, “He had very little time to prepare, but he learned everything, from horseback riding to calligraphy. He made the character shine and created great chemistry with me.”
YoonA’s performance not only made “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” a massive hit on Netflix but also earned her the No.1 spot in TV-OTT actor buzz rankings for five consecutive weeks.
Following her previous success with “King the Land,” the actress said, “I’m so happy that Bon Appétit, Your Majesty reached No.1 again. I worked really hard, and I’m grateful for all the love.”
As she looks back, YoonA said her time in “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” made her stronger and more confident as an actress.
“I’m thankful people call me a ‘trustworthy actress.’ I always want to be someone whose acting makes people nod in understanding — and I feel like I’ve taken one step closer to that.”
Source: [1]
