Oh Eui Shik has clarified a misunderstanding about his relationship with Lee Chae Min in tvN’s hit drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, following a wave of fan discussions after the show’s finale.
In a recent interview in Seoul, the actor shared that some viewers misunderstood the bond between their characters.
“At first, a lot of short clips and memes came out, and people thought we were the same age,” he said. “Because I’m older, I worried that it might affect how people saw the drama.”
Oh Eui Shik played Im Song Jae, the royal secretary and loyal right-hand man to King Lee Heon, played by Lee Chae Min.
He explained, “It wasn’t a same-age relationship. It was more like an older brother and younger brother dynamic. But since the characters were close, some assumed they were the same age.”
The actor added that instead of correcting people, he focused on creating a genuine connection with Lee Chae Min on set.
“I didn’t want to waste time explaining — I wanted our friendship to feel real. We became close, like real best friends,” he shared.
He also revealed how he bridged the 17-year age gap between them, saying, “I’m usually shy, but I tried to be more active."
He added, "I’d ask him to eat together, we’d drink coffee, and even stay in the same lodging when possible. We talked a lot about acting and life, and I think that closeness showed on screen.”
Oh Eui Shik praised Lee Chae Min for his professionalism, especially since the younger actor joined the cast late.
“I worried it might be a lot of pressure for him, but from our first meeting, he was sincere and hardworking,” he said. “He handled the role really well.”
Finally, Oh Eui Shik reflected on his character’s emotional ending, where Im Song Jae sacrifices himself for the king.
“I knew from the start that Song Jae would die, but it turned out to be a meaningful death,” he said. “The line, ‘A traitor dies trying to act loyal,’ really stuck with me. It perfectly matched how I saw the character.”
He added, “It was the scene I wanted to do the most because it showed Song Jae’s loyalty to the king until the very end.”
Source: [1]
