TVING’s original drama “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” is quickly becoming one of the most talked about Korean dramas right now.
The drama, which first aired on May 11, recorded a peak rating of 9.9% in just two weeks. It also ranked No. 1 in its time slot across all channels, including public broadcast channels, among tvN’s 2049 viewers.
The drama is also showing strong results on OTT. Episodes 3 and 4 ranked No. 1 in TVING’s overall paid subscriber contribution ranking, proving that the drama is not only strong on TV but also powerful on streaming.
Based on the popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” is receiving praise from viewers who say it feels like it came straight out of the original work. Some are even saying it “surpassed the original,” thanks to the actors’ stable performances and the drama’s faithful but exciting storytelling.
Park Ji Hoon is leading the drama as Kang Sung Jae, a cook soldier who goes through unexpected challenges while growing into a stronger person. In episode 4, Kang Sung Jae woke up after losing consciousness from system overload. After using high level recipes repeatedly, he became physically exhausted and met his father in his unconscious state, where he finally released the emotions he had been holding in.
After returning to reality, Kang Sung Jae completed a “pomodoro braised boneless pollack” dish that satisfied the soldiers at the guard post. His efforts were recognized with a certificate and reward leave. Park Ji Hoon drew praise for naturally showing Kang Sung Jae’s fear, relief, pressure, and excitement.
His scene with Jung Min Ah, played by Jeon So Young, also drew attention after she suddenly hugged him, leaving Kang Sung Jae flustered while the soldiers watched with envy. Viewers praised Park Ji Hoon’s acting, saying, “His emotional acting is stable,” and “The character is very convincing.”
The drama’s popularity is also helping the original work. After the drama was released, views for the original webtoon reportedly increased 61 times, while the web novel increased 170 times. Park Ji Hoon’s past project “Weak Hero” also returned to the upper ranks on Netflix and Wavve popularity charts, showing his strong influence on content consumption.
Supporting actors are also helping the drama’s success. Lee Hong Nae, who plays Sergeant Yoon Dong Hyun, adds humor and warmth as a senior soldier who often takes credit for dishes without realizing Kang Sung Jae did most of the work. However, his character is not just for comedy, as he also cares for his juniors and shows loneliness and pride in realistic ways.
Han Dong Hee, who plays Lieutenant Cho Ye Rin, also gives the drama balance. She shows a calm and strong commander image while also expressing care and responsibility toward the soldiers. Her ability to move between serious military scenes and funny fantasy moments has also received positive reactions.
“The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” started with 5.8% and has continued breaking its own rating record with each episode. With recent ratings reaching the high 8% range and a peak of 9.9%, viewers are now watching to see if the drama will soon pass double digit ratings.
With its mix of military life, cooking, fantasy, and strong acting, “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” is gaining love from both fans of the original work and new viewers. The drama airs on TVING on May 25 at 8:50 PM.
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