CJ ENM and the Korean Cultural Centre UK successfully held a special screening of the TVING original drama “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” in London.
The event took place on May 28 local time and attracted strong interest from local media, content industry officials, and global fans. It also marked the first official collaboration between CJ ENM and KCCUK in London.
According to CJ ENM, interest in the screening was much higher than expected. The number of advance applicants was more than four times the planned size, leading organizers to quickly expand the number of available seats.
After the screening, a Q&A session was held where viewers asked detailed questions about the drama’s production, directing style, and unique setting.
Local audiences showed strong interest in the Korean military background, cooking soldier culture, military meal scenes, and the Korean food featured in the drama.
A Korean food themed reception was also held at the venue. Guests were able to enjoy snacks inspired by the drama and experience Korean food culture directly.
Free subscription benefits for Rakuten Viki were also provided, allowing viewers who watched the first episode to continue the full series online.
Park Hyo Gun, director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK, said, “As webtoon based K-dramas are expanding in various ways in the global market, this event was a meaningful place where we could naturally share Korean daily culture and emotions with local audiences in the United Kingdom through content.”
Min Da Hyun, head of CJ ENM’s European content sales, also shared, “Watching London audiences become immersed in ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ made me once again believe in the universal power of our storytelling.”
She added that CJ ENM plans to continue bringing more high quality K content to the UK and Europe.
“The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” stars Park Ji Hoon and Yoon Kyung Ho. The military cooking fantasy drama follows private Kang Sung Jae, played by Park Ji Hoon, as he takes on mysterious cooking quests after joining the military and grows into a legendary army cook.
The drama is currently available through Rakuten Viki, Disney Plus Japan’s TVING Collection, and HBO Max in 17 countries across the Asia Pacific region.
