Lee Sang Yi left a strong impression until the very end of TVING’s “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier”, proving that his special appearance was more than just a brief role.
In the series, which ended on June 16, Lee Sang Yi played Captain Hwang Seok Ho, the commander of the 4th Company. Although he first joined as a special appearance, his role continued to grow as he showed strong acting, comedy timing, serious emotional moments, and even dancing skills.
In the final episode, Hwang Seok Ho stepped forward during an important moment involving the future of Gangrim Guard Post. He appeared with a loud voice and said, “May I say something?” before defending the guard post.
He stated, “Gangrim Guard Post is safer than any other guard post,” and revealed that the safety report had been made to look worse on purpose. He also helped clear up an unfair situation by presenting a recording that exposed the truth behind the case.
Even though his actions could affect the promotion he had long wanted, Hwang Seok Ho stood firm and said, “There should not be any more unfair things”. His choice gave the ending a satisfying and meaningful feeling without taking away from the main story.
The production team also showed their appreciation for Lee Sang Yi in the ending credits, writing, “We are especially very thankful to actor Lee Sang Yi for making a special appearance”.
The message drew attention because it reflected how much he contributed to the drama despite being listed as a special cast member.
After the drama ended, Lee Sang Yi described “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” as “a special project where I filmed happily and gained many good people”.
He shared, “I started filming after receiving the offer for a special appearance, but as my screen time and role gradually increased, my sense of responsibility and affection for Hwang Seok Ho also grew”.
Lee Sang Yi also talked about how he approached the character, saying, “Hwang Seok Ho was sometimes annoying, but because he was a character I had to act, I loved him and cared for him more than anyone.”
He added that the director told him Hwang Seok Ho should be like Team Rocket from “Pokemon”, explaining that the character should feel “annoying, but somehow lovable”. Because of this, Lee Sang Yi said he tried many ad libs and different acting choices.
Lastly, the actor thanked viewers for supporting the character, saying, “Thankfully, I think many people saw Hwang Seok Ho as cute, so I am very happy and proud”.
He continued, “Thanks to this drama, I was also able to make a good memory by appearing on ‘M Countdown,’ something I never imagined in my life. Thank you, ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’. Loyalty”.
Lee Sang Yi is now preparing for his next transformation in MBC’s upcoming Friday Saturday drama “Married Woman Killer”, where he will play Lee Dong Jin, a lieutenant in Violent Crimes Team 2.
