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[All] Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef Ending – Was It a Happy Ending or a Tragedy? Drama vs Webtoon Full Review
What happens at the end of Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef? Is it really a happy ending, a tragedy, or an open ending? Here’s the full spoiler review of the original web novel and webtoon, plus the major differences from the tvN drama The Tyrant’s Chef.
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Table of Contents 1. Basic Storyline of Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef 2. Relationship Between Yeon Ji-young and Yeonsan-gun 3. Original Ending Explained: The Meaning of the Open Ending 4. Drama Adaptation Differences from the Original 5. Q&A – Most Common Reader Questions
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1. Basic Storyline of Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef
The story begins with Yeon Ji-young, a Michelin-starred French chef, who suddenly finds herself in Joseon after a fatal car accident. To her horror, she wakes up in the reign of Yeonsan-gun, remembered in Korean history as one of the most infamous tyrants. Initially imprisoned for her strange appearance and manners, Ji-young seizes a chance when she is tasked with preparing royal feast dishes. Using her modern culinary knowledge, she captures the king’s taste buds and earns a place in the palace as the first female daeryeong-suksu (royal head chef).
From there, Ji-young’s role expands far beyond the kitchen. She saves villagers from famine, wins diplomatic cooking contests against foreign envoys, and even contributes to military advancements by introducing new techniques and ingredients. Her cooking becomes a weapon of survival, diplomacy, and quiet revolution, gradually reshaping the fate of Joseon.
2. Relationship Between Yeon Ji-young and Yeonsan-gun
Yeonsan-gun has always been remembered as a tyrant consumed by anger and paranoia. Yet, through Ji-young’s food, fragments of his humanity re-emerge. What begins as mere curiosity develops into a fragile bond between king and chef.
One of the most touching moments comes when Ji-young offers him dried persimmons, his late mother’s favorite food. As he tastes them, the hardened king sheds tears, reminded of his lost childhood and the warmth of maternal love. This pivotal scene marks a turning point where food transcends sustenance and becomes a medium of healing, bridging the gap between power and vulnerability.
3. Original Ending Explained: The Meaning of the Open Ending
The climax of the story takes place during the rebellion against Yeonsan-gun. Despite Ji-young’s influence, history runs its course and Yeonsan-gun falls, recorded as being deposed after tumbling from Tangchundae cliff. Ji-young, however, regains consciousness in a modern hospital.
To her shock, the official historical records remain unchanged: Yeonsan-gun still ends as a deposed tyrant. Yet the small cracks Ji-young left in history—acts of kindness, alliances forged, lives saved—remain in memory if not in the records.
The novel ends with Ji-young opening a modest restaurant in modern times, living quietly until one day a customer hands her the last missing page of the mysterious Mangwollok. This implies that Yeonsan-gun himself may have crossed into the present, leaving readers with an ambiguous, emotionally charged open ending.
4. Drama Adaptation Differences from the Original
While tvN’s The Tyrant’s Chef is based on the web novel, it makes significant adjustments to broaden appeal and avoid controversy. Most notably, Yeonsan-gun is replaced by a fictional character, “Prince Yeonhui,” inspired by but not identical to the historical figure. The tone also shifts from a survival-focused historical drama to a romantic fantasy comedy, with more emphasis on love lines and character development.
The protagonist’s gender is also changed: in the original, the chef is male, while in the drama, An Ji-young (played by Lee Chaemin) is a female chef. These changes alter not just the tone but also the narrative arc, and inevitably, the ending.
📊 Original vs Drama Comparison
| Category | Original (Web Novel/Webtoon) | Drama (The Tyrant’s Chef) |
| Protagonist | Male modern chef | Female chef An Ji-young |
| King Character | Historical Yeonsan-gun | Fictional Prince Yeonhui |
| Story Tone | Political survival + history | Romantic fantasy comedy |
| Ending | Open ending, modern reunion hint |
Still ongoing, likely different outcome
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This divergence suggests that while the original embraces ambiguity and historical tragedy, the drama may opt for a more conclusive romantic or fantastical resolution.
5. Q&A – Most Common Reader Questions
Q1. What is the ending of the original novel?
Yeonsan-gun is deposed and falls as history records, but Ji-young wakes up in modern times. The final scene suggests Yeonsan-gun may also have crossed into the present, leaving the story with an open ending.
Q2. Will the drama have the same ending?
Unlikely. Since the drama uses fictional characters and emphasizes romance, the ending is expected to diverge significantly from the original’s historical tragedy.
Q3. Why is the open ending considered powerful?
Because it balances tragedy with hope. History remains unaltered, yet the suggestion of reunion in the modern era gives readers emotional closure while preserving mystery.
Q4. What is the biggest charm of this story?
The combination of food and history. Cooking is not only survival but also diplomacy, healing, and rebellion. Few historical dramas weave gastronomy into politics and human relationships so effectively.
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