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[All] The Tyrant's Chef cast revealed! How does Yoona conquer the tyrant Lee Chae-min with her cooking? A summary of the 12 episodes and the finale.
A complete breakdown of the cast, character relationships, and episode-by-episode plot for the Korean drama "Tyrant Chef." Yoona travels back in time to become a three-star chef, while Lee Chae-min becomes a tyrant with a keen sense of taste. Joined by talented actors like Kang Hanna and Choi Kwi-hwa, this romantic fantasy story intertwines cooking and imperial power.
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Table of contents
1. "The Tyrant's Chef" Drama Information 2. Plot Summary and Key Highlights 3. Complete introduction of the actors and roles 4. The story behind the lead actor change 5. Episode Summary (Episodes 1-12 including the finale) 6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 7. Viewership Performance and Broadcast Platform 8. Highlights and Impressions of the Series 9. Conclusion: Why is this drama a must-see? |
1. "The Tyrant's Chef" Drama Information
▪️Drama title: "The Tyrant's Chef"
▪️ Starring: Yoona, Lee Chae-min, Kang Han-na, Choi Kyu-hwa
▪️Genre: Time travel, cooking, romantic comedy, fictional history
▪️Director: Jang Tae-yoo (My Love from the Star)
▪️Writer: fGRD
▪️ Episodes: 12
▪️Broadcast date: August 23, 2025
▪️Platforms: tvN, Netflix, TVING
2. Plot Summary and Key Highlights
The story is adapted from the novel "Surviving Yeonsangun's Chef", which tells the story of French three-star chef Yeon Ji-young (Yoona) who accidentally travels to North Korea due to a solar eclipse and embarks on a fantasy love story spanning 500 years with the tyrant Lee Heon (Lee Chae-min) who possesses "absolute taste".
The biggest highlight of this drama is the combination of cuisine and power: every dish is not only delicious, but also an expression of the character's emotions, a weapon in court struggles, and a symbol of the balance of power.
3. Complete introduction of the actors and roles
This combination of characters makes the plot not just about romantic love, but also incorporates layers of tension of struggle, conspiracy and food culture.
| actor | Role | Role Positioning |
| Yoona | Yan Zhiyong |
A three-star Michelin chef from Paris traveled to North Korea and became a waiter in the royal kitchen.
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| Lee Chae-min | Li Xian, the King of Yanxi |
The North Korean tyrant, who has an absolute sense of taste, was attracted to Yeon Ji-young because of his cooking
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| Jiang Hanna | Jiang Mozhu |
Li Xian's harem is ambitious and secretly colludes with Qishan Dajun
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| Cui Guihua | Qishan Maharaja |
The king's uncle pretended to be crazy and stupid, but in fact he was plotting to seize the throne.
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| Xu Lishu | Princess Inju |
The power center that holds the truth about the deposed concubine incident
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| Yin Rui'e | Seo Jang Geum |
A palace maid with an absolute sense of smell, Zhiyong's only ally
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| Wu Yizhi | Ren Songzai |
The king's trusted treacherous minister, the conspirator who controls the political situation
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4. The story behind the lead actor change
Park Sung-hoon was originally slated to play the male lead, but he withdrew due to a controversy on social media. The crew then made a last-minute decision to have Lee Chae-min take over, less than a month before filming began.
Director Jang Tae-yoo stated at the press conference, "Although I wasn't the first choice, I'm 120% satisfied with the result." Yoona expressed her focus on the role, while Lee Chae-min admitted, "The pressure was immense, but I gave it my all." The audience ultimately recognized the new chemistry between the two actors.
5. Episode Summary (Episodes 1-12 including the finale)
🧑🍳Episode 1: Creamy Chili Sauce Bibimbap
Zhiyong traveled to North Korea and encountered the tyrant for the first time, but he escaped danger by cooking.
🧑🍳Episode 2: Shufei Cuisine
The imperial kitchen showed off her cooking skills for the first time and was forced to enter the palace.
🧑🍳Episode 3: Haute Cuisine
Zhiyong impressed Li Xian with his venison dishes and was promoted to a skilled waiter.
🧑🍳Episode 4: Spinach and Doenjang Soup
He won the competition on the theme of "filial piety" and officially gained a foothold.
🧑🍳Episodes 5–8
The relationship between Li Xian and Zhiyong gradually heats up, Jiang Mozhu intensifies his conspiracy, and Prince Qishan secretly waits for an opportunity to seize power.
🧑🍳Episodes 9–11
The truth of the old case gradually emerged, and Zhiyong and Li Xian had to deal with it and trust the CCP to overcome the difficulties.
🧑🍳Episode 12 Finale
The glow of "Wangyunlu" fades away, symbolizing the unsolved mystery of time. The palace storm ends, and the relationship between Li Xian and Zhiyong ends romantically in a blank space.
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Is this true history?
No, it is a fictional historical drama. The characters are based on the period of King Yeonsangun, but have been adapted.
Q2. Is the food scene professional?
The crew invited Korean royal cuisine and Michelin chef consultants to ensure that the cooking details are realistic and professional.
Q3. Will there be a second season?
The ending is left blank, and the disappearance of the foreshadowing in "Wangyunlu" leaves the possibility for a sequel.
7. Viewership Performance and Broadcast Platform
| Episodes | Audience ratings (Seoul) | Ratings (National) |
| Episode 1 | 4.86% | 6.64% |
| Episode 4 | 10.10% |
Breaking double digits, becoming tvN's most popular drama of the year
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▪️Broadcast time: tvN Saturday and Sunday 21:10
▪️Streaming platforms: Netflix, TVING, global synchronization
8. Highlights and Impressions of the Series
The drama's defining characteristic is its narrative-as-cooking approach. Yan Zhiyong employs modern culinary techniques to resolve ancient dilemmas, with each dish revealing the character's choices and state of mind. Li Xian, through his "absolute sense of taste," seeks the truth behind his mother's death, finding emotional solace in the process.
The audience can enjoy the triple pleasures of palace intrigue, sweet love and culinary aesthetics at the same time, which is why it has become a "great drama to watch while eating."
9. Conclusion: Why is this drama a must-see?
"Tyrant Chef" perfectly blends period power struggles with culinary culture, offering viewers a balance between intense storytelling and gentle culinary indulgence. The pairing of Yoona and Lee Chae-min, along with talented supporting actors like Kang Hanna and Choi Kyu-hwa, firmly establishes its place in the Korean drama market for the second half of 2025. If you're looking for a drama that'll make you laugh, hungry, and thrilled, this is a must-see.
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