The Tyrant’s Chef Cast: Full Lineup, Character Guide, and Lead Actor Replacement

Discover the full cast of tvN’s weekend drama The Tyrant’s Chef. From lead actors Im Yoon-ah and Lee Chae-min to supporting stars Kang Han-na, Choi Gwi-hwa, and Seo Yi-sook, we break down who plays whom. Learn about the lead actor replacement (Park Sung-hoon → Lee Chae-min), detailed character descriptions, and streaming info on Netflix and TVING.

Table of Contents

1. Drama Overview

2. Complete Cast List (Table)

3. Lead Actor Replacement Timeline & Reactions

4. Broadcast, Streaming & Production Info

5. FAQ: Common Questions About the Drama

6. Summary at a Glance

1. Drama Overview

The Tyrant’s Chef is a time-slip historical romance that blends royal court intrigue with gourmet cooking. A French chef from modern-day Paris is transported to Joseon, where she becomes the head royal chef (Daeryeong Suksu) in the palace kitchen. There, she faces the nation’s most feared ruler — a tyrant king with an absolute palate.

The drama premiered on August 23, 2025 on tvN and is also available worldwide via Netflix and TVING, gaining attention both domestically and internationally.

2. Complete Cast List (Table)

Below is a full list of the main and supporting cast, along with their characters and descriptions.

Actor	Role	Character Description
Im Yoon-ah	Yeon Ji-young	A French chef who wins a top culinary contest in Paris but is pulled into the past by an old cookbook. She becomes the palace’s head chef.
Lee Chae-min	Yeonhui-gun Lee Heon	The tyrant king with an absolute sense of taste. Haunted by his mother’s tragic past. (Originally cast with Park Sung-hoon, later replaced by Lee Chae-min.)
Kang Han-na	Kang Mok-ju	A royal concubine (Suk-won) and secret agent for Prince Jesan. Uses beauty and cunning to manipulate court politics.
Choi Gwi-hwa	Prince Jesan	The king’s uncle. Pretends to be a fool but secretly plots a coup.
Seo Yi-sook	Grand Dowager Queen In-ju	The king’s grandmother and the most powerful figure in court politics.
Oh Eui-sik	Im Song-jae	Chief Royal Secretary. A brilliant strategist and manipulator.
Yoon Seo-ah	Seo Gil-geum	A palace maid with a perfect sense of smell. Becomes Ji-young’s closest ally.
Kim Kwang-gyu	Eom Bong-sik	Senior royal chef. Secretly planted by the Grand Dowager Queen.
Hong Jin-gi	Maeng Man-su	Senior royal chef. Scholarly, trained in Japanese cuisine.
Kim Hyun-mok	Min Gae-deok	Assistant chef. Rice cook.
Jung Gyu-su	Yoon Chun-sik	Palace kitchen administrator (eunuch).
Jang Gwang	Chang-seon	Chief eunuch, second-generation court insider.
Park Joon-myeon	Choi Mal-im	Senior court lady of the main palace.
Lee Eun-jae	Deposed Queen Yeon	The king’s late mother.
Shin Eun-jung	Queen Dowager Ja-hyun	The king’s stepmother, another power center in the palace.
Kim Yun-mi	Consort Yang	Former concubine of the late king.
Lee Heon-ju	Consort Seong	Another former concubine.
Nam Kyung-eup	Im Seo-hong	Vice Minister of Works, corrupt official, father of Im Song-jae.
Son Jong-hak	Han Min-seong	Chief State Councillor, elder brother of the Grand Dowager Queen.
Cho Seung-yeon	Seong In-jae	Right State Councillor, ally of Prince Jesan.
Park Young-woon	Shin Soo-hyuk	Captain of the royal guards.
Lee Joo-an	Gong-gil	Leader of a troupe of entertainers, the king’s jester.
Lee Kwan-hoon	Deok-chul	Right-hand man of Prince Jesan.
Special Cast	Lady Choo-wol	Inspector court lady, Kang Mok-ju’s spy.
Special Cast	Lady Kim Bok-sun	Head court lady overseeing the royal kitchen.

3. Lead Actor Replacement Timeline & Reactions

One of the most notable stories surrounding the production of The Tyrant’s Chef was the lead actor replacement. Park Sung-hoon had originally been chosen as the male lead, but in early 2025 he became embroiled in an SNS controversy and eventually stepped down from the role. With filming already looming, the production team brought in Lee Chae-min less than a month before cameras started rolling.

Director Jang Tae-yoo addressed the casting change at the press conference, openly admitting that Lee wasn’t the initial choice but adding that he was “120% satisfied” with the result. Im Yoon-ah also commented on the situation, saying that she simply focused on doing her part well. Meanwhile, Lee Chae-min reflected on the challenge of stepping into such a big role as a rookie, confessing that he felt a huge burden but was determined to give everything he had.

Although there were concerns at first, viewers soon responded positively. The chemistry and visuals between Im Yoon-ah and Lee Chae-min quickly won over audiences, and what could have been a setback is now widely regarded as a successful decision for the drama.

4. Broadcast, Streaming & Production Info

Item	Details
Broadcast	tvN (Sat–Sun 9:10 PM)
Premiere Date	August 23, 2025
Streaming	Netflix, TVING (simulcast)
Director	Jang Tae-yoo
Screenwriter	fGRD
Production	Filmgrida, Jung Universe

5. FAQ: Common Questions About the Drama

Q. Is The Tyrant’s Chef a historical drama based on real history?
A. Not exactly. It’s a fictionalized history drama. Characters are inspired by real Joseon figures but altered for storytelling.

Q. Did the lead actor switch hurt the production?
A. While initially concerning, the switch to Lee Chae-min has been praised, with viewers noting strong chemistry with Im Yoon-ah.

Q. How authentic are the cooking scenes?
A. Food sequences are meticulously researched, with input from traditional Korean royal cuisine experts and modern chefs.

6. Summary at a Glance

The Tyrant’s Chef is a unique blend of court politics, gourmet cooking, and romance. With Im Yoon-ah as the time-slipped chef and Lee Chae-min as the tyrant king (after Park Sung-hoon’s departure), the drama balances survival stakes with emotional depth. The ensemble cast — including Kang Han-na, Choi Gwi-hwa, and Seo Yi-sook — reinforces the richness of its world.