The Tyrant's Chef
The Tyrant's Chef (Korean: 폭군의 셰프) is a South Korean television series that aired on tvN from August 23 to September 28, 2025. The series consists of 12 episodes and occupies the Saturday and Sunday 21:20 time slot.
Plot
The story follows Yeon Ji-Young (Lim Yoon-A), a French-trained chef known for her determination. After winning a cooking competition, she is transported to the Joseon era. There, she encounters King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-Min), a ruler known for his tyrannical nature and an exceptionally refined palate. Impressed by her culinary skills, the King appoints her to serve as his personal chef. As she navigates the dangers of the royal palace, she prepares fusion royal cuisine while contending with political intrigue involving the King's concubine, Kang Mok-Ju (Kang Han-Na), and his political rival, Prince Jesan (Choi Gwi-Hwa).
Production
The drama is based on the web novel Yeonsankunui Chefro Salanamki, written by Park Kuk-Jae and serialized on Naver from October 5, 2022, to August 31, 2023. The series is directed by Jang Tae-Yoo.
The production experienced a significant casting change prior to filming. Actor Park Sung-Hoon was originally cast as King Yi Heon but stepped down from the role following a controversy in December 2024 involving an inappropriate social media post.
Cast
- Lim Yoon-A as Yeon Ji-Young
- Lee Chae-Min as Yi Heon
- Kang Han-Na as Kang Mok-Ju
- Choi Gwi-Hwa as Prince Jesan