YoonA, Lee Chae Min, and Kang Han Na Confirmed to Star in Time-Travel Drama “The Tyrant’s Chef”

tvN has officially announced the cast lineup for its upcoming time-travel drama “The Tyrant’s Chef”.

After a prolonged period of speculation and a major shakeup, the final cast selection has been announced.

On January 24, tvN confirmed that Girls’ Generation’s YoonA, Lee Chae Min, Kang Han Na, and Choi Gwi Hwa will lead the upcoming fantasy drama “The Tyrant’s Chef” (working title).

“The Tyrant’s Chef” is a fantasy romance drama inspired by a popular web novel. The story follows a French chef who travels through time and finds herself in the midst of a 500-year-old era. There she encounters the infamous tyrant who happens to have a refined palette.

Girls’ Generation’s YoonA and Lee Chae Min have secured lead roles with Kang Han Na and Choi Gwi Hwa also on board in supporting roles.

YoonA stars as Yeon Ji Young, a French chef with a bright personality and a passion for cooking. She is on top of the world after winning a prestigious French cooking competition. 

However, her celebration is cut short when she is mysteriously transported to the Joseon Dynasty. There, she meets the infamous tyrant and wows him with her unique fusion of royal cuisine.

Lee Chae Min plays Lee Heon, a king with a discerning palate who also happens to be Yeon Ji Young’s boss at a restaurant. He is blown away by her cooking skills and invites her to the palace.

Previously, Park Sung Hoon was cast as the male lead, however, he departed from the project after receiving massive backlash for sharing a controversial Instagram post.

Kang Han Na takes on the role of Kang Mok Ju, a stunning and talented woman who captures Lee Heon’s attention and becomes his concubine. Her character is expected to create tension in the budding relationship between Yeon Ji Young and Lee Heon.

Meanwhile, Choi Gwi Hwa plays Prince Jesan, a ruthless and cunning member of the Joseon royal family. As Lee Heon’s arch-nemesis, Prince Jesan will stop at nothing to seize the throne.

Acclaimed director Jang Tae Yoo, (“My Love from the Star”), (“Knight Flower”, “Lovers of the Red Sky”, returns with this latest project.

tvN’s upcoming drama ‘The Tyrant’s Chef’, featuring an all-star cast, including YoonA, Lee Chae Min, Kang Han-na, and Choi Gwi-hwa, set to premiere in the latter half of 2025.