Home / Arts and Entertainment / Webtoon Creator Blends History and Cuisine in Acclaimed Drama
Webtoon Creator Blends History and Cuisine in Acclaimed Drama
29 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Webtoon 'Surviving as Yeonsangun's Chef' inspired hit drama 'The Tyrant's Chef'
- Creator Park Kuk-jae grounded the story in historical records and authentic ingredients
- Drama adaptation became a sensation, topping Netflix's global non-English rankings
In September 2025, webtoon creator Park Kuk-jae revealed the extensive research behind the popular tvN drama 'The Tyrant's Chef', which was adapted from his work 'Surviving as Yeonsangun's Chef'. The story follows a French chef who finds himself in 16th-century Joseon, tasked with pleasing the volatile palate of King Yeonsangun.
Park explained that by weaving food and Korean history, he crafted a narrative that felt both novel and familiar. To bring the culinary scenes to life, he delved into historical sources like the 'Annals of the Joseon Dynasty' and old cookbooks, ensuring even the most extravagant dishes were grounded in authenticity.
The drama adaptation, starring Im Yoona and Lee Chaemin, has been a sensation, rocketing past 15% ratings and claiming the top spot among tvN shows this year. It also climbed to number one in Netflix's global non-English show ranking for two consecutive weeks, surprising even the creator, who was unsure if the characters' comic food reactions would translate well to the screen.
