A production presentation for TVING’s original series ‘The Legendary Cook Soldier’ (written by Choi Ryong, directed by Jo Nam-hyung) was held Tuesday afternoon at the Pullman Ambassador Seoul East Pole in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Director Jo and cast members Park, Yoon Kyung-ho, Lee Hong-nae and Lee Sang-yi attended.
Based on a popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, the drama follows private Kang Sung-jae (Park), who wears an apron instead of ammunition belts and pushes through the hardships of military life through cooking, eventually becoming a “legendary cook soldier.”
Jo said the key difference from the original is how food will be portrayed on screen. “If there’s a big difference from the webtoon, it’s the vivid expression of taste,” he said, adding that the dishes will look “far more appetizing than in drawings” and stimulate viewers’ senses.
The series has drawn attention as Park’s next project after ‘The Man Who Lives With the King.’ Park said he tries not to dwell on expectations.
“I always think I can’t be loved all the time,” Park said. “My motto is to do my best in each moment. I think it’s my duty to do my best at what I’m given.”
Asked about pressure from the “10 million actor” label, he said, “I’m not the type to feel burdened. I thought more about what I could express in the work and what kind of energy I could share with senior actors. I think I was nervous, but I didn’t feel pressure.”
Jo said he saw Kang’s potential in Park while watching the actor’s previous work ‘Weak Hero,’ pointing to the strength in Park’s eyes.
“Like many people, I got to know Ji-hoon after watching ‘Weak Hero,’” Jo said. “His eyes were really good. Sung-jae starts off unfamiliar and awkward, but inside he’s resolute and moves clearly toward his goals. I cast him because I thought he could express that well.”
Park said the new series lets him step away from the heavier tone of his earlier work and try comedy.
“I think my strength is an ambiguity that moves back and forth between Kang Sung-jae and Park Ji-hoon even within comedy,” he said. “It’s not just about being funny — I think the point is being cute while still making people laugh.”
Co-star Yoon praised Park’s transformation, focusing again on his eyes.
“When I first saw him at a meeting, I fell into his eyes,” Yoon said. “They’re incredible — to the point I thought there wasn’t another male actor with eyes like that. Watching ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ and other works, I felt everything is contained in his eyes. In this series, the appealing part is the helpless, unsure look that’s unique to a new recruit. You can look forward to a mischievous charm that’s different from his previous work.”
Another point of interest is that Park, who has not served in the military, plays a private. The production team said it wanted the fresh awkwardness of an actor without firsthand experience.
“I think the director wanted new reactions that come through when someone who hasn’t served acts it,” Park said. “They seemed to like how everything feels awkward and how he wonders what to do and whether he should just stand still. I’m actually a military fan, so I knew some things, but while filming I newly felt, ‘So this is the atmosphere — this is how life would be.’”
By contrast, Lee Hong-nae and Lee Sang-yi, both of whom have served, joked about how closely they match their roles. Lee Hong-nae, who said he likes the military enough to have taken the Air Force Academy exam, put his “sync rate” at 80% and said he tried to show a character closely tied to him “just because it’s a military drama.”
Lee Sang-yi, who said he served in a police unit’s promotional team, said, “I didn’t serve as an Army soldier — I served as auxiliary police and spent two years dancing, singing and doing magic. My sync rate is 0%.”
Lee Sang-yi said he began as a special appearance but ended up joining promotional events as his filming days increased.
“I started because they said it would end quickly, but the number of shoots kept increasing,” he said. “I grew more attached to the character and ended up staying until the end. I came to today’s production presentation because I want to go on ‘Pinggyego’ and chat.”
In closing remarks, Yoon said viewers will get to see “the ‘Dan-jong oppa’ from ‘The Man Who Lives With the King’ become a private,” and urged audiences to look forward to the series.
Park said filming began in sweaty heat and wrapped as the weather turned cold. “We practiced closely and filmed happily during that time,” he said. “I hope our good energy is delivered well to viewers.”
TVING’s original series ‘The Legendary Cook Soldier’ premieres at 8:40 p.m. on May 11 on TVING and tvN. It will air every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m. thereafter.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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