"'The King and the Man' ended, and 'The Legend of the Cook' started right after. I found the script very entertaining. Park Ji-hoon is someone who is far from cooking; I don't even know the first letter of the word 'cooking.' I was curious about what it would look like for someone like me to cook. I thought that working on this project might spark a new hobby in cooking, but in reality, I feel even further away from it. The only thing I've improved is my knife skills. While reading the script, I found the fantasy elements and Sung-jae's special skills particularly intriguing," he said.
'The Legend of the Cook' does not merely depict cooking scenes realistically. It creatively expresses flavors, showcases Sung-jae's unique abilities, and incorporates CGI and reactions that enhance the comedy and fantasy of the piece. Park Ji-hoon believes that rather than completing all scenes based solely on the script, he needed to create specific movements and eye contact on set.
"I didn't think too much while reading the script. I felt it was important to create on set. Where I stood and where I looked were things I developed on location. The director had specific positions and angles in mind, and I simulated my actions on set. I wanted to show viewers a natural interaction with others, so I tried to keep my eyes moving and maintain cute expressions. I also worked on parts during post-production dubbing, and I'm glad that what I simulated was captured well," he explained.
Given the fantasy elements, there were many scenes that required the actor to adapt on set. For instance, a scene where he descends on wires while wearing seaweed could have felt strange or silly, but Park Ji-hoon said he was able to embrace it thanks to the atmosphere on set and the camaraderie with veteran actors.
"It was so much fun to do what the director wanted. Working with veteran actors made it easy to handle any situation on set without hesitation. I think I managed to enjoy the scene where I descended on wires while wearing seaweed," he said.
In this project, Park Ji-hoon faced the new challenge of comedy. Instead of forcing humor, he trusted the natural rhythm of the scenes and the atmosphere on set. In fact, many spontaneous movements and reactions not included in the script emerged during filming.
"I tried not to act overly exaggerated. But I think it turned out funny. The atmosphere on set was great, and there were many unscripted moments. A lot of additional elements were added to the script as we thought through each scene on set," he noted.
There were many moments that were hard to suppress laughter. Particularly, scenes like the chicken coop, which were created during rehearsals, provided unexpected humor for the actors. Park Ji-hoon learned a lot from his senior colleagues who excelled in comedy.
"It was hard to hold back laughter every time. There were many additions on set. The scene in the chicken coop was developed during rehearsal, and I think the reason I didn't lose focus was that the atmosphere on set was so enjoyable. My seniors, Kyung-ho and Jung Woong-in, are great at comedy, and I learned a lot from them. Seeing them work so hard made me want to put in the effort as well," he said.
Although the series is based on a web novel and webtoon, Park Ji-hoon focused on the script to develop his character, Kang Sung-jae. While he did look at some of the webtoon after his military assignment, he ultimately relied on the script as his primary reference for acting preparation.
"I felt that the script I received was quite different from the webtoon. I didn't read the webtoon to the end. After my assignment, I focused more on the script than on the webtoon. I think I prepared according to the script," he explained.
After the success of 'The King and the Man,' Park Ji-hoon quickly found himself in another hit project, but he shared that he hasn't experienced any significant changes within himself.
"I haven't changed much inside. I'm very grateful. I feel fortunate to have good seniors around me. Recently, while filming 'Wanna One Go' in Taean, many elderly people recognized me. I think it was because the movie did well. I was very thankful for their kindness," he said.
He is cautious about his attitude following the success of his projects, fully aware that a production is the result of collective effort. He expressed his aversion to appearing arrogant due to a successful project.
"I dislike seeing someone act arrogant. It feels distasteful. While success can lead to that, it’s important to remember that many people contribute to the work," he stated.
'The Legend of the Cook' features both humorous and poignant moments. In a scene revealing the past and transformation of Kwan-cheol (played by Kang Ha-kyung), Park Ji-hoon portrayed Kwan-cheol's grandmother. While the scene appears funny on screen, it was a delicate moment tied to the emotions of his co-star.
"It’s a funny scene on air, but it was a challenging one for me. It was an emotional scene for Ha-kyung. The grandmother's narrative about the hamburger was significant, and before filming that scene, the director asked if I could play the grandmother. I was surprised and thought, 'Me?' I could do it, but since the script indicated that Kwan-cheol would cry, I wondered if he could cry looking at my face. It was a sensitive scene. I was serious on set, trying to immerse myself and provide energy. He actually thanked me, saying I made him cry. It was a cautious yet grateful scene. It’s funny, but it can also be sad if you dig deeper. So, I remained quietly composed," he shared.
Park Ji-hoon is also increasing his opportunities to connect with fans this year. Preparing for his first fan meeting in seven years, he expressed a desire to spend more time with fans after a long hiatus. He noted that it’s not just the fans who miss seeing him on stage.
"I think I will enlist next year. I want to join the Marine Corps, but there’s an age limit, so I have to enlist by next year. I don’t feel regret about the timing, as I need to fulfill my military duty. Since my hiatus has been so long, I want to spend more time connecting with fans this year. I missed being on stage for three years, and as someone who was first recognized on stage, I know fans want that too. I think I missed it as well," he said.
Whether in his projects or on stage, meeting fans' expectations remains a task for Park Ji-hoon. He views this responsibility not as a burden but as a commitment he is eager to fulfill.
"Meeting fans' expectations is part of our job. Whether as an idol or on screen, it feels like a quest we always carry," he concluded.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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