‘Bon Appetit, Your Majesty’ nears finale: Will protagonist return to future or stay with king?
Lee Chae-min, left, and Im Yoon-ah / Xportsnews
A king promising to cook bibimbap every morning for the woman he loves captivated viewers in the latest episode of tvN’s weekend drama, “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty,” which is now just two episodes away from its finale.
The Sept. 21 broadcast ended on an emotional note as Yeon Ji-young (played by Im Yoon-ah) and Lee Heon (Lee Chae-min) grew closer after clearing her name in an attempted poisoning plot. Their deepening romance left fans moved.
The ratings reflect fan enthusiasm. Among tvN’s target demographic of viewers aged 20 to 49, the drama scored an average of 5.7 percent and a peak of 6.1 percent in the Seoul metropolitan area. Nationwide, it achieved an average of 6.1 percent and peaked at 6.6 percent, ranking first across all channels in its time slot, including terrestrial broadcasters, according to Nielsen Korea.
Amid palace intrigue and rumors shaking the royal family, Ji-young faced growing danger while Heon struggled to protect her. In a key scene set under the moonlight, Heon confessed his love by asking her to become his partner, pledging, “If you become my companion, I will cook bibimbap for you every morning.” The touching words left Ji-young reconsidering her determination to return to the future, as she admitted, “Perhaps it’s fine if I don’t go back to my time and my world.”
A scene from “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” / Captured from tvN
Viewers immediately flooded social media with reactions such as “One of the best casting choices ever,” “Please give us a modern-day Season 2,” and “A king who makes bibimbap every morning? Unreal, but perfect.” Some praised the proposal as “the most heartbreaking, beautiful and romantic scene” they had ever watched, while others said, “Please let the two just live happily ever after.”
Much attention also focused on Lee Chae-min, who joined the cast just a month ago, following Park Sung-hoon’s withdrawal from the role. Despite the short preparation time, Lee has impressed audiences with his acting and excellent chemistry with Im.
As Ji-young’s inner conflict deepens and she is torn between her life in the future and her growing love in the past, fans are speculating about possible endings. Online commenters predicted scenarios ranging from Lee Heon abdicating the throne to follow Ji-young into the present, to both characters adapting to modern life together.
Im Yoon-ah / Captured from tvN
Im herself teased the finale during an appearance on “You Quiz on the Block,” asking viewers, “Will Ji-young return to the present or remain in the past? If she does return, will she meet Heon again?” When asked whether the ending would involve tears, she hinted, “Yes, I think there will be tears — in more ways than one.”
Premiering at 4.9 percent and peaking at 15.8 percent, “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” has shown steady growth throughout its run. With only two episodes left, anticipation is building over how the story will conclude. Episode 11 airs at 9:10 p.m. on Sept. 27.
This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.