INTERVIEW Lim Yoon-a says ‘satisfied with ending after 6 months of cooking prep’
Actor Lim Yoon-a / Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Lim serves up romantic comedy success with ‘Bon Appetit, Your Majesty’
Actor Lim Yoon-a has once again proved her standing as one of Korea’s most reliable romantic comedy leads.
TvN’s fantasy series “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty,” which ended Sunday, closed with a nationwide rating of 17.1 percent — the highest among this year’s miniseries — after starting at 4.9 percent. The drama also topped Netflix’s non-English global chart for two consecutive weeks, underscoring its international appeal.
Meeting with the Hankook Ilbo at Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel, where the finale was filmed, Lim reflected on the project that consumed much of her past year.
“I didn’t know people would love it this much,” she said. “Whenever I run into people, they say, ‘How can Daeryeong Sook-su cook so well?’ That’s when I realized the popularity.”
“Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” tells the story of Yeon Ji-young, a French-trained chef who falls into the Joseon era (1392-1910). There, she becomes the royal cook for King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-min), a tyrant with a refined palate.
Directed by Jang Tae-yoo, known for “Tree with Deep Roots” (2011) and “My Love from the Star” (2013), the show mixes historical drama with comedy, action and romance. Its comic book-style visual effects brought added flavor to the many food scenes.
For Lim, the cooking was no mere performance. She trained for six months, determined to film the kitchen scenes without a double.
“Starting last summer, I studied cooking-related works for image training,” she said. “From three months before filming, I went to culinary school to practice basic knife skills and Korean courses. I also received lessons in Western cuisine from a five-star hotel executive chef.”
On screen, she prepared dishes ranging from sous vide steak and beef bourguignon to macarons and traditional Korean chicken soup.
“When we shot the competition scenes, the cast would taste each dish and argue over which was best. Personally, I asked for the recipe for the doenjang pasta,” she said.
Lim Yoon-ah as Yeon Ji-young in "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" / Courtesy of SM Entertainment
Comedy, romance and bittersweet endings
Lim brought her trademark comic timing to Ji-young’s struggles in the palace, particularly in a standout scene where the character, drunk, belts out Seo Taiji and Boys’ “Come Back Home” while dancing with court cooks.
Asked about her knack for comedy, honed in films like “Confidential Assignment” (2017) and “Exit” (2019), she said: “It comes from a balance of my own expression, the tone of the work and chemistry with the other actors.”
For the actor, the project was especially meaningful, not only for the long preparation but also for the emotional arc.
The finale saw King Yi Heon dethroned after a rebellion, with his diary, Mang Un-rok, sending Ji-young back to the modern world. The two are reunited when Yi, carrying memories of the past, crosses into the present.
Some viewers grumbled that the so-called “happy ending” felt more like an evasion, but Lim disagreed. “To me, it was absolutely a happy ending. I was very satisfied,” she said.
After seven years away from television, Lim’s return has been met with both ratings and acclaim, reaffirming her range. She hopes her performance conveyed the consistency she strives for.
“My goal has always been to show acting that makes people nod in recognition,” she said. “This time, I feel I’ve been recognized for persistence, and I’m grateful. I don’t have my next project yet, but I want to stay open to any work that allows me to show new sides of myself.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.