Yoona time-travels from Michelin kitchen to Joseon royal court in new tvN drama

Lim Yoon-a, center, and other cast members of the tvN drama "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty" pose during a press conference at D-Cube City in Guro District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

A modern French chef is suddenly whisked back in time to the royal court of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), where she has to work in the kitchen of a very demanding king. That’s the premise of tvN’s new historical fantasy drama “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.”

In the series, Lim Yoon-a, also known as Yoona of Girls’ Generation, takes on the role of the French chef who, on the verge of becoming the head chef of a three-star Michelin restaurant, finds herself transported to a bygone era.

“I didn’t hesitate for a moment to join, knowing I’d work with director Jang Tae-yoo. The world of cooking captivated me deeply, but what truly resonated was the character’s spirit — undaunted and hopeful, she bravely forges new paths and relentlessly pursues her dreams, even as she’s thrust into an unfamiliar era after traveling back in time," Lim said during a press conference for the drama at D-Cube City in Guro District, Seoul, Tuesday.

There, she combines sophisticated modern cooking techniques with the traditions of royal Korean cuisine, crafting fusion dishes that no one has ever seen before. As she encounters the fictional King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-min), famed for his impeccable palate and icy demeanor, the two gradually grow closer, following a classic K-drama formula but flavored with a sumptuous showcase of Korean court cuisine.

To prepare for the role of a skillful chef, Lim enrolled in a cooking academy for three months before filming, where she learned basic knife skills and how to handle ingredients, becoming familiar with culinary terminology and techniques.

“Sometimes, I would visit a culinary consultant on set to learn how to make the dishes featured in the drama,” she said. “Although knife skills and intricate cooking are still challenging, I have definitely improved compared to before I started learning.”

Lim Yoon-a is seen in a scene from the tvN drama "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty." Courtesy of CJ ENM

Director Jang Tae-yoo stressed the meticulous effort poured into the food scenes, which take center stage in every episode and evoke the intensity of Netflix’s hit kitchen competition show "Culinary Class Wars."

"The heart of our drama lies in the genuine devotion to cooking. While based on the web novel 'Surviving As the Tyrant's Chef,' our portrayal goes beyond the chef’s profession — the culinary art itself is richly and diversely presented," Jang said.

“Since flavors can’t be tasted through the screen, the food had to visually stand out in every frame. We had to prepare and present it to such an extent that viewers could almost feel the taste with their eyes. That challenge was demanding but exciting."

For the cooking scenes, director Jang collaborated with those who have inherited royal Korean court cuisine traditions, Western chefs and food stylists, carefully designing the process, from how the dishes were made to their shapes to how they were styled and presented.

"We even had an assistant director dedicated solely to the food scenes, along with a specialized food team. Although the culinary aspects were the most challenging, they were also the most enjoyable part of the production,” he explained.

Known for his historical drama credits such as "Painter of the Wind," "Deep-rooted Tree" and "Flower That Blooms at Night," Jang expressed regret that large-scale historical dramas are becoming rare due to budget constraints.

“Even major broadcasters needed government support to create high-quality historical productions, but those days are long gone. It has been years since an open set was built. I want to create as many historical dramas as possible while there are still production crews left who can do them," he said.

"Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" will premiere on tvN on Saturday at 9:10 p.m.