How ‘Bon Appetit, Your Majesty’ redefines historical drama through fusion

A scene from tvN drama "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" / Courtesy of CJ ENM

A growing trend in historical drama production in Korea is the mixing of genres, part of an effort to avoid controversy over historical distortions and to appeal to younger viewers.

Recent tvN hit “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” is a prime example, blending elements of fantasy, romance and comedy to create a new kind of show that resonates with younger generations.

In the fantasy historical drama, a modern French chef, Yeon Ji-young (Lim Yoon-a), is suddenly whisked back in time to the royal court of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), where she must work as a royal chef in the kitchen of a highly demanding king.

The series invites viewers into a captivating story where a modern figure time-slips into a tumultuous royal era. It artfully combines palace intrigue, kitchen competitions and visual elements designed to enhance viewer enjoyment of a culinary arts-driven drama. A touch of romance between the king and the palace’s top chef adds another layer, making the series appealing to audiences of all ages.

Inspired by the web novel “Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef,” the drama sidesteps potential controversy by taking creative liberty with its historical setting. While the original novel uses the names of real-life figures, in the adapted drama, King Yi Yung, the 10th ruler of Joseon historically known as King Yeonsan (1476-1506), is reimagined as the fictional King Yi Heon. Likewise, Yeonsan’s concubine Jang Nok-su becomes Kang Mok-ju in the show.

A scene from tvN drama "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Even real-life incidents such as literati purges are fictionalized by being renamed and reinterpreted. This allows viewers to immerse themselves in the fantasy setting without being limited by historical facts, increasing the immersive quality of the story.

This approach brings together dramatic storytelling and playful imagination without the baggage of potential historical distortion.

Compared to the original web novel, which emphasized international culinary competitions with Japan, Portugal, the Ottoman Empire and other real countries of the period, the drama greatly expands the central romance. The transformation of the “absolute palate tyrant” King Yi Heon through Ji-young’s cooking is a highlight, leading viewers to anticipate each episode.

The series showcases inventive fusion dishes, blending Korean gastronomy with dramatic kitchen scenes, from chef tournaments to adrenaline-fueled duels where national pride is at stake. Renditions of foods like sous vide steak, soybean paste-infused pasta and reimagined Peking duck rolls are crafted from authentic ingredients using palace-style recipes blended with modern techniques, giving global audiences a vivid window into Korea’s contemporary culinary diversity.

Scene are seen from tvN drama "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty." Courtesy of CJ ENM

Director Chang Tae-you aimed to “make food the protagonist.” The show’s detailed direction emphasizes each dish’s visual appeal, with comic effects accompanying scenes of characters tasting them. Exaggerated expressions, flying ingredients, fireworks and flaming backgrounds create a quirky, lighthearted tone, making the show humorous through its intentionally over-the-top style.

Critic Kim Kyo-seok noted, “This is less a classic historical drama and more a vivid fantasy spun straight from a wildly popular web novel and webtoon.”

“Im Yoon-ah’s magnetic performance in the romantic comedy role, paired with those familiar flavors from iconic Japanese manga like ‘Shota no Sushi’ and ‘Cooking Master Boy’ and Korea’s own mukbang craze, creates a playful blend that’s simply irresistible to younger viewers,” he added.

Critic Jung Duk-hyun said that just as “KPop Demon Hunters” amplified global interest in Korean culture through its fusion of Korean and Western elements, “Bon Appetit, Your Majesty” skillfully does the same through cuisine.

“The drama mixes traditional ingredients and tools with French culinary techniques, maintaining a uniquely Korean identity while also making it easy for overseas audiences to approach, and this explains the drama’s success,” he said.

He said that period dramas are becoming lighter, reflecting what viewers want.

“Adaptations for terrestrial broadcasters or streaming platforms have increasingly come from webtoons and web novels, and these works showcase the strong interest in fantasy genres that attract their target audience — the younger generation. As seen from the recent popularity of ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ with the growing appeal of Korean-style fantasy settings and action, it is expected that more fusion historical dramas combined with various genres will be produced,” he added.