Set to premiere on May 11, the TVING original 'The Legendary Cook' is a military cooking fantasy drama that follows Private Kang Sung-jae (played by Park Ji-hoon) as he transforms from a soldier wielding a kitchen knife instead of a gun, and an apron instead of a bandolier, into a legendary cook.
Known for his love of all things military, Park Ji-hoon takes on the role of Kang Sung-jae, a cook in the army. He shares behind-the-scenes stories about why he chose this project and how he prepared for the role, raising anticipation for the series.
Park Ji-hoon explained his decision to join 'The Legendary Cook', saying, "I wanted to wear a military uniform at least once while working on a project, and I was eager to take on a new challenge." He added, "I was intrigued by the character of Kang Sung-jae, who adapts to a new environment and establishes his place. The process of building trust and forming bonds with his comrades through his amazing skills was also appealing."
To portray the legendary cook Kang Sung-jae, Park Ji-hoon put in extra effort. He shared, "To convincingly depict the unique profession of a cook, I practiced cooking before filming. As I learned each dish, my knife skills improved."
Given that Kang Sung-jae's character levels up his cooking skills through quests, a unique acting approach was necessary. Park Ji-hoon explained, "I wanted to portray a character that grows by utilizing the fictional quest giver 'Guardian'. I focused on facial expressions, imagining the Guardian was really in front of me and adjusting my gaze accordingly."
Park Ji-hoon expressed his desire to be known as 'Kkang Sung-jae', a nickname for his character. He said, "I felt good every time I was called 'Kkang Sung-jae'. The nickname itself sounds cute, and I want to be known by it."
As for what viewers should look forward to in 'The Legendary Cook', Park Ji-hoon suggested, "Watch how 'Kkang Sung-jae' forms relationships with various characters and grows through those interactions. Also, pay attention to the character's development using the intriguing 'Guardian' concept."
'The Legendary Cook' will premiere on May 11 at 8:50 PM on TVING and tvN.
Reporter: Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr