tvN's 'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty' Overcomes Casting Challenges with Stellar Chemistry

Despite a last-minute casting change and a 10-year age gap between the lead actors, the chemistry on set was undeniable for the drama 'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty,' which is all about the passion for cooking.

On the 19th, a press conference for tvN's new weekend drama 'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty' was held at The Saint in Sindorim, Guro-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by actors Lim Yoon-a, Lee Chae-min, Choi Gui-hwa, Seo Yi-sook, Oh Eui-sik, and director Jang Tae-yoo.

'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty' is a survival fantasy romantic comedy about a chef who time-slips to the past at the peak of his career and meets a tyrannical king with an absolute sense of taste. Initially, actor Park Sung-hoon was cast as the male lead, but he stepped down after a controversy arose when explicit content was posted on his social media last year. Lee Chae-min subsequently took over the role.

Regarding Park Sung-hoon's departure, director Jang Tae-yoo commented, "It happened before filming began, during the preparation period, so there were many candidates. I consider the lead actor's departure as a part of the process. Although Lee Chae-min wasn't the actor we initially thought of, I am 120% satisfied with him. All actors have passion during their rookie years, but effort doesn't always guarantee results. Lee Chae-min not only worked hard but also delivered results," he praised.

Lee Chae-min, who joined after Park Sung-hoon's exit, expressed, "It's true that there wasn't much time, so the pressure and responsibility were immense. The director called me in frequently before filming for group readings and to work with other senior actors, which helped me grasp the character's feel and tone. I hope those efforts are well captured on screen, thanks to the director's meticulous direction."

When asked if he felt any pressure about being a replacement, Lee Chae-min said, "I believe I was chosen because the director saw something in me, and I am always grateful for that. As a rookie with little experience, I tried to find the reason for being given such a significant role. I approached filming with a mindset to analyze, practice, and give my all. The character of Lee Heon wasn't created by me alone; it was a collective effort."

Lim Yoon-a and Lee Chae-min also discussed their on-screen chemistry. Despite the 10-year age difference, Lim Yoon-a said, "I had high expectations for working with Lee Chae-min, and it was as good as I hoped. He was very focused, and we talked a lot about the script and characters, which made filming comfortable. From the moment he appeared in royal robes, he embodied the character of Lee Heon with his excellent vocal projection, which helped me immerse myself in my role as Yoon Ji-young."

Lee Chae-min added, "As a fan of Yoon-a, it was an honor to work with her. She helped a lot with lines and was very supportive, making filming comfortable. She is an excellent cook in real life, and I thought her skills were impressive. There were hardly any NGs during cooking scenes, which was amazing."

He further shared about expressing taste in the drama, "I often worried about how to express it. Since cooking is a main and important theme in the drama, there was pressure to make it look delicious. I practiced a lot with expressions and sounds, aiming for a genuine yet slightly exaggerated feel."

'Bon Appétit, Your Majesty' premieres on the 23rd at 9:10 PM.

Reported by Kim Se-ah, TenAsia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr