TV
K-Drama 'The Tyrant's Chef' Captivates Global Audiences with Its Unique Blend of Romance and Culinary Delights
tvN's weekend drama 'The Tyrant's Chef' has become the top romantic comedy of 2025, captivating global audiences with its impressive ratings and popularity across domestic and international OTT platforms.
The sixth episode, aired on the 7th, recorded an average household rating of 13.1% in the Seoul metropolitan area, peaking at 15.1%, continuing its upward trend. It dominated the top spot across all channels during its time slot on both weekend days, maintaining its position as the highest-rated tvN drama of 2025. On TVING, the real-time LIVE UV for episodes 5 and 6 increased by approximately 1.5 times compared to the previous week. It consistently ranked in the top 20 of TVING's daily rankings and held the number one spot for three consecutive weeks after each broadcast.
The global response is also remarkable. On Netflix's official global TOP TV shows (non-English) list, it ranked second, maintaining a spot in the TOP 10 for three weeks since its debut and holding the second position for two consecutive weeks.
According to FlixPatrol, a global OTT content ranking service, 'The Tyrant's Chef' entered the TOP 10 in 93 regions and ranked first in 44 regions, including Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The response in the Americas and European markets is also noteworthy.
In the U.S., it entered the TOP 10 immediately upon its release, reaching as high as fourth place, marking a significant achievement among K-dramas released this year.
The FUNdex, released by Good Data Corporation, a K-content competitiveness analysis institution, ranked it first in TV-OTT drama buzz for three consecutive weeks in the first week of September 2025. Cast members Im Yoon-ah (as Yeon Ji-young) and Lee Chae-min (as Lee Heon) also maintained the top spot in drama cast buzz for three weeks.
The Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute also ranked it first in the drama brand reputation rankings for September 2025, reflecting its immense popularity.
The drama's soaring popularity is attributed to the actors' stellar performances, mouth-watering culinary displays, a delightful storyline, and stylish direction, appealing to viewers worldwide.
Particularly, the food featured in 'The Tyrant's Chef' has sparked significant interest both domestically and internationally. Fusion dishes combining traditional Korean ingredients like doenjang and bibimbap with Western culinary techniques have garnered high attention. Forbes described 'The Tyrant's Chef' as "showcasing sweet chemistry between Im Yoon-ah and Lee Chae-min, but the true star might be the meticulously prepared food. No K-drama has been so dedicated to satisfying a picky palate since 'Dae Jang Geum.'" They further highlighted the drama's unique aspect by stating, "It demonstrates the persuasive power of a well-prepared meal."
As the romance between Yeon Ji-young (Im Yoon-ah) and Lee Heon (Lee Chae-min) begins to unfold, anticipation grows for how their relationship will evolve. 'The Tyrant's Chef' will air its seventh episode on the 13th at 9:10 PM.
Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr
