Yoona's Stellar Performance in 'The Tyrant's Chef' Drives Ratings to New Heights

Yoona's captivating performance in 'The Tyrant's Chef' has led to a significant surge in viewership ratings.

In the tvN weekend drama 'The Tyrant's Chef,' Yoona takes on the role of Yeon Ji-young, a French chef who time-slips to the past and encounters King Lee Heon (played by Lee Chae-min), a notorious tyrant with an impeccable palate.

In the latest episode, Yeon Ji-young faced a crisis when her secret weapon, red pepper powder, went missing before the first cooking competition. Despite the setback, she quickly composed herself and devised a new recipe, creating a beef bourguignon using rice wine, which impressed Ming Dynasty envoy Woo Gon (played by Kim Hyung-mook).

Before the competition results were announced, Yeon Ji-young deduced that Ming Dynasty chef Abi-soo (played by Moon Seung-yoo) had used her red pepper powder, with Prince Jesan (played by Choi Gwi-hwa) behind the scheme. However, acknowledging her failure to protect her ingredients, the competition ended in a draw.

In the subsequent competition, Yeon Ji-young chose Peking duck as the main dish. Despite her injured hand and the challenges posed by Kang Mok-joo's (played by Kang Han-na) threats, she maintained her focus and completed the dish with the help of Gil-geum (played by Yoon Seo-ah). Her dish received high praise from both King Lee Heon and Woo Gon, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the score announcement.

Throughout these events, Yoona showcased her ability to adapt to challenges, demonstrating leadership and confidence as she guided her team of chefs, enhancing the drama's intensity.

Episode 8 of 'The Tyrant's Chef' achieved its highest ratings yet, with nationwide ratings of 15.4%, peaking at 17.4%, and metropolitan area ratings of 15.8%, peaking at 18.1%, according to Nielsen Korea. 'The Tyrant's Chef' airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM.

Reporter: Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr