Rising star Lee Chae Min is making waves as he steps into his first royal role, playing the formidable yet layered King Yi Heon in tvN’s upcoming weekend drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.
The survival fantasy rom-com, set to premiere on August 23, tells the story of a modern-day chef who time-slips into the past and finds herself face-to-face with a ruthless king whose legendary palate could change her fate.
For Lee Chae Min, this marks a bold new chapter in his career. Sharing why he was drawn to the project, he revealed: “The theme of cooking felt fresh, and I was fascinated by Yi Heon’s multi-dimensional personality. Plus, I’ve always admired director Jang Tae-yoo, which made me want to take on this role even more.”
Describing his character, Lee paints King Yi Heon as “a turbulent presence, like an untouchable typhoon. He’s unstable and fiery, but underneath that intensity, there’s an unexpectedly quirky side.” With humor, he likened the king to yukgaejang, a hearty Korean soup: “He looks rough on the outside, but inside, he’s a dish full of different flavors and depths.”
To capture this complexity, Lee emphasized the balance he worked hard to achieve: “I tried to mix heavy and light tones to reflect both the authority of a king and his freedom as a person. I also gave input on his styling to highlight his piercing gaze and created distinct ways for him to express himself depending on the situation.”
Fans have already been buzzing about the teaser trailer, especially for Lee Chae-min’s action sequences. He shared that he trained extensively: “I learned horseback riding again, and I practiced swordsmanship and archery with the martial arts team to make the action scenes feel authentic.”
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Highlighting what makes Bon Appétit, Your Majesty unique, Lee added: “Viewers can expect a mix of mystery and romance woven through the lens of cooking. The evolving connection between Yeon Ji-young (Im Yoon Ah) and Yi Heon—built on both flavor and emotion—will be a key point to watch.”
Featuring romance, culinary intrigue, and palace power struggles on the menu, Bon Appétit Your Majesty promises to deliver a rich, multi-flavored story led by Lee Chae Min’s commanding yet unexpectedly charming king. The drama premieres on Saturday, August 23, on tvN.
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