Park Ji Hoon returns with 'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier,' raising anticipation with new military cooking drama

28 Apr 2026, 22:13 by K-Soul · allkpop

Park Ji Hoon is set to return with a new project following his box office success with 'The King's Warden.'

Park Ji Hoon shared why he chose his next work, 'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier,' following the success of his previous film. The TVING original series, scheduled to premiere on May 11 at 8:50 PM KST both in Korea and globally, is a military cooking fantasy drama. It follows Private Kang Sung Jae (Park Ji Hoon), who trades a rifle for a kitchen knife and a bullet belt for an apron, as he rises to become a “legendary cook soldier.”

Known as a self-proclaimed military enthusiast, Park Ji Hoon takes on the role of Kang Sung Jae and personally revealed behind-the-scenes stories, from his reasons for choosing the project to his preparation process.

He explained, “I’ve always wanted to wear a military uniform at least once through a project, and I also wanted to take on a new challenge.” He added, “What intrigued me most was that Kang Sung Jae is a character who adapts to an unfamiliar environment and builds his own place. The way he earns trust within the unit through his surprising skills and forms bonds with fellow soldiers was also very appealing.”

As his character is a military cook, Park Ji Hoon also had to develop his culinary skills. “To portray the unique role of a cook soldier convincingly, I took cooking lessons before filming. As I learned different dishes, my knife skills gradually improved,” he said, raising anticipation.

Because the drama features a system where Kang Sung Jae levels up his cooking skills through completing quests, Park Ji Hoon approached his acting differently. “I wanted to portray a character who grows step by step using a virtual ‘Guardian’ that delivers quests,” he explained. “I paid special attention to my facial expressions, imagining that it actually existed in front of me.”

When asked what nickname he hopes to gain through the project, he chose “Kkang Sung Jae.” He shared, “That’s the character’s nickname in the drama. Every time I heard it, it made me feel good, and the sound itself feels cute, so I’d love to be called that.”

He also pointed out key viewing highlights: “I hope viewers will watch how ‘Kkang Sung Jae’ builds relationships with various characters and grows through them, as well as the chemistry that develops along the way. Please also pay attention to how the character evolves using the interesting ‘Guardian’ concept.”

About ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’

'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier' is based on a popular Naver webtoon of the same name and will premiere on TVING and tvN on May 11 at 8:50 PM KST. Previously, in 'The King's Warden,' Park Ji Hoon earned praise for his portrayal of the tragic young king Danjong, impressing audiences with his emotional depth. The film surpassed 10 million viewers, solidifying his position as a rising star.

Even before its broadcast, the drama has been gaining attention through teaser videos and posters. In the “Beginning of the Legend” teaser released on April 23, Park Ji Hoon appears completely transformed, shedding his previous image.

The teaser opens with Kang Sung Jae barely holding back nausea, immediately drawing attention. Fellow soldiers are heard shouting “Help me,” creating a war-like atmosphere. Just as curiosity peaks, the tension dissolves unexpectedly—it turns out their suffering is caused by the poor cooking skills of fellow cook soldier Yoon Dong Hyun (played by Lee Hong Nae). Meanwhile, Yoon Dong Hyun laughs heartily, unaware of the chaos, highlighting the “hellish” mealtime reality of the unit.

However, this bleak period begins to brighten when Private Kang Sung Jae enters the kitchen. With his refined cooking, the soldiers regain their energy, and the once-dreaded food distribution area transforms into a lively space.

Praise for his cooking quickly follows. A senior remarks, “If it’s this delicious, you’ll eat twice!” while another jokingly adds, “This isn’t just food—this is heaven,” heightening anticipation for Kang Sung Jae’s culinary skills.

Another teaser, titled “Kang Sung Jae Cook Soldier Transfer Teaser,” also showcases soldiers praising his food. Toward the end, a mysterious voice says, “The tutorial for the path of a chef has begun,” further building excitement.

Park Ji Hoon captures both the character’s kind yet resilient nature and the confusion he experiences as strange phenomena suddenly appear before him, hinting at the most thrilling challenge of his life. The drama also features a strong supporting cast, including Yoon Kyung Ho, Lee Sang Yi, and Han Dong Hee.

The production team expressed confidence in the project, stating, “Seeing the actors’ passion and chemistry during script reading convinced us that this drama will deliver positive energy to viewers. Please look forward to the birth of an incredibly fun and refreshing military drama this first half of the year.”

Park Ji Hoon’s Busy Year

Following 'The King's Warden' and 'The Legend of Kitchen Soldier,' Park Ji Hoon continues his active career. In addition to acting, he is also returning as a singer. His first single album 'RE:FLECT' will be released on April 29 at 6 PM KST across major music platforms.

At his fan meeting “Same Place,” held on April 25 and 26 at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, he unveiled the stage for his new track “Bodyelse” for the first time. The song is the title track of his upcoming single album.

He shared a heartfelt message: “The reason I can keep moving forward is because of May (his fans). I won’t forget that feeling and will continue to walk my path steadily from the same place. I prepared the ‘Bodyelse’ stage to keep that promise.”

Park Ji Hoon will also reunite with fans as a member of Wanna One through their original reality show 'Wanna One GO: Back to Base.' The show will feature behind-the-scenes moments from their opening ceremony and their return after seven years, capturing the members’ excitement, nerves, and emotional journey as they reconnect with fans.

The highly anticipated return of Wanna One will premiere at 6 PM KST on Mnet Plus, followed by a broadcast on Mnet at 8 PM KST.

Share this article SHARE