Who is the Tyrant's Chef? The original ending of Prince Yeonsangun, and how many episodes did Park Sung-hoon leave?

Here's a comprehensive look at the tvN weekend drama "The Tyrant's Chef," including basic information, characters, and the original ending! Also explore the significance of Yeonhui and Yeonsangun, as well as the reaction to Park Sung-hoon's departure and the replacement of the male lead.

 

1. Tyrant Chef Basic Information How many episodes?

 

The new tvN weekend drama "The Tyrant's Chef" premiered on Saturday, August 23, 2025. It airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM and consists of 12 episodes.

 

Broadcast time	tvN Sat-Sun 9:10 PM
Episode	12 episodes
ott	Tving, Netflix streaming
production	Director Jang Tae-yoo (The Painter of the Wind, Deep-Rooted Tree)
Script	fGRD
Original	Surviving as a Chef in Yeonsangun, a web novel by Park Guk-jae
Cast	Im Yoon-ah, Lee Chae-min, Kang Han-na, Choi Gwi-hwa, etc.

 

 

2. Who are the characters in Tyrant Chef?

 

The drama "The Tyrant's Chef" is a time-slip fusion historical drama about a former Michelin-starred chef who is transported back in time and becomes entangled with the worst tyrant of all time. Centered around Yeon Ji-young and Prince Yeonhee, the drama unfolds as palace intrigues and culinary competitions unfold alongside each other, creating a captivating storyline.

 

Yeon Ji-young (Im Yoon-ah)	A person who was appointed as a Michelin 3-star chef. Due to the book Mangunrok, he falls into the past and becomes the captain of the royal family.
Lee Heon (Yeonhee-gun, Lee Chae-min)	A king who became a tyrant after his mother's death. He became fascinated by Ji-young's cooking and kept her by his side.
Kang Mok-ju (Kang Han-na)	A beautiful and talented concubine and spy of Prince Jesan.
Prince Jesan (Choi Gwi-hwa)	Lee Heon's uncle, a man of power, and a cold-blooded man who aims for a rebellion.

 

3. Yeonhui-gun = Yeonsan-gun? Why the name changed?

 

In the original work, he was directly designated as Yeonsangun, but in the drama, his name was changed to Yeonhui-gun Lee Heon. This was to avoid controversy over historical distortion, and Jang Nok-su was renamed Kang Bok-ju, and Deposed Queen Yun was renamed Deposed Queen Yeon. <The Tyrant's Chef> is a fictional historical drama inspired by real people.

 

4. What was the original ending of The Tyrant's Chef?

 

The original web novel has a happy ending. The female protagonist, Yeon Ji-young, returns to the modern era, and Lee Heon transforms into a more humane king. In the spinoff, Lee Heon actually travels to the modern era to find Ji-young. The drama likely won't follow suit, but there's a high possibility that a new twist will be added, keeping viewers guessing.

 

5. Park Sung-hoon leaving the show, what was the reaction to the replacement of the male lead actor?

 

Park Sung-hoon was initially cast as the male lead, but he dropped out due to personal controversy. Rookie actor Lee Chae-min was urgently cast in his place. Contrary to concerns, many praised the pairing, calling it a "refreshing combination." Most notably, after the first two episodes aired, many praised their chemistry. The director also expressed his 120% satisfaction, stating that he and female lead Im Yoon-ah were a perfect match.

 

Q&A

 

Q1. How many episodes of Tyrant's Chef are there?

A. It will be a total of 12 episodes and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM on tvN.

 

Q2. Where can I watch OTT?

A. It will be streamed simultaneously on Tving and Netflix.

 

Q3. Who does Yeonhee-gun refer to?

A. This is a fictional character based on the original story of Yeonsangun. The name has been changed to avoid historical controversy.

 

Q4. Will the ending of the original work be different from the ending of the drama?

A. The original work ends with a happy ending, but the drama can be adapted and has a new ending.

 

Q5. Who was the replacement actor after Park Sung-hoon left the show?

A. Actor Lee Chae-min has been cast as Yeon-hee, a new character. The director and production team have both responded positively.