Adapted from the web novel Surviving as King Yeonsan's chiefthe series Tyrant's Chef (Bon appetit, your majesty internationally) marked the year 2025. A blend of romance, cuisine and historical retelling, the tvN drama has transformed a web novel into a cultural phenomenon. At the heart of the story is a starry-eyed chef thrown back into the Joseon dynasty, confronted by a tyrant as fascinating as he is dangerous.
Invited to speak about the future of the saga, writer Park Guk-jae is confident of a sequel. He recalls that, while the novel didn't explode upon publication, "it's heartening to see the book back in the spotlight after the drama aired". He adds: "The live-action version did very well. I've been told it's the best-performing miniseries of the year. I can only be grateful."
On the subject of genesis, the writer confesses to never having been a regular webnovelist. "I was neither a reader nor an author of webnovels at the time. I just wanted to write. I said to myself: let's write something that a lot of people read." The choice of a modern-day leader propelled into the court of King Yeonsan broke the codes of the time slipbringing a new angle on cooking, politics and survival.
The author soon began writing with the screen in mind. "Right from the start, I was thinking about an adaptation. I visualized the scenes. Readers would often say to me: 'It looks like a drama. When the proposals arrived, one condition was paramount: audiovisual adaptation. It's not easy," I was told. Then I met the company that would produce the series, and everything accelerated. We signed the rights when the novel wasn't even halfway through. Unheard of", I was told.
Season 2 already on track?
Success naturally opened the door to a sequel. For the author, things are clear: "If we do a season 2, there's an awful lot of stories to tell." The plan has already been sketched out: "The synopsis has been drawn up, as has the framework. The details are in progress. Better still, the aim would be a simultaneous launch of the novel, drama and webtoon if the sequel is confirmed.
When asked about the heart of the adaptation, Park Guk-jae emphasizes the difference in tone between the written work and the series. "The drama chose to accentuate the romance. In the novel, history, cooking and documentation take up more space. In my opinion, the choice of the series was a wise one, and it's undoubtedly one of the reasons for its success."
He also praises the on-screen embodiment of the characters, especially Im Yoon-a's performance. "Yeon Ji-young is almost too perfect to be believable in real life. In a novel, she's fine. In pictures, you have to be convincing. With Yoon-a, I believed it. Lively, firm, gentle all at once... she carried the role." At her side, Lee Chae-min pleasantly surprises the author: "Some things were different from what I'd imagined, and I liked that. The TV version of the sovereign is more tender, more endearing. It was consistent with the universe of the series."
As for season 2, the writer leaves a mystery surrounding one specific point: "It's possible that the story begins with the special episodes. Many people want to understand how the tyrant came to be in the modern world." While he remains cautious, his enthusiasm shines through: "I'm building a universe. There are still many stories to explore."
And for readers and viewers alike, his message is simple: "I'm deeply grateful. If I have to give something back, it will be through new stories capable of making you happy."
An interesting piece of information, but one to be taken with moderation, as nothing has yet been confirmed by the series' production company.
