[K Drama]Bon Appétit Your Majesty Ending Spo & Plot Summary & Cast

The highly anticipated drama for the second half of 2025, Bon Appétit Your Majesty (Korean title: 폭군의 셰프), is a tvN weekend drama that uniquely combines the charm of time-slip fantasy with tantalizing culinary content. Based on Park Gook-jae’s popular web novel Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef, the story follows a modern Michelin 3-star chef who finds herself standing before the worst tyrant king of the Joseon era.

The drama begins as Yeon Ji-young wins a French cooking competition and, through the power of the ancient book Mangullok, is transported to the Joseon Dynasty. Played by Girls’ Generation’s Lim Yoon-ah, Ji-young takes on the role of royal chef in the palace kitchens, tasked with satisfying the notoriously demanding taste buds of tyrant king Lee Heon. Through her cooking and presence, she gradually softens his heart and influences the intense political conflicts within the palace. Kang Han-na as Concubine Kang Mok-ju and Choi Gwi-hwa as Prince Je-san add tension through power struggles and palace intrigues.

Unlike typical time-travel dramas centered solely on historical settings, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty offers a fresh narrative by using “cooking” as a medium to explore the transformation and growth of a tyrant scarred by his reign of terror and a modern chef as well as the tender romance blossoming between them.

With flashy casting and solid production by Studio Dragon, the drama is poised to pioneer a new genre that can be described as a “culinary romance.” It has heightened viewer expectations considerably.

The charming and sometimes humorous episodes born from the clash and fusion of modern and Joseon culinary cultures deepen the drama’s emotional resonance. Bon Appétit, Your Majesty presents a special story of people communicating through taste, healing through cooking, and growing through love, delivering the comfort and hope that resonate deeply with contemporary audiences.

K drama Bon Appétit Your Majesty

Korean: 폭군의 셰프 | Japanese: 暴君のシェフ | Chinese: 暴君的廚師
Genre: A comprehensive genre drama encompassing alternative history, time-slip fantasy, romance, and cooking.
Episodes: Total of 12 episodes + 1 special episode (aired from August 23 to September 28, 2025)
Netflix Upload Time: Saturdays and Sundays at 9:10 PM (KST) on tvN
Director: Jang Tae-yoo | Screenwriter: fGRD
Based on : the web novel Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef by Park Gook-jae
Production Companies: Film Grida, Jung Universe
Cast: Starring Lim Yoon-ah, Lee Chae-min, Kang Han-na, Choi Gwi-hwa, among others
Network Streaming : Netflix, tvN, tvN STORY, tvN DRAMA, TVING

Bon Appétit Your Majesty Cast

Yeon Ji-yeong (Actress: Lim Yoon-ah)
Head chef of a Paris Michelin 3-star restaurant. She time slips to the Joseon Dynasty through the power of the ancient book “Mangullok” given by her father. She becomes the royal head chef for the tyrant Lee Heon and seeks to heal and transform him with her cooking.
Lee Heon (Actor: Lee Chae-min)
Absolute monarch and tyrant. Haunted by the trauma of his biological mother, the deposed Queen Yoon’s death, he rules with tyranny and obsession over uncovering the truth. He gradually opens his heart through Ji-yeong’s cooking.
Kang Mok-ju (Actress: Kang Han-na)
A concubine of Lee Heon named Sugwon. Known as a world-class beauty, she is actually a spy for the Prince Je-san, spreading palace information.
Prince Je-san (Actor: Choi Gwi-hwa)
Uncle to Lee Heon. Though he pretends to be a fool to survive after his father’s death, he is in fact ruthless and constantly seeks opportunities to stage a coup and ascend the throne.

Other Supporting Characters

Seo Gil-geum: A girl with exceptional olfactory sense, a strong ally to Yeon Ji-yeong. They meet fatefully at the Cho family’s house in Geumpyo.
Eom Bong-sik: A 7th rank senior chef leading the royal kitchen with a cheerful but strict attitude toward culinary discipline.
Maeng Man-soo: An 8th rank junior chef with a scholarly approach, devoted to cooking and a rival to Yeon Ji-yeong.
Im Song-jae: Chief royal secretary, brother-in-law to Lee Heon’s sister. Skilled in political schemes, he tries to use Yeon Ji-yeong to eliminate Kang Mok-ju.
Shin Su-hyeok: Bodyguard and soldier steadfastly protecting Lee Heon.
Gong Gil: Lee Heon’s clown and leader of the Sadangpae troupe. Wins Lee Heon’s heart through the Cheoyong dance.
Chang Seon: A palace eunuch who has served Lee Heon since the reign of his predecessor.
Choi Mal-im: The chief court lady who likes and supports Yeon Ji-yeong’s cooking.
Queen Dowager Inju: Grandmother to Lee Heon and key figure in the deposed Queen Yoon’s case, holding vast power.
Queen Stepmother Jahyun: Lee Heon’s stepmother, deeply concerned about the truth behind Queen Yoon’s demise.
Prince Jinmyeong: Lee Heon’s half-brother who historically ascends to the throne after Lee Heon’s removal.
Han Min-seong: Yeonguijeong (Chief State Councilor), a powerful figure in court and older brother to Queen Dowager Inju.

Bon Appétit Your Majesty Ep 1~2

Bon Appétit Your Majesty Filming location

Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park Open Set:
This is a large historical filming site located within Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The open set includes traditional Korean architecture such as palaces, hanok villages, and market streets, recreating the ambience of the Joseon Dynasty. It has been used as the filming location for many popular historical dramas like “Kingdom” and “The Red Sleeve.”
Buan Video Theme Park:
A theme park located in Buan, Jeollabuk-do, known for film and media productions with various filming sets and activities, offering visitors experiences of shooting locations and entertainment related to Korean cinema and dramas.
Gyeongbokgung Palace:
The main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty located in Seoul. It is the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built during the Joseon period and is a key cultural and historical landmark in South Korea, famous for its magnificent architecture and scenic gardens.
Damyang Jonhyeongak:
Jonhyeonggak is a historic pavilion located in Damyang County, South Jeolla Province. It is known for its traditional Korean architecture and beautiful surroundings, often visited alongside other cultural sites in Damyang.
Damyang Metasequoia Road:
A famous tree-lined road in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, featuring tall metasequoia trees planted on both sides. The picturesque 8.5-kilometer road is popular for scenic walks, cycling, and photography, especially during autumn when the foliage changes color.

Bon Appétit Your Majesty Real History Gapsin Sahwa

The Gapsin Sahwa (갑자사화) during the reign of the Tyrant Chef drama refers to the historical “Gapja Literati Purge” that occurred in 1504, the 10th year of King Yeonsan-gun’s rule. This was a large-scale political purge involving the persecution and removal of many court officials and their families, centered around the controversy concerning the deposition and poison execution order of King Yeonsan-gun’s biological mother, the Deposed Queen Yun.

The purge proceeded under the pretext of “reforming the immoral trend of disrespect toward royal authority,” and affected officials from both the Hun-gu faction and the Sarim faction alike. Following this event, King Yeonsan-gun strengthened his personal control mechanisms and severely curtailed the ability of court officials to freely express dissent. The Gapja Purge marked a turning point, after which his tyranny intensified, and the prominence of palace factions and powerful aristocratic families increased sharply.

In summary, The Gapsin Sahwa is a dark episode during King Yeonsan-gun’s reign that utilized the Deposed Queen Yun’s incident as a pretext to carry out a massive political purge against opposition forces. It is recorded as one of the early Joseon literati purges and a tragic power struggle reflecting the violent consolidation of royal authority and factional conflict within the court.

Bon Appétit Your Majesty cooking list

Gochujang Butter Bibimbap
Sous Vide Cooking
Haute Cuisine
Spinach Doenjang Soup
Snowflake Schnitzel
Black Sesame Macaron
Dongnae Pajeon on a Rainy Day
Rice Wine Beef Bourguignon
Pressure Cooker Black Chicken Soup
Joseon-style Restaurant
Soy Meat Gujeolpan & Eggplant Pie
Hwanseban

Bon Appétit Your Majesty plot summary

Chef Yeon Ji-young, who won France’s most prestigious cooking competition, receives news of her father’s critical illness and urgently returns to Korea, only to be involved in a car accident. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself in Joseon Dynasty, during the reign of Lee Heon, who is known as a tyrant. Due to her modern attire and unusual appearance, she is branded an ominous presence and imprisoned in Gyeonggi jail.

It just so happens that the king’s procession is scheduled for the following day, but all the cooks and advisors preparing the banquet have fled. In a moment of crisis, Hong Won-guk, the son of the Gyeonggi governor, gathers those imprisoned who have culinary skills, and proposes that anyone who successfully completes the banquet will be granted amnesty. This is a calculated plan to pin all failures and blame on them if anything goes wrong.

As Ji-young enters the Joseon kitchen, she finds that everything matches the circumstances described in the ‘Mangullok,’ a book she saw in her father’s room as a child, leaving her deeply astonished. Recalling the details from the book, she uses the sous-vide method to tenderize the beef and creates a sauce from Joseon herbs, successfully captivating the finicky Lee Heon’s palate. As a result, she is selected as a palace chef and enters the royal court.

In fact, Lee Heon’s original intent in visiting Gyeonggi was to bring Hong Won-guk’s daughter into the palace kitchen to keep her family in check. He had orchestrated the plan for the cooks to flee, but Ji-young’s unexpected culinary prowess changes his plans. This small incident later becomes a pivotal moment that changes the course of Joseon history.

Once in the palace, Ji-young is remarkably appointed as Joseon’s first female Daeryeong-suksu (Head Chef). Through a series of cooking competitions, she saves commoners suffering under corrupt officials and spares the lives of Baekjeong village residents, using her culinary skills to foster social change. This leads to developments such as the establishment of Yuuso and the appointment of Baekjeong villagers to official posts—events that didn’t exist in the original history. She also strengthens Lee Heon’s royal authority by winning culinary contests against foreign envoys, thus rewriting history step by step.

Yet, changing the grand flow of history is not easy. Explosive incidents related to the death of Lee Heon’s biological mother, the deposed Queen Yoon, unfold at the elder Queen Insu’s longevity banquet. The death of Zen Master Ji-eom and Queen Yoon’s final poem, as well as a bloodstained red robe, drive Lee Heon into a rage, threatening to turn him into a tyrant. At this point, Ji-young risks her life to stop him, offering him dried persimmons—his mother’s favorite treat. Tasting the persimmons, Lee Heon recalls warm memories from childhood and gradually calms down.

In truth, this incident was part of a long-prepared revenge plot by Lee Heon and Yoo Jagwang. However, Yoo Jagwang was actually a member of the reformist faction, hoping Lee Heon’s tyranny would justify their coup. Ji-young’s intervention foils his plans, leading to her banishment from the palace.

After leaving the palace, Ji-young, guided by Gong Gil (actually Hong Gil-dong), arrives at the Hwalbindang hideout. There, she learns about Baek Woon-do-sa (her father), the person responsible for sending her to this era. However, fearing historical distortion, he avoids meeting her directly. Instead, Ji-young finds the ‘Mangullok,’ the only key to returning to her original time, in the designated place, but the book only contains a title and is otherwise blank.

Ji-young comes to realize that the true author of Mangullok is Lee Heon, who had enjoyed her cooking every day. Meanwhile, sensing unrest from the reformist faction, Ji-young heads to Hanyang with Hong Gil-dong, Jo Gwang-jo, and Taa-s, the chief of the Jurchen tribe. In the palace, Jang Nok-su (a spy planted by the Grand Prince Je-an, but who falls in love with Lee Heon) warns Lee Heon about the coup but sacrifices herself out of loyalty.

With Jang Nok-su’s help, Ji-young sneaks into the palace through a secret passage and saves Lee Heon in crisis. As they attempt to escape, they are rescued at the last moment by the governor of Gyeonggi, Hong Ki-dal, and Hong Won-guk’s reinforcements. (This was the result of Ji-young’s intervention, which altered the fate of Hong Won-guk’s family, who would originally have been executed, enabling them to survive and protect Lee Heon.)

Bon Appétit Your Majesty ending spoiler

A variety of people aided by Ji-young—volunteer soldiers, Baekjeong villagers, and Jang Chun-saeng, a descendant of Jang Yeong-sil who developed a new weapon—join forces to fight the coup army. Although the rebellion ultimately fails, Hong Gil-dong and Shin Su-yeon are tragically lost in the process.

Unyielding, the Grand Prince Je-an proposes a final duel at Tangchunjeong. There, as Lee Heon tries to protect Ji-young, he is stabbed by the prince’s sword but survives thanks to the Mangullok book he was carrying. Lee Heon subdues the prince, but at that moment, the prince fires a concealed arquebus.

The bullet pierces Lee Heon’s heart, and in a flash of lightning, both fall off the Tangchunjeong cliff. When Ji-young awakens, she finds herself back in a modern hospital. Despite the significant changes in history, the record still states Lee Heon was dethroned and died at Tangchunjeong.

Back in the modern day, Ji-young quietly opens a small restaurant, refusing guest chef invitations from famous restaurants. One day, a customer hands her the final page of Mangullok. Through this, a reunion with Lee Heon is foreshadowed, bringing the story to a close.