Actor Lee Chae-min has completely erased concerns about his participation due to Park Sung-hoon's departure. Because he was suddenly brought in, there was little time to prepare, and it was true that there were doubts about his acting compared to Park Sung-hoon, which raised worries. However, he has been praised for perfectly immersing himself in the character and finishing excellently.
The new tvN Saturday-Sunday drama "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" (directed by Jang Tae-yu, planned by Studio Dragon, produced by Film Greeda, Jung Universe) is a survival fantasy rom-com about a chef who has time-slipped to the worst tyrant and an absolute gourmet.
The drama "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty," based on a popular web novel, is directed by Jang Tae-yu, who is known for continuing the historical drama success story with hits like "My Love from the Star," "Tree with Deep Roots," "The Flower of Evil," "Hong Chun-ki," and "Flowers Bloom at Night."
The drama "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" has attracted attention even before filming began. This is primarily because lead actor Park Sung-hoon rose to stardom with "Squid Game Season 2" but caused a stir by posting a parody of the series on his social media account, leading to an "AV controversy." Park Sung-hoon ultimately departed, and in his place, rising star Lee Chae-min, who gained attention for roles in "Crash Course in Romance" and "High-Rise Invasion," was cast.
However, when comparing the acting skills and ranges of Park Sung-hoon and Lee Chae-min, reactions arose questioning whether Lee Chae-min, a relatively inexperienced actor with less historical drama experience, would be up to the task. Conversely, many had positive reactions to the notion that Lee Chae-min's impressive acting in past works, combined with Jang Tae-yu's direction and guidance, could adequately fill Park Sung-hoon's void.
During the production presentation of "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" held on the 19th at The Saint in D-Cube City, Guro District, Seoul, director Jang Tae-yu expressed 120% satisfaction with Lee Chae-min. He first noted that despite joining late, Lee Chae-min trained rigorously every day, engaging in activities like horseback riding, cooking, and archery. He commented on Lee's abdominal muscles and stated that it was a challenging role for her as an actor. He added, "In previous projects, we would typically inform actors about such scenes a month in advance, but this time, we could shoot them at any time, for which I was grateful."
Regarding Park Sung-hoon's departure, he said, "We were in the preparation stage prior to the shooting. There were many candidates, and I think it's a process we went through. Lee Chae-min wasn't the actor I initially thought of, but I am now 120% satisfied with her." Specifically, director Jang Tae-yu, who initially stated he was 100% satisfied, quickly added another 20%, explaining, "Just because someone does their best doesn't guarantee good results. Lee Chae-min is not only diligent in her preparations but has also shown actual results, which you will be able to see on screen."
The actors also praised Lee Chae-min. Choi Gwi-hwa said, "I had doubts if this friend could perform well since I hadn't seen his previous works, but she did excellently. There is no actor like her. Filming was intense and demanding, yet I found myself giving her a thumbs up multiple times, truly amazed." Seo Yi-sook added, "Lee Chae-min is an incredibly dedicated actress. When acting opposite others, she gives her all at 100%. There was a scene where the king was extremely angry, and I observed Lee working hard to maintain her weight and responsibility to the point of losing her voice during her character's scenes, which bodes well for the outcome." Oh Ui-sik remarked, "I wonder if the filming could have progressed like this without Lee Chae-min. Likewise, Lim Yoon-a faced a great deal of dialogue and had a significant amount to manage, but their passion was so strong that it could consume their charisma."
Lim Yoon-a praised, "Lee Chae-min has excellent concentration, so while acting together, she engaged in a lot of discussions about the script and character with Lee Heon and Jeong Ji-young, making the filming relaxed. From the moment she appeared in the royal attire, I thought of her as Lee Heon. I believe her vocal skills and focus as a king are remarkable, which helped me immerse myself in the performance."
Given that Lee Chae-min was hurriedly brought in with little preparation time, how could she receive such positive reviews? Lee Chae-min said, "As someone who lacked experience, I tried to find reasons for being given such a significant role. I put in effort to analyze and dedicate myself wholeheartedly. The character Lee Heon was not created by me alone but shaped by everyone, resulting in a better character." She continued, "While lacking time was indeed a fact, I felt considerable pressure and responsibility. The director frequently called on me before filming, allowing me to practice group readings with seniors. I refined the character's feel and tone and received significant feedback from my seniors during filming, which was immensely helpful."
She added, "In reality, consuming a variety of foods posed a challenge regarding how to express it. Since cooking is central and a vital element, I felt pressured to eat deliciously, but as I genuinely enjoy eating, I approached this with honesty and authenticity while incorporating a sense of exaggeration. I practiced facial expressions while referencing related videos and made sounds as well," discussing her efforts.
With acting skills, passion, and determination that are not typical for a newcomer, Lee Chae-min has filled the gaps. Viewers who had concerns over Park Sung-hoon's departure can likely set those worries aside.
The new tvN Saturday-Sunday drama "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" is set to premiere on the 23rd at 9:10 p.m.
[OSEN]