"The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" surpassed a 6% viewership rating after just two episodes, prompting singer and actor Park Jihoon to raise expectations for another blockbuster following the 16 million admissions milestone of the film The King's Warden.
According to Nielsen Korea, a TV ratings research company, the second episode of the TVING original series "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" (written by Choi Ryong, directed by Jo Namhyung, abbreviated as "Kitchen Soldier") released on the 12th recorded a nationwide paid TV household rating of 6.2%. The peak momentary rating climbed as high as 7.6%.
Ratings were even higher in the Seoul metropolitan area households, averaging 6.7% with a peak momentary 7.9%. With this, the second episode of "Kitchen Soldier" ranked first in its time slot across all channels including terrestrial broadcasters in the metropolitan area among nationwide cable TV and general programming channels. It also ranked first in its time slot across all channels including terrestrial broadcasters in the 20-49 demographic, the target audience rating.
"Kitchen Soldier" is a drama that depicts the process by which private soldier Kang Seongjae (played by Park Jihoon), who wears a kitchen knife instead of a gun and an apron instead of a cartridge belt as a working-class private, becomes the "legendary kitchen soldier." Adapted into a drama from the popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, it has attracted attention as Park Jihoon's new drama, especially after he made his film debut with The King's Warden and surpassed 16 million admissions while giving a passionate performance as the role of Danjong in that film.
Before its release, "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," which drew interest for Park Jihoon's transformation into Danjong in "Kitchen Soldier," has become a noteworthy military comedy drama boasting high buzz within its first week after release. Among the highlights are the comic, warlike taste reactions praised from the senior cook's atrocious cooking to the fantastic flavors crafted by the hands of the legendary kitchen soldier Kang Seongjae.
It has even produced reactions such as "chwiralhada" on social media, eliciting laughter. Riding that momentum, "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," which ranked first overall in TVING paid subscription contribution (subscription contribution) within its first week, is attracting attention for its box office record. Observers are particularly watching whether, following film success, it can also become one of Park Jihoon's signature works in drama.
[photo] OSEN DB, provided by TVING.
[OSEN]