Anticipation is building for Park Ji-hoon’s upcoming drama The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, which has already earned international recognition ahead of its premiere.
Based on a popular web novel and webtoon, the series is a military mess hall comedy that follows Kang Sung Jae, an army cook who swaps his rifle for a kitchen knife and his bullet belt for an apron. What begins as an unexpected reassignment soon evolves into a life-changing quest, as he rises to legendary status within the base.
Park Ji Hoon takes on the role of Kang Sung Jae, a newly assigned private stationed at Gangrim Outpost. Once the top trainee during basic training, he experiences a dramatic fall from grace and becomes a so-called “soldier of concern.” Guided by a mysterious voice, he accepts a peculiar mission that leads him to transfer into the cook unit—setting the stage for both comedic chaos and personal growth.
Even before its official release, the drama has drawn global attention. “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” has been invited to screen in the non-competitive section of Series Mania 2026, making it the only Korean content selected in that category this year. Representatives from Series Mania praised the show’s originality and highlighted Park Ji Hoon’s engaging performance.
To celebrate the invitation, streaming platform TVING released a series of preview stills capturing Kang Sung Jae’s transformation—from disciplined recruit to determined army cook forging his own path.
Series Mania 2026 will take place from March 20 to 27 in Lille, France, marking a significant global showcase for the upcoming series.
