Ahead of the premiere of The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, Park Ji Hoon has shared new details about why he chose the project and how he prepared for one of his most unusual roles to date.
Based on a popular web novel and webtoon, the drama blends military life, fantasy elements, and comedy. It follows Kang Sung Jae, an army cook who begins an unexpected journey after a mysterious virtual quest system appears before him, gradually pushing him toward becoming a legendary chef within the military.
For Park Ji Hoon, the role represented both familiarity and experimentation. Known for his personal interest in military-related themes, he revealed that he had long wanted to wear a military uniform in a project. At the same time, he viewed the role as an opportunity to explore something different.
He explained that what initially drew him to the character was Kang Sung Jae’s growth arc. Rather than beginning as someone naturally powerful or respected, the character must adapt to an unfamiliar environment, gradually earning trust within his unit while forming relationships through his cooking abilities.
To make the role feel more authentic, Park Ji Hoon said he took cooking lessons before filming. He practiced preparing multiple dishes and worked on improving his knife skills in order to convincingly portray a military cook.
The fantasy component of the drama also required a different acting approach. Since Kang Sung Jae interacts with a virtual “Guardian” system that helps him complete missions and level up his cooking abilities, Park Ji Hoon explained that he paid particular attention to subtle facial expressions and eye movements to make those invisible interactions feel believable on screen.
He also highlighted character relationships as one of the major points viewers should watch. According to him, the emotional connections Kang Sung Jae forms throughout the story are just as important as the fantasy premise.
With its unusual mix of military setting, cooking progression, and game-like fantasy mechanics, The Legend of Kitchen Soldier is positioning itself as one of the more unconventional releases of the season.
The drama is set to premiere on May 11 at 8:50 p.m. KST.
