‘The Chef of the Tyrant’ Concludes with Record-Breaking Ratings as Im Yoon-ah and Lee Chae-min Share a Timeless Romance

tvN's Saturday-Sunday drama ‘The Chef of the Tyrant’ has successfully concluded, setting new personal best ratings with the enchanting romance between Im Yoon-ah and Lee Chae-min.

The final episode, aired on the 28th, delivered a heartwarming ending where the protagonists, Yeon Ji-yeong (Im Yoon-ah) and Lee Heon (Lee Chae-min), overcame numerous crises to reunite in modern times. The broadcast garnered an average viewership rating of 17.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area, peaking at 20%, while the national average reached 17.1% and a high of 19.4%, marking a new record for the series. Furthermore, it dominated its time slot across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters, achieving the top spot.

Despite being deposed, Lee Heon bravely fought against Crown Prince Jaesan (Choi Gwi-hwa), who plotted a rebellion. With the support of Yeon Ji-yeong, the royal kitchen chefs, and the clowns led by Gong Gil (Lee Ju-an), a dramatic battle unfolded. Although Kang Mok-ju (Kang Han-na) and the Crown Prince's faction met a tragic end, the aftermath of the rebellion brought trials to both Yeon Ji-yeong and Lee Heon.

When Yeon Ji-yeong was gravely wounded in place of Lee Heon, his 'Mang-unrok' book sent her back to her original world, leaving Lee Heon alone. Back in modern times, Yeon Ji-yeong couldn't forget Lee Heon's desperate cries and tried to return to him, holding onto the hope that he might be alive. However, the 'Mang-unrok' no longer allowed her to travel back in time. Cherishing her longing for Lee Heon, she began a new life as a head chef at a restaurant, working alongside chefs reminiscent of the royal kitchen cooks.

One day, to everyone's surprise, Lee Heon appeared before the restaurant customers, dressed in a suit. Overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing the face she had longed for even in her dreams, Yeon Ji-yeong embraced him with tears, and Lee Heon responded with a tender kiss. The drama concluded with a beautiful happy ending, featuring Yeon Ji-yeong's narration: 'You won't believe it, but he came from the 1500s. How did he come? It doesn't matter. Because we met again.'

Following the finale, Korean netizens expressed their delight with comments like 'A happy ending was the only way!', 'The chemistry between the two is insane,' and 'I hope for a Season 2,' celebrating the drama's successful conclusion.