Im Yoon-ah Captivates with 'King of the Tyrant's Kitchen' Finale, Dominating Ratings and Buzz

Actress Im Yoon-ah, a member of the group Girls' Generation and signed with SM Entertainment, has once again moved viewers with her acting in the recently concluded tvN weekend drama ‘King of the Tyrant's Kitchen’.

In the drama, which aired its finale on the 28th, Im Yoon-ah starred as French chef Yeon Ji-yeong. The story followed her journey after time-slipping to the past, where she meets a tyrannical king with an exceptional palate. The series concluded with a heartwarming happy ending as she returned to the present day and reunited with Lee Heon (played by Lee Chae-min) after facing a crisis.

Im Yoon-ah skillfully portrayed Yeon Ji-yeong's struggle to survive in an unfamiliar era with comedic flair, her determination and growth during intense cooking competitions, and the lyrical romance with Lee Heon. Her solid acting allowed viewers to become fully immersed in the character's narrative, seamlessly handling the story's genre variations.

Furthermore, to realistically portray the professional characteristics of a French chef, she dedicated herself to actual cooking practice, minimizing the need for a double. Her timely and witty ad-libs also added depth to the production, earning her praise for delivering a 'Yeon Ji-yeong only Im Yoon-ah could portray'.

This performance translated directly into success. In just its fourth episode, the drama achieved the highest viewership ratings for a 2025 tvN drama. The finale recorded a nationwide viewership of 17.1% (19.4% peak) and 17.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area (20% peak), setting a new record for the highest-rated miniseries aired this year across all channels. Additionally, it secured the top spot for TV-OTT integrated cast buzz for five consecutive weeks and ranked in the Netflix Top 10 TV Shows (Non-English) for two consecutive weeks, captivating audiences worldwide.

Notably, Im Yoon-ah has consistently led three dramas with vastly different genres and characters—the noir 'Big Mouth', the romantic comedy 'King the Land', and the survival fantasy 'King of the Tyrant's Kitchen'—to double-digit viewership ratings and explosive popularity. This track record has firmly established her reputation as a 'trustworthy actress'.

With her flexible spectrum that transcends genres and her ability to showcase new facets in each role, Im Yoon-ah continues to captivate the public, raising anticipation for her future projects.

Korean netizens are praising Im Yoon-ah's performance, with comments like "Her acting has improved so much!", "The chef character was a perfect fit!", and "Can't wait for her next project!"