‘The Tyrant’s Chef’ Original Author Park Guk-jae Clarifies Historical Distortion Controversy

Park Guk-jae, the original author of the drama ‘The Tyrant’s Chef,’ has directly addressed a recent controversy regarding historical distortion.

Through his social media account, Park refuted claims made by viewers about certain scenes in the drama, correcting misunderstandings about the seating arrangement with Ming Dynasty envoys.

The scene in question depicted Crown Prince Yeonhee (played by Lee Chae-min) sitting alongside Ming envoys and bowing. Some viewers pointed out that according to the ‘Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty,’ the king should have been seated in a higher position.

In response, Park cited the ‘Gukjo Oryeui,’ an official state ritual book published in 1474. He explained that according to the ‘Munbinrye’ chapter detailing the reception of foreign envoys, banquets were held at the Taepyeonggwan guesthouse where the envoys stayed, with the envoy’s seats facing the east wall and the king’s throne facing the west wall.

He further clarified that the seating arrangement, where the king and envoy sat facing each other at the same level, was a diplomatic protocol common in international events. According to Confucian etiquette, facing east signifies a higher status than facing west. Park concluded his clarification by stating that this depiction was based on official documents compiled just 30 years prior to the drama’s setting, thus representing accurate historical research.

Meanwhile, ‘The Tyrant’s Chef,’ starring Im Yoon-ah and Lee Chae-min, is based on Park Guk-jae’s ‘Surviving as King Yeonsan’s Chef.’ Its 8th episode, aired on the 14th, recorded a viewership rating of 15.4% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide) and topped Netflix’s non-English TV shows, garnering significant attention.

Author Park Guk-jae is known for skillfully blending historical facts with fictional narratives in his works, gaining attention for his unique storytelling. His creations often feature in-depth research into historical backgrounds while incorporating imaginative elements for engaging plots. The drama ‘The Tyrant’s Chef’ is successfully continuing the original work's popularity, receiving high praise from both domestic and international viewers.