Im Yoon-a's 'King The Land' Co-star Dans Baek-ryong's Identity Shocks Viewers

In the tvN weekend drama 'King The Land', a shocking revelation unfolded as protagonist Yeon Ji-young, played by Im Yoon-a, discovered the hidden truth behind the Ming Dynasty chef, Dang Baek-ryong (Jo Jae-yoon).

Yesterday's broadcast (14th) depicted an intense culinary competition between Joseon chefs and Ming Dynasty chefs. The two rounds of competition, themed 'Meat Dish' and 'Region,' added to the excitement.

Dang Baek-ryong, the leader of the Ming Dynasty chefs, not only showcased exceptional cooking skills but also surprised everyone by fluently speaking Joseon dialect. While appearing respectful of the Joseon chefs' abilities, his actions that ultimately seemed to favor Joseon's victory at crucial moments amplified curiosity about his true identity.

During the first round, when A-bi-su (Moon Seung-yoo) presented 'Gye-jeong,' a dish made with chili powder obtained through a deal with Je-san-dae-gun (Choi Gwi-hwa), Dang Baek-ryong questioned the origin of the ingredients. After Yeon Ji-young's objection led him to interrogate A-bi-su, Dang Baek-ryong deduced that the chili powder was the opponent's secret ingredient. He ultimately declared the Joseon team the winner, surprising everyone.

Later, the revelation of Dang Baek-ryong's past, having studied cooking in Joseon for five years in pursuit of ultimate flavor, added credibility to his actions. This moment revealed his sincerity beyond mere competition.

Meanwhile, Je-san-dae-gun and Kang Mok-joo (Kang Han-na) continued their villainous acts, wishing for Joseon's defeat. Je-san-dae-gun handed over chili powder to the Ming Dynasty, while Kang Mok-joo coerced Maeng Man-soo (Hong Jin-ki), who was helping Yeon Ji-young, and obstructed the competition. Maeng Man-soo, to protect his mother, ritually cut his palm and withdrew from the competition, feigning nervousness. However, with Yeon Ji-young aware of all these machinations, attention is focused on how she will retaliate against Kang Mok-joo.

Im Yoon-a debuted in the entertainment industry in 2002 after passing the SM Entertainment Casting Audition. Initially active primarily as an actress, she later gained significant popularity as a member of the girl group Girls' Generation. With her outstanding acting skills and diverse charms, she is actively working across both film and television screens.