”Tyrant Chef” Lee Chae Min, from romance comedy to action... ”Life Character” with his charming and passionate performance

※Contains plot summaries and spoilers.

Lee Che-min is crafting the role of a lifetime in 'The Tyrant's Chef'.

While Lee Che-min's previous work, the youth romance 'Crushology 101', felt suffocating and tedious at times due to its melodramatic narrative structure, in “The Tyrant's Chef,” he has created a compelling character in Lee Hoon, reminiscent of the tyrannical King Yeonsangun.

In Episode 7 of tvN's weekend drama 'The Tyrant's Chef', aired on the 13th, Lee Che-min maximized his character's appeal by blending gentle and humorous traits with moments of intense seriousness, reaffirming the true value of the romance-comedy genre.

That day, Lee Hong (played by Lee Che-min) sent Im Sung-jae (played by Oh Wi-sik) to accompany French cuisine expert Yeon Ji-young (played by Girls' Generation's Yuna), who had come from the present to the past and was leaving the palace to prepare special cooking tools for her showdown with Myeong. However, overcome by anxiety, Lee Hong ultimately decided to go himself. Lee Hong tracked down the eccentric engineer Jang Chun-seon (played by Ko Chang-seok), nephew of the inventor Jang Yeong-sil. Though Lee Hong momentarily revealed his true nature and tyrannical side due to Chun-seon's attitude, he finally secured the desired pressure cooker, giving the green light for the culinary showdown with Ming.

However, on the way back to the palace, Grand Prince Je-san (played by Choi Kyu-hwa) plots against Yeon Ji-young, putting her in danger. Lee Hong engages in a fierce, life-or-death battle against the assassins, revealing his deep affection for Yeon Ji-young. After many twists and turns, the two arrive at the competition venue late, their ending simultaneously injecting tension and intrigue into the drama's development.

Lee Che-min draws viewers in with his unique charm as the character. As his feelings for Yeon Ji-young deepen, he struggles to hide his affection and jealousy, filling the role with endearing qualities. His flashes of royal dignity exude charisma, while scenes where he awkwardly mimics unfamiliar cooking terms reveal a human side, adding humor and doubling the entertainment value with his diverse portrayal.

Furthermore, his intense performance—featuring a tragic expression and fearless action—as he confronts assassins to protect Yeon Ji-young captured viewers' hearts. His sincere gaze and nuanced emotions, showing how deeply he cherishes her, meticulously build the romantic narrative and heighten anticipation. Lee Che-min, who shoulders the responsibility of the weekend drama with Lee Ho-neung's bespoke performances each week, now draws attention to the “life and love” of Lee Ho-neung he will depict.

The drama 'The Tyrant's Chef', where Lee Che-min leads an intriguing development with a character perfectly embodying the flavor of a romantic comedy, airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM on tvN.