The Royal Heart Races
Episode 7 of tvN’s weekend drama ‘The Tyrant’s Chef’ aired on June 13th and gave fans plenty to swoon over—especially thanks to Lee Chae-min and Girls’ Generation’s Yoona.
Yoona plays Yeon Ji-yeon, a modern-day woman catapulted into a historical past. In this episode, she goes undercover—literally—by dressing as a man to approach Jang Chun-seon (played by Go Chang-seok), a descendant of Jang Yeong-sil, the Joseon-era inventor famous for his pressure cooker designs.
Not-So-Incognito
Ji-yeon’s mission? Convince Chun-seon to build a pressure cooker she needs for a do-or-die cooking showdown. But her make-believe man act doesn’t fool everyone—especially not Prince Yi Hong (Lee Chae-min).
“Watch your backs out there,” Yi Hong tells Ji-yeon and his advisor Im Sung-jae (played by Oh Eui-shik) as they head off. But it only takes seconds for his jealousy to bubble over. The prince, clearly uncomfortable imagining Ji-yeon and another man out alone, joins under the pretense of avoiding ‘misunderstandings.’
Romantic Tensions Simmer
When Sung-jae assures him, “It’s fine, she’s disguised,” Yi Hong snaps back, “Everyone can still tell she’s a woman!” Exhibit A: his totally smitten smile whenever Ji-yeon looks his way.
The episode sets the stage for a sizzling romantic arc. Fans are already speculating: Is this the K-drama version of She’s the Man? Or maybe Bridgerton in a hanbok?
Why It’s a Must-Watch
- Yoona’s acting finesse in a dual-gender disguise adds unexpected charm.
- Lee Chae-min continues to level up his heart-flutter game.
- The mix of historical references and romantic comedy keeps the pace fresh and fiery.
With Ji-yeon’s time-slip twist and pressure-cooker politics heating up, things in the royal kitchen are anything but chill.
Next Course?
As ‘The Tyrant’s Chef’ ramps up, will Yi Hong finally confess his feelings? Or will Ji-yeon stay too busy building kitchen tech to notice?
One thing’s clear: Yoona’s power—whether in a hanbok or a disguise—is impossible to ignore. Stay tuned.
Images: tvN Broadcast Captures
