What Sparked the Controversy?
tvN’s new K-drama ‘The Tyrant’s Chef’ may serve gourmet drama, but it’s now caught in hot oil over a hotly debated banquet scene. In the episode, a Joseon prince and a Ming Chinese envoy sit side-by-side as judges in a culinary showdown. Some viewers cried foul, accusing the drama of tainting history by showing the king and envoy as equals—something they believe wouldn’t fly in Joseon court etiquette.
Author Says: That’s Just Good Research
Pushing back on the backlash, original web novel writer Park Gukjae took to social media with receipts. Quoting Gukjo Oryeui—a royal manual of etiquette from the Joseon Dynasty—he explained that the portrayal was, in fact, historically accurate.
“According to official documents, the envoy was seated on the eastern wall, and the king on the western wall—facing each other at the same level,” Park stated. “In fact, the envoy’s position was technically the seat of honor.”
Diplomatic Decorum, Not Sovereignty
Park also emphasized that Ming envoys weren’t just visiting dignitaries—they represented the emperor of China. “Protocol-wise, their status was higher than the Joseon king. This wasn’t about hierarchy or sovereignty, just standard diplomatic theater,” he clarified.
A Drama That Blends Fact with Fantasy
‘The Tyrant’s Chef’ is a genre-blending hit, mixing the time-travel trope with historical cuisine and royal politics. The plot follows a modern-day chef who finds himself cooking in a Joseon-era royal kitchen—think Iron Chef meets Kingdom.
Actor Lee Chaemin plays Prince Yeonhui, who judges the cross-cultural culinary duel with Ming envoy Woo Gon, played by Kim Hyungmook. It’s this dual judging scenario that stirred up debate, but it’s also what makes the show delightful to watch.
Still Sizzling on the Charts
Despite the controversy, the drama is holding strong. As of September 22 at 6:10 p.m., it ranks 8th in the Netizen Awards’ Drama category with 139 votes. Lead actor Lee Chaemin and co-star Lim Yoona also secured spots in the individual acting categories, ranked 19th and 11th respectively.
Final Take
So, historical inaccuracy or misunderstood accuracy? When it comes to The Tyrant’s Chef, the answer might just be: both. Either way, it’s sparking conversations—and that’s always a recipe for must-watch TV.
