Love Defies Time in tvN’s Fantasy Romance Finale
After twelve emotionally charged episodes, The Tyrant’s Chef wrapped its fork-twirling, heart-tugging journey with a finale that had fans swooning from Seoul to San Francisco. Starring Girls’ Generation’s YoonA and breakout actor Lee Chemin, the drama ended with romance, time travel, and—because this is a K-drama—an emotionally symbolic meal.
From Prison Recipes to Promises Kept
Episode 12 kicked off with Yi Hong (played by Lee Chemin) wrongfully accused of murdering the Queen Dowager. Rumors spread like wildfire, pinning him as a rebel, but his steadfast love, Yeong Jiyeon (YoonA), never bought into the gossip.
Trapped in prison, Yi Hong clings to a recipe book Jiyeon made—nicknamed ‘Wishful Cloud Records.’ There, he jots down a bibimbap recipe—a dish of mixed rice and veggies beloved across Korea—and labels it “Meal of Illusion.” Yep, metaphors and carbs: this drama knew how to stir emotions.
Tragedy, Time Travel, and a Scarfing Prince
When Jiyeon gets kidnapped by Prince Chaesang (played with delicious menace by Choi Gwi-hwa), Yi Hong dons his hero cape and rushes to her rescue. In the scuffle, Jiyeon takes the sword meant for Yi Hong, confessing, “I love you, Your Highness,” before vanishing back to the modern day via the show’s signature time-slip magic.
Back in the present, Jiyeon digs into historical records and gasps: no body was ever found for ‘Lord Yeonghui’—aka Yi Hong. Suspicious? Romantic? Definitely both.
Future Meets Past—Over Bibimbap
While working at a restaurant (K-dramas love a food metaphor), Jiyeon has a spicy argument with a fussy customer—only to come face-to-face with none other than Yi Hong. Yup, the time-slip worked both ways. “I came to keep my promise. To find you,” he tells her, sealing it with the k-drama classic: a kiss.
In the final scenes worthy of a fanfic epilogue, the two live together like newlyweds, with Yi Hong making bibimbap for his 21st-century queen. He won’t explain how he time-traveled—”It’s a secret,” he says—but Jiyeon sums it up: “Does it matter? We found each other again.” Curtain.
Drama Ratings Smash Time-Slip Expectations
The finale crushed it in ratings, recording a nationwide average of 17.1% and peaking at 19.4% according to Nielsen Korea. It ranked No.1 across all broadcast slots, even beating major networks. Among viewers in their 20s to 40s—a key K-drama demographic—it hit highs of 7.6%.
What’s Next for This Duo?
With The Tyrant’s Chef dishing out a perfect blend of historical fantasy, sizzling chemistry, and food-as-metaphor, fans already want seconds. YoonA once again proved her dual appeal as both idol and actress, and Lee Chemin may have just carved a permanent spot on the Hallyu radar.
So, would you travel through time for love… and bibimbap?
