Singer-actor Park Ji Hoon has once again proven his firm standing as a breakout leading man.
Episode 5 of the TVING original series The Legend of Kitchen Soldier (hereafter 'Kitchen Soldier'), which aired on the 25th, followed cook-soldier Kang Seong-jae (played by Park Ji Hoon) as he fought on his own—without help from Guardian—to save his mother's food truck.
According to ratings research firm Nielsen Korea, the broadcast scored an average nationwide rating of 7.9% and 8.8% in the Seoul metropolitan area, breaking its own record yet again. Since its premiere, 'Kitchen Soldier' has maintained a frightening upward streak without a single dip.
In Episode 5, Kang Seong-jae briefly leaves Gangnim Outpost and returns home to help his mother, Gong Su-yeon (played by Seo Jung-yeon), with her food truck business. Through his late chef father's diary, he realized the importance of ingredients and personally scoured the markets for top-quality produce. When he hit a wall trying to perfect the final touch for his tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), he even visited the famed 'Ghost-Catching Tteokbokki' restaurant to learn their secret. In the end, he successfully revived his mother's food truck, delivering a thrilling, feel-good payoff for viewers.
Right after the episode, viewers reacted passionately, saying, "This drama is a total relationship gold mine," and "Kang Seong-jae is the ultimate 'Candy'-type male lead."
Coming up in Episode 6, airing on the 26th, the KCTC (Korea Combat Training Center) training kicks off in earnest at Gangnim Outpost. Anticipation is high for Kang Seong-jae, who takes on the heavy, brand-new mission of boosting troop morale while cooking in harsh outdoor conditions.
Meanwhile, riding unstoppable momentum, 'Kitchen Soldier' airs simultaneously on tvN and TVING every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m.