Actor Park Ji-hoon, who brings fresh fun every episode, shocked viewers this week by transforming into a grandmother.
On the June 1 broadcast of the TVING original series The Legend of Kitchen Soldier (hereafter 'Kitchen Soldier'), Kang Seong-jae (played by Park Ji-hoon) struggles to fill the massive void left by senior soldier Yoon Dong-hyun (Lee Hong-nae), who goes on leave. Kang is tasked with the heavy responsibility of feeding the Gangnim Outpost members with only his prickly senior Kim Gwan-cheol (Kang Ha-kyung) as a partner.
Because of Kim’s reckless behavior in the kitchen, Kang’s life as an army cook turns into a thorny road. Desperate to win over his tight‑lipped senior, Kang happens to learn about Kim’s heartbreaking past and decides to recreate his late grandmother’s nostalgic “hamburger” from childhood.
After grueling effort, the finished burger works a miracle: Kim’s hardened expression softens, and his dislike for Kang flips into genuine warmth.
But that touching moment immediately turned living rooms into laughter. In the climactic scene where Kim takes a bite, Park Ji-hoon makes a surprise appearance disguised as a grandmother. The combo of a granny’s voice with Park’s delicate features delivered a fresh shock and big laughs.
Right after the episode aired, online communities and social media exploded with reactions like, "The acting was so insanely good I laughed while crying," "Is the grandma even allowed to be this pretty?", "This drama is absolutely wild," and "Park Ji-hoon’s cross-dressing is perfect."
Meanwhile, powered by Park Ji-hoon’s fearless, full-body performance, 'Kitchen Soldier' keeps trending. The series airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 p.m. KST on TVING and tvN.