Singer-actor Park Ji Hoon is cranking up anticipation as he nails the role of an army cook, delivering a shockingly perfect transformation.
On the 16th, the TVING original drama The Legend of Kitchen Soldier (hereafter 'Kitchen Soldier') production unveiled a 'Kitchen Soldier Career Change' video capturing the dramatic before-and-after of Kang Sung Jae (played by Park Ji Hoon) around his enlistment.
The video opens with Kang Sung Jae’s calm narration, "My life has always been a fierce battle," cutting to his harsh reality of convenience-store shifts and grueling parcel-loading work. But everything flips the moment he joins the military. Amid fellow soldiers’ stunned reactions—"Best trainee?"—Kang Sung Jae takes over the kitchen like a fish in water. From lightning-fast knife skills and fearless wok work to advanced techniques that add a smoky sear, he turns an ordinary mess hall into a next-level gourmet playground.
His flashy kitchen performance translates into jaw-dropping flavor. Soldiers who taste his food can’t hide their excitement, letting out thrill-filled exclamations and hinting at the extraordinary feats that will soon become legend within the base.
Especially at the end, a mysterious system voice declares, "The chef’s path, the tutorial has begun," as ingredient intel pops up around him like a game interface—supercharging the intrigue. It suggests his golden touch isn’t just about effort and talent but is linked to an unknown special power. All eyes are on the secret behind this strange phenomenon—and the mystery that will elevate every dish into a legend.
Netizens who watched the teaser reacted, "Now he’s perfected comedy acting too," "Just how far does Park Ji Hoon’s acting spectrum go?", "Even after reincarnation, he’s still living fiercely," and "I’d enlist just to eat Kang Sung Jae’s cooking," among other heated comments.
Meanwhile, the TVING original based on the hit Naver webtoon of the same name, 'Kitchen Soldier', will premiere simultaneously on TVING and tvN at 8:50 p.m. on May 11.