The world of Korean drama is no stranger to mixing things up, but 2025 seems determined to set a new bar for unexpected on-screen chemistry. At the center of this year’s buzz is the upcoming fantasy romance series Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, which is gearing up for its highly anticipated premiere on August 23, 2025. The show pairs rising actor Lee Chae Min with the ever-popular Im Yoon Ah—better known as YoonA—sparking intense curiosity among fans and industry watchers alike. The pairing is unusual, the premise even more so, and with Netflix backing the global release, the stakes (and expectations) are sky-high.
According to Lifestyle Asia, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty will debut with two episodes each weekend, making for a total of twelve hour-long episodes. The show’s schedule is already mapped out: Episode 1 lands on Saturday, August 23, followed by Episode 2 on Sunday, August 24, and so on, with the finale set for Sunday, September 28. It’s a binge-friendly rollout, promising to keep viewers hooked through the early days of autumn.
The series carves out new territory in the already eclectic K-drama landscape by blending palace intrigue, culinary artistry, and time travel. YoonA steps into the shoes of Yeon Ji Yeong, a perfectionist French chef at the top of her game—until, in a twist worthy of a fairy tale, she’s whisked away from a high-stakes culinary competition and dropped into the heart of the Joseon dynasty. There, she’s forced to serve as the royal cook for the notoriously fiery King Yi Heon, played by Lee Chae Min. What follows is a whirlwind of palace politics, kitchen drama, and an unexpected romance that threatens to upend everything Ji Yeong thought she knew about herself and her craft.
The show’s playful tagline, “One Chef. One Tyrant. One Royal Mess,” hints at the comedic undertones laced through the historical and romantic plot. But don’t be fooled—there’s plenty of tension simmering beneath the surface. As allkpop notes, Yeon Ji Yeong’s journey is anything but smooth. She’s not only battling for her own survival in a world of cutthroat politics and rigid traditions, but she’s also navigating the unpredictable moods of a king who’s as demanding in the dining hall as he is in the throne room. The stakes are high, the kitchens are hot, and the chemistry between the leads is already setting social media ablaze.
It’s not just the premise that’s generating headlines. The casting of YoonA and Lee Chae Min has left many fans both surprised and delighted. YoonA, known for her versatility and charisma, brings a modern sensibility to the role of Ji Yeong—a woman out of her time, but never out of her depth. Lee Chae Min, meanwhile, takes on the challenge of playing King Yi Heon, a ruler whose temper is matched only by his vulnerability. Their on-screen dynamic, according to early trailers and teasers, promises a blend of sharp banter, genuine emotion, and (of course) plenty of culinary fireworks.
Behind the scenes, the show draws from rich source material. Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is adapted from the popular Korean web novel Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef by Park Kook-jae, and is helmed by director Jang Tae-yoo, known for his deft touch with both fantasy and romance. The supporting cast adds further depth, with Kang Han-na as Kang Mok-ju, Choi Gwi-hwa as Prince Je Seon, and Seo Yi-sook as the formidable Queen Dowager. Each brings a unique flavor to the palace’s tangled web of alliances and rivalries.
YoonA’s commitment to authenticity shines through in her portrayal of Ji Yeong. In an interview with Naver, she shared, “I met with real chefs for a duration of about 3 months. I learned everything from handling cooking utensils to the cooking process, and practised cooking in a variety of ways… As a result, I gained more confidence in cooking, and while portraying Yeon Ji Young, I thought to myself, ‘I can’t believe I can do this.’” That hands-on preparation is sure to lend an extra layer of realism to the show’s many kitchen scenes—no small feat in a drama where food is as much a character as any member of the royal family.
But Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is just the beginning. As allkpop highlights, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for unexpected K-drama pairings. Among the ten other couples set to grace screens this year are Kim Seon Ho & Go Youn Jung in Can This Love Be Translated, Kim Woo Bin & Bae Suzy in Genie, Make a Wish, Choi Woo Shik & Jung So Min in Would You Marry Me, and Song Joong Ki & Chun Woo Hee in My Youth. Each duo brings its own blend of star power and surprise, ensuring that fans will have plenty to talk about long after the credits roll.
Other notable pairings include Park Seo Joon & Won Ji An in Waiting For Gyeong Do, Kim Young Dae & Kim Yoo Jung in Dear X, Lee Jun Ho & Kim Min Ha in Typhoon Trading Company, Ahn Bo Hyun & Lee Joo Bin in Spring Fever, Jang Ki Young & Ahn Eun Jin in She Shouldn’t Have Kissed, and Ji Sung & Won Ji Ah in Judge Lee Han Young. Some of these matches feel like a dream come true for longtime fans, while others are so unexpected they’re already fueling countless online debates and fan theories.
As for Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. With its unique blend of historical fantasy, romance, and culinary adventure, the series promises to be a standout in an already crowded field. The release strategy—two episodes every weekend, each running about an hour—makes it easy for viewers to dive in and stay hooked. And with a cast this talented, under the direction of Jang Tae-yoo, expectations are understandably high.
For those eager to catch every moment, Netflix is the place to be. The global streaming giant is betting big on the show, hoping to capture both longtime K-drama fans and newcomers drawn by the fresh premise and star-studded cast. If early buzz is any indication, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is poised to become one of the defining dramas of 2025—one that proves, yet again, that when it comes to K-dramas, you should always expect the unexpected.
With its blend of palace intrigue, culinary spectacle, and a romance that transcends time, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is set to serve up something truly special for viewers around the world.
