Yoona currently stars in tvN’s weekend drama “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” (directed by Jang Tae-yoo, written by fGRD) as Yeon Ji-young, a French chef who time-slips to the past and crosses paths with a mercurial king famed for his flawless palate.
In Episode 4, Yeon Ji-young dives into a high-stakes cook-off. A clue from Eunuch Yoon (played by Jung Kyu-su) tips her off that doenjang―fermented soybean paste―holds special meaning for Grand Queen Dowager Inju (Seo Yi-sook). She makes a bold pivot mid-competition, hustles to secure extra ingredients, and successfully recreates the crisp, refreshing broth the Dowager remembers. Pairing flavor with empathy, she seals the win with heartfelt words that move the royal matriarch.
She also talks King Lee Heon (Lee Chae-min) down from ordering brutal punishment for veteran palace cooks, defusing the crisis and restoring order in the royal kitchen.
Later, after Lee Heon suffers a seizure, Yeon Ji-young whips up a comforting doenjang pasta, bringing the two closer. A late-night, tipsy kiss deepens their simmering chemistry―and amps up anticipation for what’s next.
Yoona’s performance pops: she conveys minute shifts in taste with nuanced expressions, handles kitchen tools with effortless ease, and threads humor and warmth through tense moments to keep the series buzzing. In the romantic beats, the subtle quiver in her gaze sells the slow burn―reminding viewers exactly why she’s a rom-com mainstay.
Riding that momentum, Episode 4 of “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” scored 11.1% nationwide, 11.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area, and a peak of 13.6%, per Nielsen Korea―marking the highest ratings for any tvN drama this year.
[Photo: tvN]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)