Netflix’s latest K-drama, Bon Appetit, Your Majesty, is making waves despite having released only 4 episodes so far. The show is already popular because of its promising premise and the way it incorporates real history, but there’s also a casting decision that could’ve been a make-or-break moment for the show and changed things entirely. The show, as we know, now stars Lee Chae-Min in the leading role of Yi Heon, but it’s interesting to know that the role was initially meant to go to Park Sung-Hoon, who was caught up in a controversy back in December of 2024 due to an Instagram scandal involving his previous show Squid Game and a Japanese parody. This led to a last-minute change in the casting of Yi Heon, the lead character of the Saeguk (historical drama) we are all appreciating so much right now. While this was certainly a challenge for young Lee Chae-Min, who had to star opposite Lim Yoona, 10 years his senior, he’s done a tremendous job taking on the role of a royal with no prior experience, and not enough time to prepare for such a role. It’s important to remember that everything from demeanor to language is drastically different in a historical drama, so it’s definitely something that needs practice and getting used to. But with the “hot goss” out of the way, let’s jump into the cast and characters.
Lim Yoona as Ji-Young
Ji-Young is the female lead of Bon Appetit, Your Majesty. She’s a chef who has trained in France and is about to embark on a journey as a Michelin-starred chef, only for her world to be shattered as she accidentally travels into the past. Ji-Young is 27 years old, too old for a spinster in the historical setting, of course. Ji-Young is played by idol and actress Lim Yoona, who holds the most national titles, including Nation’s Ideal Type. She was also part of the biggest girl group back in the day, Girls’ Generation, and holds loads of accolades. However, apart from being the perfect idol, she’s done many shows in the past, including The K2, Cinderella Man, and, in recent years, the highly successful King The Land, opposite fellow 2nd Gen idol Lee Joon-Ho. Honestly, that show may not have been such a global hit had it not been for that star cast.
Lee Chae-Min as Yi Heon
Yi Heon is a character that people may despise or love. Setting aside the real-life king the character is based on, there’s a charm with which Lee Chae-Min plays the role, which makes him very endearing. In the show, Yi Heon has already learned that his biological mother was different from the mother he grew up with, so he’s plotting his big revenge scheme for the time being. He has to be both young and innocent while being cold and a terrifying tyrant at the same time. I think casting a man who is nearly half the age of the original actor was a good choice, because it adds more layers to the character. I don’t think it’s hampered the show in any way. Additionally, Chae-Min, who was born in 2000, still manages to have great chemistry with Yoona and doesn’t ever feel out of place in the role. The last I saw him was in Hierarchy, which was a completely different kind of role, but he’s also been in Crash Course In Romance, Crushology 101, and See You In My 19th Life. However, I think this might be his big break.
Kang Han-Na as Kang Mok-Ju
While the looks of Kang Han-Na in Bon Appetit, Your Majesty and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo are entirely different, the evil still persists. Before I saw the actress in My Roommate Is A Gumiho, I was worried she was always typecast as the villain of any story she’s been in. Of course, her role in Start Up wasn’t necessarily evil, but she was still kind of an antagonist. However, we can’t deny that she’s absolutely fantastic at this kind of role. The last we saw her was in Frankly Speaking, and now she’s returned as a strong villainess. Mok-Ju is Yi Heon’s royal concubine and has some influence over him. She has some evil schemes in mind, but we don’t know yet what she’s planning exactly. Of course, she’s anti-Ji-Young right from the start, which means she will do anything to get her out of the palace.
Yoon Seo-A as Gil-Geum
Gil-Geum is certainly growing to be my favorite character on the show because of the dialect in which she speaks and her chemistry with Ji-Young. I’m unsurprised to see that the actress has been in many shows before that I have personally not seen. Her last role was in Tale Of Lady Ok, and by the looks of it, she may have played a similar role in that show. You may also have seen her in Goodbye Earth, Soundtrack 1, Nevertheless, or Juvenile Justice. She’s really quite adorable in Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.
Oh Eui-Sik As Im Sung-Jae
Im Sung-Jae is Yi Heon’s dear friend and adviser and does the “kidnapping” job for him, as we saw in the first two episodes. Sung-Jae is also trying to build an alliance with Ji-Young, but we’ll find out more about that as we move forward in the show. Actor Oh Eui-Sik is one of those whom you’ve definitely seen somewhere or other. There are some veteran stars who are seen in supporting roles in almost all popular K-dramas, and he’s one of them. In 2025, he’s already been in 5 shows, which is plenty in my opinion. You may have last seen him in Mary Kills People, My Dearest Nemesis, or The Judge From Hell. The range is honestly undeniable.
Jeong Gyu-Su as Yoon Choon-Sik
Here’s another actor you may have seen a dozen times in your regular old shows. The list is never-ending, and whatever role he does, he gives it his all. The actor has apparently been around in movies since 1989, and TV shows since 2007. You may have recently seen him in Law And The City, Love In The Big City (I know), Gyeongseong Creature, Twinkling Watermelon, and more. He was also in the movie Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance. I think the friendship between Choon-Sik and Ji-Young is going to expand a little bit, and I like their dynamic in the show.
Who is your favorite character on Bon Appetit, Your Majesty? And what are your thoughts on the show so far? Let us know in the comments.
