Park Ji-hoon Trades Royal Robes for an Apron in New ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ Poster

Park Ji-hoon is returning with a very different kind of transformation.

On April 8, TVING unveiled a new poster for its upcoming original drama ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’, giving fans a first proper look at Park as Kang Sung-jae, a low-ranking private who begins an unlikely journey toward becoming a legendary military cook.

From royal image to kitchen warrior

What makes the newly released poster especially striking is the contrast with Park Ji-hoon’s recent screen image.

Instead of the regal aura audiences associate with his previous work, Park appears here in a cook’s uniform, standing not on a battlefield but in a military kitchen. The poster leans fully into that reversal with the tagline: “Instead of a gun, a kitchen knife! Instead of an ammo belt, an apron!”

That playful setup immediately signals that ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ is aiming for a lighter, more imaginative tone than a standard military drama. At the same time, Park’s expression gives the character a real sense of purpose. Though Kang Sung-jae is still only a private, the poster presents him as someone already carrying the confidence of a rising legend.

A fantasy twist inside the kitchen

One of the biggest points of curiosity in the poster is the floating quest window placed beside Kang Sung-jae, adding a game-like fantasy element to the story.

The text reads: “Welcome, warrior. From now on, begin the path of the chef.” That detail suggests the drama will blend military life with a role-playing-style progression system, turning Sung-jae’s cooking journey into something that feels part barracks comedy, part food drama, and part fantasy adventure. It is an unusual concept, but that is exactly what gives the project its early appeal. Rather than treating the military kitchen as background, the drama places it at the center of the story and transforms it into the stage for the main character’s growth.

Editor’s Insight: Why the concept is already drawing attention

At its core, the series follows Sung-jae as he steadily levels up from an inexperienced private into a cook capable of winning over the entire unit through food. That setup gives the drama a clear emotional and visual hook. Viewers are not just watching a soldier adapt to military life they are watching someone discover a new sense of purpose in the least expected place.

The kitchen setting also opens the door to a different kind of military storytelling. Instead of focusing only on combat, hierarchy, or survival, ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ appears ready to mix discipline with humor, food, and character growth. And with Park Ji-hoon at the center, the series is already attracting attention from viewers curious to see how he will bring both vulnerability and confidence to such an offbeat role.

‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ will premiere on May 11 at 8:50 p.m. KST on TVING and tvN.