YoonA had nothing but admiration for her co-star Lee Chae Min, calling his dedication and energy a gift to the set of Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.
The MBC drama closed its run September 28th with a nationwide average rating of 17.1% and a peak of 19.4%, marking its highest numbers yet and topping all channels, including the major networks, in its time slot.
In the series, YoonA played French chef Yeon Ji Young, who slips back in time to meet Lee Chae Min’s Lee Heon—a ruthless tyrant with a flawless palate. The finale saw Ji Young return to the present day, only to reunite with Heon in an emotional, happily-ever-after ending.
Much of the finale’s success came down to the unexpected chemistry between YoonA and Lee Chae Min. Originally, Park Sung Hoon was slated for the male lead, but after stepping aside due to personal issues, Lee Chae Min was brought in at the last minute.
YoonA reflected on the sudden change, noting, “Of course, the chemistry with Heon was important, but the first priority was completing Ji Young as a character. Since we hadn’t started shooting yet, I had the flexibility to adjust on set. But for Chae Min, he had to arrive fully ready to embody Lee Heon, and the pressure must have been enormous.”
Joining the project only a month before filming, Lee Chae Min impressed his co-star with his preparation. “Even with so little time, he learned everything—horseback riding, calligraphy, you name it—and came to set with it all mastered,” YoonA said. She added, “I was just so grateful. He made Lee Heon truly his own. The way he created chemistry with Ji Young was something I’m thankful for, and I found myself saying more than once, ‘He really is Lee Heon.’ He worked so hard, and I could see how much he wanted to pull it off perfectly.”
On their age-gap pairing—Lee’s 10 years younger—YoonA admitted it was her first time acting opposite a younger partner. “But honestly, I didn’t feel the age difference at all. Shooting together was just fun. Even during the tough, exhausting moments, he lifted the atmosphere with such positive energy.”
She concluded, “Maybe because it was my first younger partner, I found myself thinking more about how senior actors in the past must have felt when they looked after me. That gave me a whole new appreciation.”
>> YoonA and Lee Chae Min Close Out ‘Bon Appétit, Your Majesty’ With Record Ratings and Tearful Reunion
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