Translation result
[TheGuroo=Reporter Jin Yujin] CJ ENM’s TVing original drama ‘Becoming a Legendary Cook’ surpassed 120,000,000 cumulative digital views in its first week, emerging as a standout on the global streaming landscape. Industry observers say it posted the strongest early showing among Korean dramas released over the past three years, reaffirming the artistic quality and international competitiveness of Korean content.
On the 28th, TVing reported that Becoming a Legendary Cook accumulated 121,260,000 digital views in its first week — the highest first-week total for a domestic drama in the past three years. The series also ranked No. 1 in TVing’s weekly paid-subscription contributors for two consecutive weeks, cementing its status as a platform hit.
The show’s reception abroad has been swift. In Japan, Disney+ ranked it No. 2 overall and No. 2 in the drama category during its first week. On Rakuten Viki it entered the top five across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania. HBO Max placed it among the top three Korean dramas in 17 countries and regions. Russia’s Ivi platform gave it an 8.7 rating, extending its global momentum.
The series follows Kang Seong-jae, a young man who enlists to escape a bleak reality and encounters a mysterious quest system within his military unit, setting him on the path to becoming a legendary cook. Park Ji-hoon stars; Studio Dragon and Studio N produced the show. Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name, critics say its blend of military life, cooking and game-fantasy elements fueled early buzz.
Analysts point to the show’s genre freshness and brisk pacing as key drivers. By moving away from the romantic-comedy formula that has propelled many K-drama hits and combining Korea’s military organizational culture with a coming-of-age arc and game-like mission structure, the series offered international viewers something new. Observers also note that pairing familiar Korean themes such as food and military life with game-style UI storytelling and mystery lowered the barrier to entry for overseas audiences.
CJ ENM plans to leverage this success to accelerate its global originals push and diversify genres. Sebastian Kim, vice president of CJ ENM’s international content business unit, said, “We are broadening our reach with content that balances creativity and mass appeal. We will continue to introduce a wide range of Korean-content genres to audiences around the world.”
Most Commented