Park Ji-hoon, 'Cooking Soldier'→'Cooking Soldier Legend' consecutive at-bat home runs.. viewership hits 9.9% 'all-time high' [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

As actor Park Ji-hoon takes charge of the Gangnim Special Forces Camp's meal plan and establishes himself as the ace cooking soldier, "Cooking Soldier Legend" has shattered its own record for highest viewership.

The Tving Original "Cooking Soldier Legend" (script by Choi Ryong, directed by Jo Nam-hyung), released simultaneously on Tving and tvN, recorded the number one spot in comprehensive Tving paid subscription contribution (subscription contribution) for two days after episodes 3 and 4 were released. Episode 4's tvN broadcast viewership averaged 7.9% nationwide, peaked at 9.1%, averaged 8.3% in the Seoul metropolitan area, and peaked at 9.9%, breaking its own record each time and ranking first in the same time slot across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters. The 2049 male and female target viewership for tvN also ranked first in the same time slot across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters. (Based on paid platforms integrating cable, IPTV, and satellite / Provided by Nielsen Korea)

In addition, in the TV-OTT integrated drama actor popularity category released by Good Data Corporation's FUNdex for the second week of May (May 11–17), Park Ji-hoon (playing Kang Sung-jae) ranked first, and "Cooking Soldier Legend" also took the number one spot in the OTT original popularity category, proving its intense popularity. In particular, following the film "The King and the Clown," which surpassed 16 million viewers, Park Ji-hoon has recorded consecutive box office successes, continuing his journey as a truly "top-tier actor."

In episode 4, broadcast on the 19th, Kang Sung-jae suddenly collapsed in the kitchen and woke up in a mysterious space, where he reunited with his late father, Lisa, evoking a sense of sorrow. His father, who looked at Kang Sung-jae, now a cooking soldier, with affection, sincerely advised that to become a true chef, he must experience being cut by a knife and burning his hands, rather than relying solely on skills.

After a brief but warm encounter with his father, Kang Sung-jae was informed by the Guardian that he had consumed "Resurrection Seaweed Soup" and was granted another chance to reconnect. Later, upon waking up in the infirmary, Kang Sung-jae received the good news that his "Pomodoro Pollock Stew," which he had completed despite overworking, had actually drawn praise as a "rice thief" from National Assembly members and superiors who came to inspect the substandard meal issue.

Kang Sung-jae's performance also led to a special reward for the Gangnim Special Forces Camp soldiers: a dinner party. Even at the dinner party, with the Guardian's help, Kang Sung-jae grilled the meat perfectly, raising the soldiers' satisfaction to the highest level. He even heard from soldier Yoon Dong-hyun (played by Lee Hong-nae) a remark filled with awe and concern: "Aren't you going to be transferred to the officers' mess?" This made him aware of a new world—the officers' mess.

And as Yoon Dong-hyun predicted, the officers' interest in Kang Sung-jae became a reality. Baek Chun-ik (played by Jung Woong-in), the battalion commander present at the Gangnim Special Forces Camp dinner party, expressed his desire to transfer Kang Sung-jae to the officers' mess. However, camp commander Jo Ye-rin (played by Han Dong-hee) firmly drew the line, stating that it was premature to transfer Kang Sung-jae given that the camp's soldier mess had only just begun to stabilize after facing numerous issues.

As Kang Sung-jae's status extended beyond the camp, cooking soldier Kang Sung-jae faced another challenge. Various problems, including incorrect origin labeling, were confirmed in the food supplies delivered to the Gangnim Special Forces Camp. Kang Sung-jae, upon discovering the poor-quality ingredients, showed his distress, and Jo Ye-rin, upon hearing his explanation, could not hide her confusion. Jo Ye-rin then took a strong stance, vowing to report the matter to superiors, but the company president consistently maintained an indifferent attitude, creating a suspicious atmosphere.

Meanwhile, as the Gangnim Special Forces Camp's meals gained popularity through word of mouth, Kang Sung-jae even became the subject of a National Military TV interview. Guided by the camp staff to the interview location, Kang Sung-jae froze when a reporter immediately embraced him upon seeing him, and the soldiers who witnessed this fell into a collective eye-popping shock. Curiosity grows as to what kind of connection might be hidden between Kang Sung-jae and the reporter.

Meanwhile, episode 5 of "Cooking Soldier Legend" will be released simultaneously on Tving and tvN at 8:50 p.m. on the 25th.

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*This content was translated by AI.