The Legend of Kitchen Soldier () is an upcoming South Korean military comedy television series written by Choi Ryong, directed by Jo Nam-hyung, and starring Park Ji-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, , and Lee Hong-nae. Based on Naver webtoon Kitchen Soldier by J Robin, the series is about Kang Seong-jae, a young man from a poor background, who enlists in the military at 20 and unexpectedly rises to become a legendary cook. It is scheduled to premiere on TVING in May 2026.
Kang Seong-jae enlists in the military to escape harsh reality, but a mysterious virtual "quest" system appears during his service, transforming him into a legendary cook serving the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. He completes missions across the base, from cookhouse to training grounds, uncovering the unit's hidden problems. Armed with kitchen implements, his unconventional military path unfolds.
Based on the Naver webtoon Kitchen Soldier by J Robin., Jo Nam-hyung, who co-helmed Tale of the Nine Tailed (2022) and Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 (2023), was attached to direct, and the screenplay is written by Choi Ryong, who wrote Sorry Not Sorry (2024âÂÂ2025), while Studio Dragon and Studio N jointly managed the production.
On February 6, 2025, Park Ji-hoon was reportedly being considered to star by his agency, YY Entertainment According toÃÂ Newsen on February 12,ÃÂ Yoon Kyung-ho received an offer and was considering it, while Sports Kyunghyang stated that his casting had been confirmed. Three months later, SPOTV reported that Lee Sang-yi would make a special appearance. Park, Yoon, Han Dong-hee, and Lee Hong-nae were officially confirmed to lead the series by July 2025, with Jung Woong-in joining the cast.
Principal photography commenced in July 2025 and wrapped up after 8 months.
The Legend of Kitchen Soldier is scheduled to premiere on TVING in the first half of 2026. In February 2026, the series has received an official invitation to '2026 Series Mania' in France, marking its global debut. The next month, the series was set to premiere in May 2026.