[Press Release] CJ ENM's "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" Captivates Global Audiences With Explosive Momentum

("The Legend of Kitchen Soldier", Courtesy of CJ ENM)

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM's latest breakout series, "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier", is capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide, once again demonstrating the boundless potential and global appeal of K-drama storytelling.

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Produced by Korea's premier scripted studio Studio Dragon, "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" follows Kang Seong-jae (played by Park Jihoon), a young man who enlists in the military to escape his harsh reality. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a mysterious virtual "Quest" screen that sets him on a journey to become an army cook. As he completes each mission, long-buried secrets hidden within the military base gradually begin to surface.

Since its release, the series has rapidly emerged as one of the year's most talked-about dramas, generating explosive buzz both domestically and internationally.

After ranking No. 1 in weekly paid subscriber contribution on Korea's leading streaming platform TVING for two consecutive weeks, the drama has continued its unstoppable momentum, surpassing 121.26 million cumulative digital views within just its first week of release. This achievement marks the highest first-week digital viewership record among Korean drama series released over the past three years, underscoring its extraordinary popularity and cultural impact.

On the global stage, "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" has also delivered remarkable performance across major streaming platforms. The series ranked No. 2 overall and No. 2 in the TV show category on Disney+ Japan, while breaking into the Top 5 rankings across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania on global OTT platform Rakuten Viki.

Further reflecting its surging international popularity, the series has earned an impressive rating of 8.7 out of 10 on IVI, solidifying its status as one of the hottest new K-dramas among global audiences.

"The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" also sees strong viewership on HBO Max, currently one of the top three performing Korean drama titles across 17 countries and regions. 

These achievements represent more than just numbers-they underscore the series' cultural resonance and storytelling strength.

While K-dramas have traditionally been associated with rom-com formulas-a well-established recipe for success-"The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" stands out for its distinctive narrative structure, sharp comedic sensibility, and non-romance-driven storytelling. The series ultimately reaffirms a powerful truth: at the heart of K-drama success lies one enduring essential-compelling storytelling.

Lee Hye-young, Executive Producer of the series from Studio Dragon, stated, "While we are truly delighted to see the show's soaring performance, it represents much more than just strong viewership. We believe "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" is marking a pivotal moment in the K-drama landscape by underscoring the power of great storytelling-stories that are universally accessible and engaging".

Lee added, "We sincerely hope this kind of success continues, enabling creators across the industry to bring a greater diversity of stories to audiences".

Kim Tae-hun, Chief Producer of "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" from Studio Dragon, said, "We are also pleased to introduce several elements distinctly 'Korean' to global audiences.

Kim added, "While it is challenging for highly local stories to resonate globally, we believe it is our role as creators to break down boundaries and showcase compelling narratives, as demonstrated by "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier"".

Choi Bo-yun, Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TVING, said, "The success of "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" demonstrates how TVING's distinctive OTT storytelling approach and original content competitiveness can resonate with audiences globally. TVING will continue delivering compelling original stories that connect with viewers beyond borders". 

Lastly, Sebastian Kim, Head of the Content Business Unit at CJ ENM, said, "We believe the positive ecosystem of the entertainment industry can be further strengthened through shows like "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier"-content that is both creative and entertaining".

Kim added, "As a hub of K-drama distribution, CJ ENM will continue to deliver diverse stories, filled with witty twists, to global audiences".

CJ ENM's "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" is currently available on Rakuten Viki, via the TVING Collection on Disney+ Japan, as well as on HBO Max across 17 countries and regions in the Asia Pacific.

The series also airs every Monday and Tuesday on Korea's No. 1 K-content channel tvN and is available on the leading K-content streaming platform TVING.