Yoona's "The Tyrant's Chef" Breaks Netflix Records: First tvN Drama to Hit Global #1 for Two Weeks
Girls' Generation's Yoona has struck gold again. Her latest tvN drama "The Tyrant's Chef" just made history by becoming the first tvN series to top Netflix's Global Non-English TV Shows chart for two consecutive weeks.
Netflix Domination Goes Global
The drama secured 6.8 million viewing hours from September 8-14, claiming the #1 spot on Netflix's non-English TV rankings for two weeks straight-a first for any tvN production. It reached the top 10 in 93 countries and grabbed #1 in 42 regions including Japan, Thailand, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia.
Ratings Success at Home
While conquering international audiences, "The Tyrant's Chef" dominated domestically too. The latest episode hit 15.8% average viewership with peaks of 18.1%, making it the weekend time slot champion across all Korean channels.
Korea Gallup's September 2025 survey crowned it the #1 "Korean Broadcasting Program", proving its broad appeal beyond just drama fans.
The Perfect Recipe for Success
The show follows modern French chef Yeon Ji-young (Yoona) who gets transported back to Korea's Joseon Dynasty, where she must cook for tyrannical King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-min)-a ruler with perfect taste buds and zero patience.
This 12-episode series aired from August 23 to September 28, 2025, on tvN every Saturday and Sunday, with simultaneous Netflix streaming.
Yoona's Method Acting Pays Off
Yoona didn't just show up and act. She spent months before filming training with professional chefs, learning everything from knife skills to plating techniques. This preparation shows-she performs most cooking scenes herself without stunt doubles, bringing authenticity that viewers clearly appreciate.
The drama broke tvN weekend records with 80 million YouTube views in its first week alone, while related social media content hit 650 million views across platforms.
What Makes It Work
Unlike typical time-travel dramas, "The Tyrant's Chef" blends historical palace intrigue with modern culinary techniques. The fusion creates something familiar yet fresh-comfort food for the soul, if you will.
Director Jang Tae-yoo, known for hits like "Deep Rooted Tree," brings his signature attention to detail, while Yoona and Lee Chae-min's chemistry drives the romantic comedy elements that keep viewers coming back.
For five consecutive weeks, Yoona topped performer buzz rankings, while the show maintained its #1 position on Korea's TVING platform throughout its entire run.
The Bottom Line
"The Tyrant's Chef" proves that good storytelling transcends borders. By combining Yoona's star power with compelling characters and universal themes like food and love, tvN created something that works equally well in Seoul and São Paulo.
With only international success stories becoming more common for K-dramas, Yoona's latest hit shows she remains one of Korea's most bankable stars-both at home and around the world.