Rookie Cook-Soldier Park Ji-hoon’s Life Goes on Red Alert... 'Becoming a Legendary Cook-Soldier' Tops Real-Time Channel Viewing Rankings

The TVING Original 〈Becoming a Legendary Cook-Soldier〉 made a smooth start, surpassing the 7% ratings mark from its very first broadcast.

According to Nielsen Korea on the 12th, Episode 1 of 〈Becoming a Legendary Cook-Soldier〉, which aired on the 11th, recorded an average household rating of 6.2% in the Seoul metropolitan area on tvN, peaking at 7.4%, claiming first place among cable and general programming channels in the same time slot. It also rose to No.1 in TVING's real-time channel viewing rankings.

The episode depicted new recruit Kang Seong-jae (Park Ji-hoon) transferring to the Gangrim Outpost and, somewhat accidentally, becoming the unit's cook. During the transfer process, Seong-jae hears a mysterious voice saying "Welcome, Hero" and experiences the strange phenomenon of a status window appearing before his eyes. Drafted as a cook simply because his mother runs a food truck, Seong-jae adapts by acquiring cooking skills from the status window.

Assigned to prepare Battalion Commander Baek Chun-ik's (Jung Woong-in) breakfast alone as his first mission, Seong-jae completes a sea urchin roe seaweed soup using a recipe obtained through the system. However, after tasting a spoonful, Baek Chun-ik suddenly clutches his throat and collapses, creating a shocking cliffhanger that heightens the tension.

By combining a realistic military setting with fantasy elements like quests, the series boosts immersion through its distinctive supporting cast: relatable, everyday military characters — administrative supply sergeant Park Jae-young (Yoon Kyung-ho), outpost commander Jo Ye-rin (Han Dong-hee), senior Yoon Dong-hyun (Lee Hong-nae), who gives off the vibe of a late-term sergeant, and company commander Hwang Seok-ho (Lee Sang-yi) — who help create the lively atmosphere at Gangrim Outpost.

The story of Kang Seong-jae, who faces the prospect of military detention from the outset due to the battalion commander's fainting incident, can be seen in Episode 2 of 〈Becoming a Legendary Cook-Soldier〉, released simultaneously on TVING and tvN at 8:50 p.m. on the 12th.