Cook Sergeant Park Ji-hun Overcomes the Crisis at Gangnim Outpost! “Cook Sergeant Becomes a Legend” Takes No. 1 in Its Time Slot for Cable and General-Programming Channels

Cook Sergeant Park Ji-hun has been crowned the hidden clutch master of the KCTC training.  

In episode 6 of the Tving original 〈Cook Sergeant Becomes a Legend〉 (screenplay Choi Ryong, directed by Jo Nam-hyung, planning Studio Dragon, produced by Studio Dragon, Studio N, and provided by Tving (TVING)), which was released simultaneously on Tving and tvN on Tuesday, the 26th, Cook Sergeant Kang Seong-jae (played by Park Ji-hun) receives a quest during the KCTC (Republic of Korea Armed Forces Science and Technology Combat Training Group) period to boost morale among unit members, and he carries it out perfectly, delivering a thrilling catharsis.

As a result, 〈Cook Sergeant Becomes a Legend〉 ranked No. 1 on Tving for daily subscription contribution in episode 6 for the 6th episode, and it recorded No. 1 overall on paid subscription contribution over the two days when episodes 5 and 6 were released, proving—once again—that the Tving original’s pull is unmatched. The episode 6 tvN broadcast recorded an average 7.3% nationwide household rating and a peak of 8.6%, along with an average 7.8% in the Seoul Capital Area and a peak of 9.5%, topping the same time slot among cable and general-programming channels. (Based on paid platforms that integrate cable, IPTV, and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)

At the Gangnim outpost where KCTC is approaching, Cook Sergeant Kang Seong-jae and Sgt. Yoon Dong-hyeon (played by Lee Hong-nae) are put in a situation where they must take responsibility for the troops’ meals using only a specially made cooking trailer. But as the aging cooking trailer fails to work properly, the quality of the food drops. Troops who finish their meals even complain of stomach trouble symptoms, and the two men end up receiving extra drill. To make matters worse, their concern is also compounded by a preemptive attack by the opposing force aimed at the unit members who were already struggling, and Kang Seong-jae’s mind grows heavier without letting up. 

The crisis at the Gangnim outpost had no end. Late at night, a suspicious man appears in front of Kang Seong-jae and Yoon Dong-hyeon, who had been staying put to light the cooking trailer. Watching the civilian closely as he checks whether he’s there to collect waste cooking oil, Kang Seong-jae catches a message that pops up on the “Guardian” alert window: “Morale is going up.” He immediately aims his gun, questions the person’s identity, and succeeds in capturing the opposing force’s officer.

But the opposing force again pushes the Gangnim outpost into a corner with a strategy of blocking supply routes. The troops are holding on with combat rations, but if the situation drags on, difficulties are expected. In response, Kang Seong-jae suggests that they track down the final location of the supply vehicle and secure the remaining supplies directly. Commanding Officer Jo Ye-rin (played by Han Dong-hee), the operations officer Park Jae-young (played by Yoon Gyeong-ho), and Sgt. Yoon Dong-hyeon all decide to join. After that, the four people fight against the opposing force and manage to achieve the outcome of securing supplies.

With the supplies they’ve secured, Yoon Dong-hyeon confidently sets out to make rice balls, but his grim-looking food makes the troops turn away. Watching this, Kang Seong-jae puts his ingenuity to work—breaking rice crackers and using them like fried batter, then frying the rice balls so they come out crisp. 

At the very end, Kang Seong-jae even crushes up star candies to add the finishing touch. His arancini rice ball dish carries Commanding Officer Hwang Seok-ho (played by Lee Sang-i) off on a flight of imagination. Hwang Seok-ho gets absorbed in a cheerful fantasy of meeting the “Taste Bud Boys,” packed with sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy flavors, and other troops also marvel at the dazzling range of flavors—sending morale soaring in an instant.

The Guardian’s skills also lent strength to Kang Seong-jae in another sense. During the process of stopping Sgt. Kim Gwan-cheol (played by Kang Ha-gyeong) from meddling with the supplies, Kang Seong-jae—who happened to use the “Chef’s Eye”—spots a scene: the vinyl rice balls of Sgt. Yoon Dong-hyeon, which the outpost had thrown away, end up in the opposing force’s hands and the figure moves under the ground. Sensing something suspicious, Kang Seong-jae immediately informs Commanding Officer Jo Ye-rin of the fact and raises the tension. 

Believing Kang Seong-jae’s words, Commanding Officer Jo Ye-rin heads out right away to check on the spot. Using the “Chef’s Eye,” Kang Seong-jae accurately pinpoints the opposing force’s movement route, and the troops are able to launch a bold counterattack based on it. They successfully overcome the crisis, and they feel fuller morale than ever.

Meanwhile, after the battle, Kang Seong-jae, who gets lost and arrives alone at the battalion headquarters’ assembly point, happens to overhear a suspicious call from Captain Lee Min-gu (played by Han Min). Hearing the chilling words, “Should we take care of Jo Ye-rin?” Kang Seong-jae immediately runs, but while sprinting down a dark mountain path, he faces a life-or-death crisis dangling at the edge of a cliff. Kang Seong-jae’s ending, clinging on while relying only on a single tree root, sends curiosity about the next episode exploding.

Episode 7 of the Tving original 〈Cook Sergeant Becomes a Legend〉, which lets viewers confirm the fate of Cook Sergeant Park Ji-hun, will be released simultaneously on Tving and tvN on Monday, June 1 at 8:50 p.m.