Despite a sudden lead actor change, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is drawing stronger praise than ever, thanks to newcomer Lee Chae Min stepping into the role. The role of Yi Heon was originally cast with Park Sung Hoon, but in January 2025 he exited following controversy over an Instagram post.
With less than two weeks before filming, producers tapped Lee Chae Min—a move now seen as a casting coup. Adapted from the web novel Surviving as Yeonsangun’s Chef, the drama reimagines the story with a fictional prince, Yeonheegun.
Yi Heon is a tyrant haunted by his mother’s unjust death, whose emotions spill out over meals prepared by the French-trained heroine chef. Critics note the “king who cries over food” trope feels more authentic with a younger lead.
Lee Chae Min’s stature—190cm with broad shoulders and sharp features—has also boosted the drama’s appeal. Fans have dubbed him the perfect “doorframe hero,” saying his chemistry with co-stars YoonA and Kang Hanna feels natural and visually striking.
Kang Hanna’s concubine role now plays into an older-woman-younger-man tension, while Lee’s pairing with YoonA delivers the stability viewers craved. Novel readers are especially anticipating the later episodes, when Yi Heon grows more ruthless as a ruler yet clings to the chef as his emotional anchor.
The series promises a mix of sweet rom-com moments with political intrigue and darker turns. Early reactions call the change a blessing in disguise: “A casting masterstroke,” “Hard to imagine these scenes otherwise,” and “The younger lead is a perfect fit for a rom-com.”
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