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"It would be a lie to say I didn't feel any pressure."
Bon Appetit, Your Majesty follows talented chef Yeon Ji Young (Lim Yoon A), who time-slips into the Joseon era, where she struggles to please the palate of the tyrannical King Lee Heon (Lee Chae Min).
Actor Lee Chae Min played Lee Heon, a tyrannical king who is particular about taste.
The K-drama faced a crisis before its broadcast. Actor Park Sung Hoon, originally cast as Lee Heon, withdrew due to a controversy, and Lee Chae Min was urgently brought in. Despite this, Lee turned the crisis into an opportunity, delivering such an exceptional performance that he was called "Lee Heon" himself.
To commemorate the drama's successful conclusion, Lee Chae Min held an interview with the local press in Seoul, during which he said, "It would be a lie to say I didn't feel any pressure. I tried to prepare a lot in a short time, and I'm grateful that many people recognized those efforts." "I am a fan of director Jang Tae Yoo, so there was no reason not to take on this project. I read the script, and it was fun and suited my taste. But I also felt I had to work really hard for the role. I entered the project carrying pressure, anticipation, and excitement."
"Since I joined on such short notice, I was a bit anxious at first and lacked confidence, but sunbae gave me a lot of courage. She told me I was doing well, just like Lee Heon, which was a huge support in the beginning. My teamwork with her was excellent. There were no conflicts, and she was very accommodating regarding the things we each wanted. She even suggested ideas like, 'How about trying it this way?' which was a big help to me."
Talking about the training he underwent for the role, he said, "Since I was given only a month, I attended horseback riding lessons and calligraphy classes, trying to learn as much as possible on set. I kept practicing before the cameras rolled. Because of that, I think I ended up learning a lot on set. At first, I didn't know how to ride properly, and although there were stunt doubles, I rode myself in the scenes I had to perform. Toward the end, I was riding well on my own, but I felt a little regretful that I wasn't able to ride as well [as expected] in the final scenes."
As it was a historical drama, Lee Chae Min also had to pay attention to his vocals. "I've been attending a vocal academy for the past four years. Considering both the genre and the role, I think many people were able to recognize the things I had learned."
There was no shortage of praise, noting that his acting had improved significantly compared to his previous works. Lee laughed and said, "I've noticed that myself." "I actually always give my best in every project. For this one, the time period was particularly short, so I felt a sense of responsibility and pressure to get everything done within that period. I really cut down on sleep to keep studying and preparing. If there were reference videos, I watched them extensively, and I continuously read the script. I also kept experimenting with different ways of speaking."
Regarding the comments that made him happiest, he smiled and said, "Since this was a role that I had to fully embody, it feels really rewarding to hear people say, 'He is Lee Heon himself.'"
His family were avid viewers as well. Lee Chae Min said, "Actually, my parents always enjoy whatever project I do, but they especially enjoyed this one. My younger sister sent me a message on KakaoTalk saying, 'You worked hard.' She's a bit tsundere, so she doesn't usually say much to me. But since we've known each other for a long time, I know how sincere she was. I appreciated it."
Scenes showing Lee Heon's reactions to food — amidst the reeds, a volcano, or a sword dance — became a trending topic for every episode those scenes were aired. The CGI shots must have been challenging as well. Lee commented, "Actually, I watched a lot of animation for reference. I also watched mukbang programs and practiced in front of a mirror. I thought about how to eat in a way that makes it look both nice and [the food] delicious. After all, the viewers shouldn't feel awkward watching it. I tried to eat as neatly as possible."
He continued, "The food was really delicious. But honestly, it wasn't to the point of making me go 'Wow~' or feel like I was flying [because of the taste]. There were moments where I had to exaggerate my reactions a bit. Since I had to exaggerate my reactions without making the character seem unlikable, it took some time to find the right balance. Doing those actions repeatedly, the emotions eventually came through."
"What was the most delicious dish you tasted?" "Most of it was delicious. I'm not picky about food. Because I work out, I really like protein and meat. The Beef Bourguignon in the showdown with the Ming envoys was especially delicious... I'm not particularly fond of sweets, but the macarons were so delicious that I grabbed a few after filming."
He also shared a behind-the-scenes story about his shirtless scenes. Lee Chae Min explained, "I gained some weight from eating so much. Some shirtless scenes were filmed at the beginning, and some in the middle of the shooting period. When there was a shirtless scene, I tried to slim down in a short period of time, about two days beforehand."
Lee Chae Min is enjoying the spotlight from his drama success, even being mentioned alongside popular actors like Byeon Woo Seok and Choo Young Woo. He commented, "Honestly, it's an honor, and with that comes a significant sense of pressure. I also feel a strong responsibility to show a good side of myself in my next project. Being mentioned alongside actors like them is truly an honor." "I haven’t had the chance to meet actor Byeon Woo Seok yet. I'm still adjusting to my new agency."
"As a rising star, do you feel the pressure of the growing popularity?" "I think it is my duty to accept the pressure that comes with this profession. I believe it depends on how well I resolve it and how well I accept it. I also exercise diligently to practice mind control. Honestly, even when I go to the gym to work out, I don't wear a mask. Whether people simply aren't interested or what, even when I exercise alone, no one bothers me at all, so I'm happy."
With the growing popularity, offers are pouring in as well. Lee was tight-lipped about his next project, saying, "I'm receiving many offers for both dramas and movies. I haven't had a chance to review the scripts yet, so I don't think I can say exactly which projects have come in." "But no matter the genre, if I enjoy reading it, I want to do it. I don't really want to categorize by genre. Since I am a male actor, I would like to try noir. Or I'd like to do a deep, tear-jerking melo."
Lee Chae Min once dreamed of becoming an elementary school teacher and prepared for the college entrance exam. He used to be an excellent student, receiving top grades in most subjects on mock tests, but during the winter break before entering his third year of high school, he told his parents about his new dream of becoming an actor.
"I used to be so nervous that I couldn't even speak in front of reporters. I had stage fright, so I thought I simply couldn't do it. That was all very vague. When I was 19, I thought, 'Let's try something I once dreamed of,' and I went to the acting academy near my house and started acting — and that's how I've come this far. There isn't much to explain in detail; I think it's all very vague how I've reached so far, so to me, it really feels like a dream."
He continued, "I said it was vague, but I gave my all to the foundation. It was vague, but I did my best. I wondered if I could give up what I had studied for years, and to avoid having that doubt, I devoted myself even more to acting. I thought, since I started this, I should see it through to the end, and fortunately, a good place recognized me, so I was able to enter [the industry] and come this far."
When asked about the mindset he wants to maintain, Lee said, "I don't want to lose myself. As people live their lives, they meet many people and run into all kinds of circumstances, so of course, some changes are inevitable. But nowadays, what I consider most important in my life is not losing the true self I've had since I was young. Lately, I've been hearing that a lot is going to change [for me], and that makes me reflect on this. I've always been honest, cheerful, and positive. I tend to approach things with a 'let's enjoy it since I'm doing it' mindset. That's what I learned from my parents, and I agree with it. We only live once. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone lived happily? That's the mindset I live by."
When asked what kind of significance Bon Appetit, Your Majesty will hold in his filmography, Lee said, "I discovered aspects of myself that I didn't know [I had]. Above all, I think what stays with me are the [experiences and memories with the] colleagues and the director I worked with. I value people, and I believe there's no greater gift than having good people by your side. With that mindset, I met so many wonderful people on set and received a great deal of kindness. I was so grateful that, if I ever have the chance to give back, I'd like to repay it someday."
