Rising actor Lee Chae Min has been confirmed as the new male lead opposite Girls’ Generation’s YoonA in the highly-anticipated tvN drama The Tyrant’s Chef.

An industry insider shared with Sports Chosun on January 13, “Lee Chae Min has received the offer to play the lead role in tvN’s new drama *The Tyrant’s Chef* and is currently reviewing it positively.”

The drama tells the story of a French chef who unexpectedly travels through time and encounters a tyrannical yet food-loving king.

Set across 500 years, this fantasy romance promises a mix of survival, history, and heartwarming moments. The show will be directed by Jang Tae Yoo, known for hit projects like My Love From the Star and The Flower That Blooms at Night.

The production faced a big shake-up after Park Sung Hoon, originally cast as the male lead, stepped down following backlash over an inappropriate image he accidentally posted on his personal account.

On November 11, the production team announced, “After extensive discussions with Park Sung Hoon, it has been decided that he will no longer participate in the project. Both Park Sung Hoon and his agency have expressed their apologies regarding the incident.”

The unexpected delay forced the team to postpone script readings, test shoots, and filming schedules. With the pressure mounting, Lee Chae Min’s casting comes as a relief to the production team and fans alike.

Lee Chae Min has been steadily rising in popularity, capturing attention with his roles in Crash Course in Romance, Netflix’s Hierarchy, and MBC’s Bunny and Her Brothers.

Known for his fresh charm and growing acting skills, Lee Chae Min has become a favorite among younger audiences, especially within the MZ generation.

Fans are already buzzing about the chemistry he might share with YoonA, who has proven her acting talent in hits like Big Mouth and King the Land.

With Lee Chae Min stepping in as the new lead, excitement for The Tyrant’s Chef is back on track. Stay tuned for updates as filming resumes, and fans eagerly await this unique time-travel romance!

Source: [1]

IU recently revealed that she watched her own concert film in a public theater, but shockingly, no one recognized her—even when she dropped a hint!

On February 27, a new video featuring IU was released, showing her inside a car on her way to Daejeon.

She excitedly shared, “This is a surprise stage greeting for UAENA! I picked this location through a ladder game when I did stage greetings.”

Previously, IU had let fate decide which city she would visit after her stage greetings. She happily said, “There are UAENAs everywhere I go. Wherever I go, it's a flowery path.” The game ultimately led her to Daejeon.

IU originally hoped to explore the city, saying, “I wanted to visit Daejeon's pride, Sung Sim Dang, and walk around, but my team said it wouldn’t be possible. The lines are too long, and it’s freezing outside.” She sighed, adding, “So, things turned out this way.”

Dressed up for the occasion, IU smiled, saying, “I don’t get to meet UAENAs in Daejeon often, so I wanted to make a surprise appearance looking my best.”

She also joked about enjoying surprise events, adding, “As long as Hanteo oppa drives me safely, I’m happy.”

But what really caught fans' attention was IU’s unexpected confession—she had secretly watched her concert film in a theater, but no one noticed her! “No one recognized me at all. There weren’t that many people, and it was a weekday… but still! I even gave a hint!” she said, sounding both amused and surprised.

Later, when IU finally appeared at the theater, her fans were overwhelmed with emotion. Some even burst into tears, prompting her to gently say, “You really didn’t expect me to come, right?”

After wrapping up her stage greeting, IU laughed at herself, saying, “Wait, did I just do a 40-minute one-woman show? I must have talked so much.”

On her way back to Seoul, IU reflected on the day, sharing, “It was so cold today. I shook hands with all the UAENAs. My hands are usually cold, and since the weather was freezing, I think I made a lot of people’s hands cold, too. But after touching so many warm hands, mine became warm, too. I still haven’t washed them.”

Her love for her fans truly knows no bounds!

Source: [1]