Cha Eun-woo Confirmed for 'Tyrant's Chef 2' Lead Role Amid Tax Dispute

ASTRO member and actor Cha Eun-woo (차은우) has been confirmed to star in “Tyrant’s Chef 2.” He will take over the male lead role from Lee Chae-min (이채민), who starred in the first season. Original cast members YoonA (윤아) and Lee Chae-min will not return for the sequel. While the second season will maintain the original world-building, it will unfold with entirely new characters and a fresh storyline.

According to Korean media reports on the 11th, Cha Eun-woo recently finalized his role as the male lead in “Tyrant’s Chef 2.” The first season, starring Lee Chae-min and YoonA, achieved impressive ratings in Korea and garnered significant international attention. With Cha Eun-woo stepping into the lead, public curiosity is high regarding the new character he will portray and how he will interpret the sequel’s narrative.

It is understood that while “Tyrant’s Chef 2” will share the same world as the first season, it will be introduced to audiences with a new title and story content. Discussions are currently underway for its broadcast on tvN.

The first season, “Tyrant’s Chef,” aired in 2025. The plot followed a chef who accidentally time-traveled to the past and encountered a tyrannical king with an “absolute palate,” leading to a fantastical and romantic story. Starring Lee Chae-min and YoonA, the drama achieved a peak viewership rating of 17.1% (according to Nielsen Korea), successfully creating a viewing sensation.

Beyond the domestic Korean market, “Tyrant’s Chef” also reached global audiences via Netflix. In its first week, it entered Netflix’s Global Top 10, then secured the No. 2 spot globally for two consecutive weeks, and ultimately climbed to No. 1 in its fourth week, achieving remarkable success overseas.