The popular Korean drama “Bon Appétit Your Majesty“ concluded with a successful finale that brought a timeless love story to a satisfying close. The series, starring Im Yoona and Lee Chae-min, achieved its highest viewership ratings for its final episode, confirming its status as a major hit of 2025.
The fantasy romance, which aired on tvN, told the story of a modern chef who travels back in time to the Joseon dynasty. Its unique mix of food, romance, and palace politics won over audiences, with the show ending as the seventh highest-rated drama in the network’s history.
A Record-Breaking Finale
The series finale of “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” aired on September 28, 2025, and set a new personal record. According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode scored an impressive 17.1 percent average nationwide rating. This made it the most-watched program of any kind that Sunday.
The drama’s success was built over its 12-episode run. It consistently topped the ratings, with viewership growing each week as more viewers discovered the show. The finale rating was a significant jump from the premiere episode, which had started at a solid 4.856 percent.
The popular fantasy romance drama achieved the highest viewership ratings of its entire run with its series finale.
A Finale of Swords, Secrets, and Sacrifice
The last episodes delivered high-stakes drama, resolving major plotlines about palace power struggles and the king’s past.
The finale revealed the truth behind the death of King Yi Heon’s mother, exposing that his own father and grandmother were involved in her poisoning. This revelation nearly pushed the king into becoming the tyrant history remembers, but Yeon Ji-young was there to stop him.
The villain, Prince Je Seon, then launched a mutiny. He kidnapped Ji-young, killed the king’s grandmother, and took control of the palace. This led to a major sword fight in a forest between the king’s forces and Je Seon’s rebels. The king managed to win the battle and returned to the palace to reclaim his throne.
In the final confrontation between the king and Je Seon, Ji-young jumped in front of a sword to save the king. As she lay injured, confessing her love, the ancient cookbook “Mangunrok” activated and sent her back to the present day, leaving the king heartbroken.
A Modern-Day Reunion and Happy Ending
Ji-young woke up in a modern-day hospital with a scar, proving her journey to the past was real. She returned to her life as a chef, eventually getting hired at a high-end restaurant. To her surprise, she found her entire royal kitchen team working there, now in modern roles.
The story took a final twist when a man who seemed to be a Michelin examiner visited the restaurant. After criticizing another guest’s poor taste, he was revealed to be Yi Heon, the king himself, who had traveled through time to find Ji-young. The two shared an emotional reunion and a kiss, to the amazement of the restaurant staff.
An epilogue scene showed the couple happily together in the present day, with Yi Heon cooking bibimbap for Ji-young, fulfilling a promise he made in the past.
The Cast’s Favorite Moments
In the lead-up to the finale, the show’s stars shared their favorite scenes from the drama.
Lim Yoona picked moments that defined her character’s journey. She highlighted the first meeting with the king, the scene where her character establishes authority over the royal kitchen chefs, and the moment she hears the king’s confession and feels she doesn’t have to return to her own time.
“If I had to choose scenes that best show Yeon Ji Young’s character, I recall the scenes of her first meeting with Lee Heon, the moment she puts the royal kitchen chefs in line, and when Yeon Ji Young hears Lee Heon’s confession and realizes she doesn’t have to go back,” Yoona said.
Lee Chae-min chose a scene from episode 11 as his favorite. He described it as a turning point that explains how King Yi Heon became the person he is, adding that it was the scene into which he “poured in the most energy and emotion.”
Director Jang Tae-yoo selected the prologue from the first episode as a key moment, calling it a scene that “best shows the drama’s concept as a survival fantasy rom-com.” He also pointed to the cooking scenes in episodes 2 and 4 as embodying the main character’s culinary philosophy.
A Binge-Worthy Show on Netflix
For viewers who missed the weekly broadcast or want to watch the story again, all 12 episodes of “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” are available for streaming globally on Netflix. The show’s availability on the platform has helped it gain a strong international fanbase.
The series is based on a popular web novel, “Surviving as Yeonsan-gun’s Chef,” and was directed by Jang Tae-yoo. The cast also includes Kang Han-na as the passionate concubine Kang Mok-ju and Choi Gwi-hwa as the ambitious Prince Je Seon.
Also Read: Bon Appétit, Your Majesty Finale: Episode 11 & 12 Release Schedule and Spoilers
