CJ ENM’s ‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ Heads to Series Mania
CJ ENM’s upcoming military drama “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” will make its world premiere at Series Mania 2026.
The Studio Dragon-produced series has been selected for a special screening in the festival program, making it the only Korean content to premiere at the event.
Launching as a TVING Original, the high-profile drama follows a so-called “plastic spoon man” – a term referring to those born into economic disadvantage – who enlists in the military to escape difficult circumstances. His journey to becoming a legendary army chef takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a mysterious virtual ‘Quest’ system that guides his path as a kitchen soldier. Every mission he completes, from the cookhouse to the dorms to the training grounds, takes him deeper into uncovering the unit’s hidden problems. Armed only with kitchen utensils, his unconventional military adventure unfolds.
“Rarely does a drama embrace such freedom and gonzo joy,” says Carlo Fasino, program manager at Series Mania. “’The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ is a surreal joyride that finds profound vitality in the wreckage of loss, and arms its formal audacity with a truly original humor – all anchored by Park Ji-hoon’s revealing, deeply felt edge.”
Sebastian Kim, head of content distribution business unit at CJ ENM, added: “Based on a famous original webtoon, the series has been brought to life by the outstanding creative teams of TVING and Studio Dragon. Through this special screening, we hope to make a strong impression on both industry professionals and audiences, and create opportunities for the series to reach viewers on streaming platforms and TV channels around the world.”
The selection continues CJ ENM’s strong presence at Series Mania. The company previously presented “The Cursed” and “Mouse” in the International Panorama section, while “Pyramid Game” and “Duty After School” were featured in special screenings.
CJ ENM said it is pursuing multiple strategic initiatives to expand its global content distribution capabilities while strengthening its position in the international Korean content market.
Korea is the first country of honor at the Series Mania Forum.
