HBO Max’s New 12-Part Fantasy Military Series Is Officially A Global Streaming Hit

The K-drama finds more success in 2026, this time on HBO Max.

The beloved genre continues to see the arrival of more stories, and 2026 is no exception. With the summer season officially underway, there are several K-drama shows coming up in June.

The Legend of Kitchen Soldier arrived on HBO Max back in May, but is now becoming a worldwide streaming hit for the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned platform, as it is currently trending at #10. The series is performing at #1 in Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, as well as #2 in Hong-Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The fantasy military comedy, which is available on Rakuten Viki in the United States, is based on J Robin’s Kitchen Soldier and is led by Park Ji-hoon as Kang Seong-jae. The cast also features Yoon Kyung-ho as Park Jae-young, Lee Hong-nae as Yoon Dong-hyeon, Han Dong-hee as Cho Ye-rin, and Lee Sang-yi as Captain Hwang Seok-ho.

The supporting line-up also includes Kang Ha-kyung as Corporal Kim Gwan-cheol, Kang Jun-kyu as Joo Sang-wook, Lee Sang-jun as Cha Seung-woo, Im Ji-ho as Tak Mun-ik, Han Min as Captain Lee Min-gu, and Jung Woong-in as Lieutenant Colonel Baek Chun-ik. The Naveer webtoon was adapted for live-action by writer Choi Ryong and directed by Jo Nam-hyung.

The story centers on Kang Seong-jae joining the army after his father passes away, but the young soldier ends up becoming an assistant to the military cook, Yoon Dong-hyeon, setting him on a mission to become a top chef. As of writing, The Legend of Kitchen Soldier has not landed a Rotten Tomatoes or audience score.

However, reviews have been making waves for the K-drama, with many critics sharing their thoughts on the series. In Soompi’s The Legend of Kitchen Soldier review, P Talwar stated, “Usually, the depiction of military life on screen is one of harsh hierarchy, toxicity, and bullying in the foreground, showcasing the rigidity of the establishment. However, with “The Legend of the Kitchen Soldier,” humanism seems to be at the core, as does compassion despite the competitive environment.”

In But Why Tho?’s The Legend of Kitchen Soldier review, Sarah Musnicky commented how the series “is deeply entrenched in the cooking genre, and it shows in the way the camera homes in on the cooking process. The reaction to the dishes, though over-the-top at times, is a staple of the genre, and the viewer immediately gets a sense of how euphoric and delicious Sung-jae’s cooking is from how the reactions are framed and delivered.”

The 2026 entry has two more episodes to air before everything is said and done. Given its current streaming success, this could bode well for more viewership by the time the finale airs on June 16, with more K-dramas arriving in 2026.

Catch The Legend of Kitchen Soldier on HBO Max worldwide.

Release Date

May 11, 2026

Network

TVING

Directors

Jo Nam-hyung

Writers

최룡

Cast

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  Yoon Kyung-ho

  Park Jae-young

• 

  Park Ji-hoon

  Kang Seong-jae

• 

• 

  Lee Hong-nae

  Yoon Dong-hyeon