Ahn Hyo-seop said he prepared for his role as a chef in JTBC's upcoming drama "Final Table" by studying how real cooks carry themselves, according to 문화일보. The actor spoke on October 22 at a production press conference held at The Link Hotel in Guro, Seoul, where he was joined by co-star Hong Hwa-yeon and others involved in the series.
Ahn plays Kang Han, a brilliant chef whose background remains hidden. He told reporters he felt the part demanded precision because the character is a professional. To that end, he said he worked hard in a short window on knife work, wok technique and plating so that nothing on screen would look sloppy. He added with a laugh that practicing left him uneasy about throwing away vegetables.
Why it matters
"Final Table" arrives in a crowded field of cooking-themed television, and its cast and crew are aware of the comparison. Director Kim Do-hoon, who also wrote the script, said at the same event that it would be dishonest to claim the drama pays no attention to the hit competition series "Culinary Class Wars," according to 매일경제. The remark places the show squarely in a moment when audiences have sharp eyes for kitchen detail.
For Ahn, the role is also a return to the small screen after time away, a point the coverage framed around his comeback as a chef. Whether viewers accept him in the kitchen may depend on the preparation he described.
Watching cooks, not just cooking
Ahn said his research went beyond technique. He watched competition programs including "Culinary Class Wars" and "MasterChef Korea" and paid close attention to contestants' posture, gestures and facial expressions. What struck him most, he said, was how calm the chefs remained under pressure, and he thought about how to bring that composure into his character.
His answer to a lighter question offered a glimpse of the drama's emotional pitch. Asked to name his favorite Korean dish, he picked janchi-guksu, the noodle soup often served at celebrations, saying it carries the care and sincerity of his mother's cooking. He said he hopes viewers finish an episode wanting to call someone or share a good meal, and that such a reaction would tell him the message landed.
A restaurant to save, and a co-star's take
The story centers on efforts to rescue a restaurant called Familia. Hong Hwa-yeon plays Choi Song-i, the only daughter of hall manager and owner-chef Choi Seung-ho, who fights alongside Kang Han to keep the place alive. Hong described her character as someone who gives off a "salty" feeling — a Korean expression for hardship and grit — and said she hopes audiences come away thinking of that saltiness. The character, she explained, begins in struggle and moves toward moments of comfort and emotion, and viewers will encounter different shades of it.
The series follows Korean chefs gathered from around the world to compete in "The Table: K Chef 2026," a contest to name the country's best Korean cook, and traces both the cooking battles and the personal stories behind them. Ahn and Hong are joined in the cast by Jang Ryul and Jung Yu-jin.
One detail from the production has already drawn attention: a report in 스포츠경향 quoted someone at the event saying Ahn and Jang handled knives so well that no stunt doubles were needed. That claim, made at the press conference, adds to the sense that the drama is leaning on its kitchen authenticity.
"Final Table" premieres October 24 at 10:40 p.m. on JTBC.
