tvN's hit drama The Tyrant's Chef has been swept into controversy after a Chinese dubbing actor publicly disparaged the Korean cast's Chinese pronunciation.

Episodes aired on September 6–7 featured a storyline where Ming dynasty envoys challenge Joseon to a culinary contest. Actor Jo Jae-yoon appeared as one of the imperial chefs, delivering his lines entirely in Chinese. To help Korean viewers, the production team added subtitles.

Jo's performance was widely praised in Chinese-speaking regions, with viewers commenting, "His pronunciation is so precise," and "I thought he was Chinese."

Controversial Remarks from Voice Actor

However, the Chinese voice actor who dubbed Jo's lines later claimed on Xiaohongshu, "That Chinese dialogue you heard 12 hours ago was actually me dubbing it." He attached photos and further mocked the actor, writing, "This person was terrible. Even the Korean producer in the studio laughed when they heard his attempt."

The post quickly went viral in China and was picked up by local outlets such as ETtoday in Taiwan. Facing backlash for what was seen as a "public attack," the voice actor deleted the original post.

Global Popularity Amid Controversy

Despite the incident, The Tyrant's Chef continues to thrive worldwide. The fantasy romantic comedy, which follows a time-traveling chef who encounters a tyrant king with an extraordinary palate, is streaming globally on Netflix. The series currently ranks No. 1 in 42 countries and holds the top spot in drama buzz rankings, confirming its explosive popularity at home and abroad.