Shin Ye-eun has received a casting offer for the female lead in tvN’s upcoming drama Seorabeol Knife, but she has not accepted yet. Production company Studio Dragon confirmed on October 19 that the offer was made and that the two sides are discussing it. The series is a culinary romance that is expected to mark Cha Eun-woo’s return to acting after his military service. No premiere date or streaming platform has been announced.
What is confirmed so far
Studio Dragon said it did send Shin Ye-eun’s side a casting proposal and that the discussions are ongoing. The role is reportedly Princess Deokyeong, a member of Silla’s highest royal class who dreams of becoming the kingdom’s first queen. Until a final decision is announced, this is an offer, not a done deal.
Jang Tae-yoo, who directed tvN’s Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, is set to direct. Talks with tvN about the broadcast schedule are underway, and the drama is reported to be aimed at 2027.
The story behind Seorabeol Knife
The title refers to Seorabeol, the name of Silla’s capital. The drama follows an Italian chef nicknamed the “temptation of the Mediterranean,” who owns a one-Michelin-star restaurant. He travels back about 1,000 years after following a prophecy sealed inside a gold-plated honey box.
In Silla he meets a demanding gourmet princess, and he has to prove his skill with food in a world far from his own kitchen. The princess is described as a pure-blood royal with a sharp eye for fragrance, calligraphy and fine dining.
Where Cha Eun-woo fits in
Cha Eun-woo‘s agency, Fantagio, said in August that he was reviewing an offer for the chef role. He is serving in the military band and is scheduled to be discharged on January 27, 2027. His last project was the Netflix series The WONDERfools, so Seorabeol Knife would be his first acting job after he finishes his service.
Shin Ye-eun is not the first actress linked to the princess role. In September, Moon Ga-young’s agency confirmed she was reviewing an offer for the same part, which would have reunited her with Cha Eun-woo seven years after True Beauty. Her current status has not been confirmed.
Why this casting matters to fans
Seorabeol Knife shares a fictional universe with Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, which reached a peak rating of 17.1% on tvN last year. It is not a second season. Fantagio has said it is a new project from the same director, and the original leads, Lim Yoon-a and Lee Chae-min, are not expected to return.
Shin Ye-eun has experience with period settings. She led the historical drama The Secret Romantic Guesthouse in 2023 and later appeared in Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born and the Disney+ series The Murky Stream. That range makes a royal role in a time-slip romance a natural fit, though nothing is final yet.