Who Plays the King in Bon Appétit, Your Majesty? Meet Lee Chae-min
The king in Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is played by Lee Chae-min. If you recognize his face but cannot place the drama, his earlier role in Hierarchy offers a very different starting point.
The king and the actor are different names
Actor: Lee Chae-min. Character: King Yi Heon.
He stars opposite Lim Yoon-a, who plays chef Yeon Ji-young. When searching for interviews or other roles, use the actor’s name; searching only for the king brings up character discussions and plot spoilers.
Where else have you seen him?
In Hierarchy, Lee plays Kang Ha, a scholarship transfer student entering an elite school. The seven-episode series combines a revenge mystery with romance and conflicts over wealth.
Netflix also lists Crash Course in Romance among his previous credits. That is useful if the face seems familiar from a contemporary school setting rather than a palace.
Which show should you choose?
Choose Bon Appétit, Your Majesty for a time-travel premise, cooking and a royal romance. Choose Hierarchy for a shorter series built around secrets and a school power struggle.
This is a choice between different genres, not a required viewing order. You can start either series without having watched his earlier work.
Find the right version
Look for 이채민 in Korean credits and Lee Chae-min in English listings. Availability, subtitles and dubbing vary by country, so use the official title page for your region.
Lee Chae-min dramas: choose by story, not viewing order
| Drama | Role and reason to try it |
| Bon Appétit, Your Majesty | King Yi Heon. A palace fantasy for viewers interested in cooking and romance. |
| Hierarchy | Kang Ha. A scholarship student entering an elite school; a choice for viewers who prefer secrets and social conflict. |
| Crash Course in Romance | Another earlier credit to explore if you want a contemporary setting rather than a royal court. |
These are separate stories. Starting with the king does not spoil a shared storyline in the school dramas, and there is no franchise order to follow. The comparison above is a viewing guide based on each premise, not a ranking of his performances.
Explore Hierarchy and its seven-episode story →
Questions viewers ask about the king
Is Yi Heon the actor’s real name?
No. Yi Heon is the character; Lee Chae-min is the actor. That distinction is useful when finding cast interviews rather than plot explanations.
Who is the chef opposite him?
Lim Yoon-a plays Yeon Ji-young. For the series’ episode count and other major characters, use our separate drama guide below. This profile focuses on identifying Lee and choosing another role to explore.
Read the Bon Appétit cast and episode guide →