Today, following up on our previous post, Chubby mom and her daughter have been completely hooked on the drama Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty). We’ve been curious about the character Kang Mok-joo—who she was based on in real life and what she actually did.
We’re sure many of you are curious too and might even be a bit confused, so we’ve studied and prepared this special “Insider News” segment to share the details. Let’s dig into it step by step!
Before we get started, if you’re also curious about Yeonsangun (Yeonhui-gun in the drama Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty)) and Chae Hong-je, you can check out the link below.
Let’s Explore Yeonsangun of the Joseon Dynasty and the Concubine Selection System (Korean Popular Drama The Tyrant’s Chef
Today, Chubby Mom and her daughter are deeply into the drama The Tyrant’s Chef. We became curious about who the character Yeonhui-gun really represents in history and what on earth the Concubine Selection System (Chaehong) is all about. We figured many o
chubby-mom.tistory.com
Conveniently, you can jump directly to the sections you want using the table of contents below, so feel free to make good use of it.
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First, let’s start by introducing the tvN drama Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty), which features the character Kang Mok-joo, and the character herself.
Kang Mok-joo from the tvN drama Tyrant's Chef(bon appetit your majesty)
Currently, tvN has been airing the weekend drama Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty) since August 23, 2025. The drama centers on the meeting between a tyrant from the Joseon Dynasty and a talented modern-day chef, and Chubby mom and her daughter are really enjoying it.
I’ll say it again—Chubby mom even keeps the reruns playing endlessly… (if there were a drama-watching exam, she’d probably get first place!)
| Category | Details |
| Genre | Historical, Fantasy, Romance, Comedy, Drama |
| Broadcast Channel / Dates | tvN, August 23, 2025 – Present, Saturdays & Sundays at 9:20 PM (KST) |
| Original Work | Web novel Surviving as Yeonsangun’s Chef |
| Planning / Production | - Production Companies: Studio Dragon, Film Grida, Jung Universe - Director: Jang Tae-yoo - Screenplay: fGRD |
| Main Cast & Characters | - Im Yoon-ah: Yeon Ji-young (French Michelin chef) - Lee Chae-min: Lee Heon / Yeonhui-gun (tyrant king with perfect taste) – based on Yeonsangun - Kang Han-na: Kang Mok-joo (royal concubine) – based on Jang Nok-su - Choi Gwi-hwa: Je-san Daegun (Lee Heon’s uncle) |
| Basic Plot | Modern Michelin chef Yeon Ji-young time-slips to the Joseon Dynasty and encounters the picky tyrant king Lee Heon, unfolding a cooking survival romance. |
In the drama Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty), the characters Yeonhui-gun and Kang Mok-joo appear. To get straight to the point, the character Kang Mok-joo is based on the web novel Surviving as Yeonsangun’s Chef and is a fictional character creatively inspired by the real historical figure Jang Nok-su.
In other words, Kang Mok-joo did not exist in real life. She is a character created using historical interpretations of Jang Nok-su as a reference. In fact, even on sources like Wikipedia, when you click on the detailed introduction for Kang Mok-joo, it redirects to Jang Nok-su, and works portraying Jang Nok-su include the drama Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty). This makes it clear that Kang Mok-joo is a character modeled after Jang Nok-su.
If you’re curious about Yeonhui-gun (modeled after Yeonsangun in the drama), you can check out the link below.
Let’s Explore Yeonsangun of the Joseon Dynasty and the Concubine Selection System (Korean Popular Drama The Tyrant’s Chef
Today, Chubby Mom and her daughter are deeply into the drama The Tyrant’s Chef. We became curious about who the character Yeonhui-gun really represents in history and what on earth the Concubine Selection System (Chaehong) is all about. We figured many o
chubby-mom.tistory.com
So, who was Jang Nok-su, the historical figure who inspired Kang Mok-joo? And what was her relationship with Yeonsangun?
Introduction to Yeonsangun and Jang Nok-su
When it comes to the most notorious ruler in Joseon history, many people think of Yeonsangun (燕山君, 1476–1506). Alongside him, the name Jang Nok-su (張綠水, Suk-yong) is always mentioned, often portrayed dramatically as a “tyrant and femme fatale.” However, their relationship is more than just a label; it reflects complex human emotions and the structure of power.
1. Yeonsangun
Yeonsangun was born to King Seongjong and Deposed Queen Yun, carrying deep emotional wounds from childhood. The execution of his mother (sasa, 賜死) left a profound trauma, which some historians argue became a foundation for his later political tyranny.
Here, sasa (賜死) literally means “granted death” — the king ordered someone to die. In his early years, Yeonsangun ruled relatively normally, but over time, anxiety, distrust, and trauma from his mother’s execution accumulated, leading him to centralize power and eventually be recorded in history as a tyrant.
2. Jang Nok-su
Jang Nok-su was originally the daughter of a slave from Je-an Daegun’s household. She grew up as a gisaeng (female entertainer) and, thanks to her exceptional singing and youthful appearance, caught Yeonsangun’s attention. She entered the palace as a Suk-won (a concubine rank) and became one of his favorites, receiving houses, slaves, and land from him. It is said that through her influence, several people were able to obtain official positions.
Although Jang Nok-su eventually rose to the rank of Suk-yong (a higher concubine rank), her power depended heavily on Yeonsangun’s favor, and she met a tragic end after the Jungjong coup.
Here, Suk-won and Suk-yong are ranks among Joseon concubines. Since Chubby mom and her daughter, and likely many readers, might be curious about how these ranks worked, we’ve summarized them in the table below.
| Concubine Ranks in the Joseon Dynasty | ||
| Rank | Title | Description |
| 1st rank | Gwi-in (貴人) | The highest rank among concubines; a position for women favored by the king. |
| 2nd rank | So-ui (昭儀) | The second-highest rank among concubines, below Gwi-in. |
| 3rd rank | Suk-ui (淑儀) | A relatively high rank, potentially with some political influence. |
| 4th rank | Suk-bin (淑嬪) | Mid-to-high rank among concubines; famous example: Suk-bin Choi who assisted Queen Inhyeon. |
| 5th rank | Suk-won (淑媛) | The rank Jang Nok-su received when she first entered the palace. |
| 6th rank | Suk-yong (淑容) | The final rank recorded for Jang Nok-su. |
| 7th rank | Suk-in (淑人) | A lower-ranking concubine; influence varied depending on the king’s favor. |
| 8th rank | So-yong (昭容) | Junior concubine assisting in palace life. |
| 9th rank | Chae-won (采媛) | The lowest rank among concubines. |
Here’s something curious: Jang Nok-su first entered the palace as Suk-won (5th rank), but later records refer to her as Suk-yong (6th rank). Does this mean her rank was lowered in the middle of her life? I looked into it and found that historical records, such as the Yeonsangun Ilgi (Diary of Yeonsangun), contain both references—some calling her Suk-won and others Suk-yong. This explains why her rank appears differently in records.
Some researchers also interpret that while Jang Nok-su may have actually reached Suk-won, later historical accounts might have deliberately lowered her rank. Furthermore, although her official rank was 5th–6th, her actual power and influence were considered equivalent to that of a Gwi-in (1st rank) concubine.
Next, whenever Jang Nok-su is mentioned, she is often described as a “femme fatale” or “villainous woman.” But why is that?
Jang Nok-su’s Misdeeds and Historical Interpretation
The following four cases are often cited as examples of Jang Nok-su’s misdeeds
1. Luxury and Indulgence
Yeonsangun lavishly granted her houses, slaves, and land to win her favor. Jang Nok-su enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle and even built a residence called Nok-su-dang outside the palace, which Yeonsangun frequently visited. Records also suggest that taxes collected from the common people were used to fund her residence and banquets.
2. Interference in Appointments
Jang Nok-su helped her relatives and close associates obtain official positions, and there are records suggesting she even intervened in central government appointments. People seeking positions would reportedly offer her bribes to secure favor.
3. Personal Revenge
Records indicate that Jang Nok-su would accuse people she personally disliked to Yeonsangun, leading them to be punished. For example, if a court lady or official spoke ill of her, Yeonsangun would reportedly become furious and punish them immediately.
4. Exploitation of the People
Yeonsangun, together with Jang Nok-su, reportedly increased taxes and forced labor on the populace to fund feasts and entertainments. As the king’s indulgences grew, the burden on the people increased, and Jang Nok-su is often depicted as being at the center of this.
Historical Interpretation
Since Yeonsangun was an absolute monarch with full control over power, it is unlikely that Jang Nok-su actually controlled state affairs. Later historians may have created the image of her as a “femme fatale beside the tyrant” to explain Yeonsangun’s cruelty. Thus, many scholars argue that her misdeeds carry more political and symbolic meaning than literal truth.
In summary, Jang Nok-su is commonly associated with luxury, political interference, personal revenge, and exploitation of the people, but modern historians believe much of this image may be exaggerated.
Finally, here’s a summary comparing the real Jang Nok-su and Kang Mok-joo from the drama.
Comparison Between Jang Nok-su and Kang Mok-joo
| Category | Jang Nok-su (Historical Figure) | Kang Mok-joo (Drama Character) |
| Background | Era of Yeonsangun’s tyranny | Era of Yeonhui-gun’s tyranny (modeled after Yeonsangun) |
| Female Figure | Concubine Jang Nok-su (gisaeng → Suk-yong) | Concubine Kang Mok-joo (inspired by Jang Nok-su) |
| Role | Gained power through the king’s favor; tragic end | King’s favorite; acted as a spy interfering in palace politics |
| Interpretation | Stigmatized as a “femme fatale”; historical exaggeration possible | Adapted as a character motif; dramatic tension enhanced |
Finally, to summarize, the character Kang Mok-joo in the drama (modeled after Jang Nok-su) is a former gisaeng who became a concubine, gaining power through the favor of Yeonhui-gun (modeled after Yeonsangun). However, the story in the drama diverges somewhat from the historical account of Jang Nok-su and Yeonsangun. In the drama, Kang Mok-joo is not merely an object of love—she is also portrayed as a spy who, in alliance with Je-san Daegun, shakes the political landscape.
The story of Yeonsangun and Jang Nok-su serves as a classic example of how power can corrupt individuals and how love or desire can influence history. In Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty), this tale is reinterpreted through the character of Kang Mok-joo, transforming the historical tragedy into a new narrative form.
Like Yeonhui-gun, Kang Mok-joo in the drama is a fictional character, but understanding the historical figure Jang Nok-su who inspired her, as well as the historical interpretations of that person, can make watching Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty) even more engaging and insightful!
That’s it for today. Chubby mom and her daughter have explored the character Kang Mok-joo from tvN’s Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty), as well as her real-life inspiration, Jang Nok-su, and her relationship with Yeonsangun. We hope this answers the curiosity of everyone who has been wondering.
And with that, we’ll wrap up today’s post… Bye Bye!
if you’re also curious about Yeonsangun's Gapja Sahwa (Yeonhui-gun's Gapsin Sahwa in the drama Tyrant’s Chef(bon appetit your majesty)), you can check out the link below.
Let’s Explore King Yeonsangun, the Mu-o Literati Purge, and the Gapja Literati Purge(Popular drama The Tyrant’s Chef Yeonhui
Following up on the last post, today Chubby mom and her daughter—who’ve been totally hooked on the drama The Tyrant’s Chef—will dive into what the Gapshin(갑신) literati purge(Gapshin Sahwa) mentioned in the show actually refers to, why it happen
chubby-mom.tistory.com