The Legend of Kitchen Soldier (취사병 전설이 되다)

THE LEGEND OF KITCHEN SOLDIER

REPUBLIC OF KOREA ARMY

Born in 2004.

BEST TRAINEE PRIVATE KANG SEONG-JAE

Wait a second.

"The Best Trainee"?

Is that right?

Well, look at that.

We finally got an ace, huh?

Private Kang Seong-jae. Thank you.

Well.

You've got a good voice and you're good-looking too.

Back in school, you must've...

- Wait, a cat! - Huh? What?

What was that?

Hey! What if you scratch up

our new recruit?

- Oh, I'm sorry. - Drive carefully.

Be gentle.

Right?

Good grief.

Gosh.

The Best Trainee.

Looking back, my life has always been

a fierce battle.

The villains would attack at any time and any place

and I was often overwhelmed

by the sheer number of enemies.

But who am I?

A strong warrior of the Republic of Korea

and its strong army!

This war-like life

has finally made me into the ultimate warrior...

Private Kang Seong-jae!

Hey.

What do you make of this situation?

This seems very wrong, sir.

Right?

It's not just because I'm an old fart, is it?

No, not at all, sir.

Kids these days sleep so soundly

without a care in the world.

EPISODE 1.

GANGLIM

All right.

This is your home now.

Got it?

Fourth Company, First Battalion.

60th Regiment, 29th Division.

Ganglim Post.

The air is amazing, isn't it?

We've even had guys cure their eczema here.

Well, since you're the Best Trainee, so I'm not worried...

But still, military life

with people from all over...

Hey!

Snap out of it.

If you do that again

I'll reach my limit.

Yes, I understand.

Let's go.

Welcome to Ganglim Post.

Salute! Welcome back, sir!

Hey, Tak!

So.

Are you happy to finally have a subordinate?

I'll have to put him through a test

and size him up first, sir.

Hey, you jerk!

Come on.

At boot camp

he was the Best Trainee. A real ace.

What happened at boot camp

doesn't mean anything out here, sir.

Darn, this punk. You're already...

You're already bossing a junior.

Hey, put that down and come here.

Yes, sir.

The following individual

. shown dedication and spirit of service to his country...

Man, this is good.

Best Trainee, huh? The very best.

The Best Trainee has arrived.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

FAMILY BACKGROUND? SINGLE MOTHER

Who's on the duty roster today?

IS YOUR FAMILY HARMONIOUS?

AVERAGE

It's not out yet.

FAMILY'S MONTHLY INCOME? LESS THAN 1.8 MILLION WON

Hey, Best Trainee.

Private Kang Seong-jae.

No need to lie.

Be honest, write down every detail.

Even how many pairs of underwear.

- Yes, sir. - Yeah.

Sit down.

- Hey, Tak. - Private First Class Tak Mun-ik.

- Did you put out the makgeolli ? - Yes, sir. I put it in the mess.

Anything to report?

No, sir. Nothing.

FELT LOSS OR DEPRESSION RECENTLY? YES

Welcome, Private.

Hero.

Private Kang Seong-jae!

What are you doing?

Didn't you just call me, sir?

- Master Sergeant. - Yeah?

Is it out yet?

Well, about that, sir.

He's...

S-Class, sir.

S-Class? Beyond A-Class?

- S-Class? - That's a good thing, right?

S

DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS VERY HIGH

GAMING ADDICTION VERY HIGH

Salute!

Hey.

I heard the battalion sent an ace, so I came to check him out.

Is this him?

He's got that fire in his eyes.

What ace?

He's S-Class.

What? There must've been some mix-up.

Damn it. It's not the first time

those jerks sent us their rejects.

Hey.

Private Kang Seong-jae.

To the Room of Truth.

Yes... to the Room of Truth.

PERSONNEL RECORD CARD

KANG SEONG-JAE

What does your mother do?

- She runs a food truck. - A food truck?

Oh, a street stall.

It's not a stall.

She has an official permit from the city...

Hey, it's the same thing.

You little punk, are you playing word games with me?

What's this?

FATHER, KANG YONG-IL DIED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO ENLISTMENT

Your father

passed away recently.

Yes, sir. He passed away two months ago.

Goodness.

That must've been hard on you.

It was all so sudden.

But I'm doing much better now.

Jeez.

What's all this about being the "Best Trainee"?

More like top priority high-risk soldier.

Hey.

Keep this pinned to your chest

until I say so.

Got it?

When someone talks to you, you answer.

- Yes, sir. - Goodness, you're frustrating.

- Hey, Tak! - Private First Class Tak Mun-ik!

Take him to greet the Outpost Commander.

Tell her

that a tragic hero you can't watch without crying has arrived.

OUTPOST COMMANDER FIRST LIEUTENANT CHO YE-RIN.

Outpost Commander, may I enter?

Come in.

Salute!

I brought the new recruit, Commander.

All right. Let me see him.

Salute!

Salute!

Private Kang Seong-jae.

On August 18, 2025, I was ordered to report here...

Kang Seong-jae has been registered.

Report...

Ordered...

Here...

KANG SEONG-JAE, ORDINARY SOLDIER, AGE 22

COMMEMORATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROK ARMY

Where are you looking?

I'm sorry, I must have seen something wrong.

I don't know what's up with him.

He says he sees and hears things.

Everyone seems fine on the outside

but they start seeing things once they enlist.

Well, okay.

It's a hard environment to adjust to

so I can understand.

But if

if you feel like it's too difficult to handle

you must come to me before you think of doing anything rash.

No, ma'am. I'm really okay.

No, you don't look okay. That's why I'm saying it.

- Mun-ik. - Private First Class Tak Mun-ik.

- Has he eaten? - Not yet, ma'am.

Get him some food first.

Yes, ma'am.

LEFTOVER FOOD SIGNAL BAD

COOK SOLDIER'S PLEDGE WITH DUTY AND DEVOTION

I WILL COOK TO BOOST MY COMRADES' HEALTH AND STRENGTH

TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU CAN EAT!