K-dramas have given viewers many memorable stories, and Final Table is adding to that list with its mix of food, teamwork and personal growth. Starring Hong Hwa-yeon and Ahn Hyo-seop, the show has caught attention, with several clips going viral. We recently got the chance to speak with the main cast about their experience filming the series. From learning about the world of professional chefs to playing characters with clear goals, the actors shared how they prepared for their roles. Read on!
Hong Hwa-yeon On Playing An Empowering Character
In many shows, women are portrayed as the male lead’s support system rather than individuals with ambitions of their own. However, Hong Hwa-yeon’s character, Song-yi, has her own goals and plays an important role in the story. When asked about playing a woman who stands as an equal to the male lead, the actress explained how both characters help each other grow.
A: “Thank you for your question. Song-yi has a really clear goal and a purpose in mind. So she’s really purpose-driven, and this really helped in bringing the story to life. What was great about the show is that Kang Han and Song-yi complement each other and help each other along. He might be the better cook, and she learns cooking from him, but she’s not always just getting told off by him. When she has something to say, she always speaks up, and she finds ways to help him along, and vice versa. So the story, in general, is a journey of Song-yi’s growth, and it was also a journey of growth for me as an actor and as a person.”
Meanwhile, Ahn Hyo-seop added a playful comment to the conversation, saying, “Well, I did tell her off quite a lot, though (laughs).” Hong Hwa-yeon quickly responded, “Only in the beginning!”
Hong Hwa-yeon And Ahn Hyo-seop On Preparing For Final Table
With food-based shows and cooking competitions gaining popularity, the cast of Final Table shared how they prepared for their roles.
Ahn Hyo-seop: “I feel the same. There were shows like Culinary Class Wars and MasterChef, which were all great references. I could observe the chefs’ facial expressions, their attitudes, and how they moved around their stations, and everyone had their own way of doing things. Moving around, handling the wok and the knife, it was all different. But one thing that everyone had in common was their calm and composed attitude. So I learned that regardless of their occupation, true professionals remain very calm even in the most urgent situations, which shows how focused and concentrated they are. So I wanted to internalise that and bring it into the show when portraying this chef character. And as soon as I realised that, I felt like I had established a solid foundation for my character.”
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Hong Hwa-yeon: “I did enjoy watching Culinary Class Wars, but I would say that rather than drawing inspiration from that show, we had a chance to visit Eatanic Garden, Chef Son Jong-won’s restaurant, while we were filming. And his attitude and professionalism were just so memorable. And at the same time, the front-of-house manager also did an amazing job of explaining the dishes. And since I was playing a floor manager, I paid a lot of attention to his attitude. I was just so blown away by his storytelling and how he touched all of our hearts. So I think this was a great learning experience for me.”
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