Kapanlagi.com - Kim Hyung Mook is now in the spotlight thanks to his role as a Chinese envoy in the Korean drama Bon Appetit, Your Majesty. In this drama, he plays the character Woo Gon, an envoy from the Ming Dynasty who challenges the best chef of Joseon.
Kim Hyung Mook plays as Woo Gon who comes to demand tribute from the Joseon kingdom. This character not only challenges the authority of the kingdom but also challenges chef Yeon Ji Young portrayed by YoonA SNSD.
On October 4, 2025, he shared his personal study notes on social media, showcasing a detailed process from handwritten Mandarin characters, pinyin, to pronunciation. The post quickly went viral and was highlighted by thousands of Korean netizens as well as international fans.
Find more news related to Kim Hyung Mook at Liputan6.com.
1. Kim Hyungmook's Viral Social Media Post

Kim Hyungmook reveals Mandarin practice notes for his role in the drama (credit:instagram.com/kimhyeongmook_official)
Kim Hyung Mook shared his post through his official Instagram account on October 4, 2025, at 16:47 KST. In the post, he wrote the caption "Drama 'Bon Appetit, Your Majesty'. Playing as Woo Gon, the envoy of the Emperor of China. This is part of my Mandarin language practice notes and voice recordings."
He explained that out of a total of 40 days of preparation, the last two weeks leading up to the shooting were spent intensively memorizing Mandarin dialogues. This post was liked by over 65,000 users and received about 450 supportive comments from fans and fellow actors.
2. Serious Mandarin Learning Process

Kim Hyungmook reveals his Mandarin practice notes for his role in the drama (credit:instagram.com/kimhyeongmook_official)
In his post, Kim Hyungmook showcased a notebook page containing handwritten Mandarin characters (hanzi), complete with pinyin and spelling in Hangeul. He also admitted to creating an audio recording folder to listen to and improve his pronunciation every day.
He wrote that he started practicing two weeks before the first shooting. Every day he practiced consistently, even amidst the shooting schedule of other projects. The notes were kept as a precious memory from a role that challenged him both professionally and mentally.
3. Netizen Reactions: Many Thought He Was a Chinese Actor

Kim Hyungmook reveals his Mandarin practice notes for his role in the drama (credit:instagram.com/kimhyeongmook_official)
The post quickly sparked discussions on social media. Most netizens admitted they were surprised because they thought Kim Hyung Mook was a real Chinese actor.
Some comments read, "I thought he was Chinese because his pronunciation is so natural," and "I thought it was dubbing, but it was really his original voice." Many others wrote clapping emojis as a form of appreciation for Kim Hyung Mook's dedication.
4. Kim Hyung Mook's Transformation as Woo Gon in BAYM

Kim Hyungmook reveals his Mandarin practice notes for his role in the drama (credit:instagram.com/kimhyeongmook_official)
In the drama BON APPETIT, YOUR MAJESTY, Kim Hyung Mook plays Woo Gon, the Emperor's envoy from the Ming Dynasty who comes to challenge the best chef of Joseon. He portrays the character with a strong intonation and a distinctive speaking style of a Chinese court official, which captivates many viewers.
Thanks to intense language training, he was able to bring the character to life with high authenticity. Viewers even thought his scenes were dubbed by a professional voice actor from China. However, Kim proved that he spoke all the Mandarin dialogue himself.
5. Support and Recognition from Fellow Actors

Kim Hyungmook reveals his Mandarin practice notes for his role in the drama (credit:instagram.com/kimhyeongmook_official)
After the post went viral, several fellow actors also commented on social media, appreciating his dedication. They referred to Kim Hyung Mook as someone with exceptional professionalism and a strong learning spirit, even though he is already a senior in the entertainment industry.
Netizens praised his consistency as an actor who is always fully committed to preparing for his roles. Some mentioned that he is deserving of being a role model for young actors, as he relies not only on talent but also on evident perseverance and hard work.
6. Popular Q&A about Kim Hyung Mook
Q: Who is Kim Hyung Mook in the drama BAYM?
A: He plays Woo Gon, an envoy from the Ming Dynasty who challenges a Joseon chef in the drama Bon Appetit, Your Majesty.
Q: Does Kim Hyung Mook really speak Mandarin in BAYM?
A: Yes, all the Mandarin dialogue is spoken by him directly without dubbing.
Q: When did he share his Mandarin practice notes?
A: The notes were shared on October 4, 2025, through a personal Instagram post.
Want to read more news related to Kim Hyung Mook? Let's read now at KapanLagi.com. If not now, when?
(kpl/vna)
Disclaimer: This translation from Bahasa Indonesia to English has been generated by Artificial Intelligence.