# Ahn Hyo-seop's 'Final Table' Opens to 1.9% Nationwide Rating

- URL: https://unnienote.app/en/news/ahn-hyo-seop-final-table-jtbc-drama-first-4de397
- Published: 2026-10-26T07:56:15.227Z
- Publisher: Unnie Note

> JTBC's new drama Final Table, starring Ahn Hyo-seop, debuted with a 1.9% nationwide rating on October 24, according to Nielsen Korea.

## Key points

1. The first episode, which aired October 24, drew 1.9% nationwide, per Nielsen Korea.
2. Ahn Hyo-seop plays a genius chef who clashes with a woman running his late father's restaurant.
3. The drama is written and directed by Kim Do-hoon, known for Moon Embracing the Sun.

## What is Final Table about?

Final Table is a new JTBC weekend drama starring Ahn Hyo-seop. According to Yonhap News, the first episode aired on October 24 and drew a nationwide rating of 1.9%, based on figures from Nielsen Korea.

## Who are the main characters?

Ahn Hyo-seop plays Kang Han, a gifted chef who returns after years abroad. In the first episode, he visits Familia, a restaurant tied to his childhood memories, and is angered to find its food has changed. The restaurant is now run by Choi Song-i, played by Hong Hwa-yeon, who has kept it going alone since her father, owner-chef Choi Seung-hyo, died. Jang Hyeon-seong plays the late chef.

## What happens in the first episode?

Kang Han and Choi Song-i clash over the restaurant's direction. The episode also sets up a larger storyline. Pyeong Yeon Group, a major Korean food-service company hurt by its link to Choi Seung-hyo's death, is launching a cooking survival show called 'The Table: K Chef 2026' to repair its image. That plot point has drawn interest in where the story goes next.

## Why are viewers comparing it to Culinary Class Wars?

Before it aired, many Korean viewers compared the drama to Netflix's popular cooking show Culinary Class Wars. The comparison reflects the drama's cooking-competition theme.

## For international fans

The drama comes from director Kim Do-hoon, who also made Moon Embracing the Sun and Royal Family. Fans who enjoyed those period and family dramas may find a familiar style here, though Final Table is set in the modern restaurant world.

## FAQ

### When did Final Table premiere?

Final Table premiered on JTBC on October 24, 2026. It airs on weekends.

### Who directed Final Table?

Kim Do-hoon wrote and directed the drama. He previously made Moon Embracing the Sun and Royal Family.

### Is Final Table similar to Culinary Class Wars?

Many Korean viewers have compared the two because both center on cooking. The drama's plot is its own, following a chef's return to his family's restaurant.

## Sources

- [Yonhap News](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261025013000005)

_Written and translated with AI from official announcements and Korean media reports. If something is wrong, please let us know._