Go Min-si’s Accent Draws Mixed Reactions as “Tastefully Yours” Debuts to Underwhelming Ratings
Genie TV’s new original series Tastefully Yours is off to a rocky start. Premiering on May 12, the drama recorded only 1.6% in ratings—nearly half the finale viewership of its predecessor, New Recruit 3. Despite solid visuals and a promising cast, the drama has faced criticism for its outdated storytelling and, most notably, lead actress Go Min-si‘s Jeolla dialect.
The series stars Kang Ha-neul as Han Beom-woo, a chaebol heir turned “recipe hunter,” and Go Min-si as Mo Yeon-joo, a passionate chef running a one-table restaurant in Jeonju. While the premise offers a cozy, food-themed romance, viewers quickly noticed problems with Go Min-si’s dialect performance.
Go, who earned attention for her appearance on Jinny’s Kitchen 2, trained with professional chefs and studied the regional accent extensively for her role. At a press conference, she said, “Without the experience from Jinny’s Kitchen, I would’ve found this role far more intimidating.” She added that she was meticulous in learning the dialect, asking constant questions to improve.
Still, viewers had mixed reactions to her efforts. Online comments ranged from:
“I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be Chungcheong or Jeolla,”
“She should’ve just spoken in standard Korean,”
“Her acting feels unnatural.”Advertisement
Opinions on her chemistry with Kang Ha-neul also varied, with some calling it “solid,” and others labeling it “awkward.”
Beyond performances, the drama’s writing and direction came under fire. Critics pointed to outdated tropes—like a character threatening someone with a sickle over lettuce or foraging mushrooms in the mountains—as lacking modern appeal. The setup itself, involving a rich heir and a small-town chef, drew comparisons to classic dramas like My Name is Kim Sam-soon, with some calling it stale and formulaic.
These issues may have contributed to its weak ratings, especially compared to tvN’s Second Shot at Love, which aired on the same day and drew 3.4%—more than triple the 1.1% finale rating of its predecessor, Divorce Insurance.
Despite the rocky start, hope remains. Go Min-si had limited dialogue in the first episode, suggesting her performance may develop further in upcoming episodes. With nine more episodes to go, Tastefully Yours still has time to refine its recipe and win over viewers.
