LayarHijau – Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook, and Nana have opened up about The Scandal, Netflix’s upcoming original series that explores love, desire, and a dangerous game of seduction set in Joseon. The historical drama is set to premiere globally on Netflix on September 18, 2026.
The Scandal follows Lady Cho, a talented noblewoman who refuses to let the rigid expectations placed on women in Joseon define her life; Cho Won, a man known as the era’s most notorious ladies’ man; and Hui Yeon, a woman who becomes entangled in their dangerous game of love.
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At a press conference held at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul on September 9, Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook, Nana, and director Jung Ji Woo discussed their characters and what sets the new series apart from previous adaptations.
For Son Ye Jin, The Scandal marks a major return to historical drama after 24 years. The actress was particularly drawn to the project because the story would be expanded into a series, giving the characters and their relationships more room to develop.
“It’s been a really long time since I last worked on a historical drama. And because this is a series, I felt even more ambitious about taking it on,” Son Ye Jin said.
In The Scandal, Son Ye Jin plays Lady Cho, a gifted woman who excels at writing and painting but has little opportunity to pursue her talents because of the social restrictions placed on women in Joseon. Although she eventually becomes the wife of a nobleman, she retains an independent spirit and desires that she has been forced to keep hidden.
“I thought maybe I’m finally at an age where I can express emotions like these,” she said of her decision to take on the role.
Lady Cho is not simply a woman waiting for her circumstances to change. She becomes one of the driving forces behind the story when she proposes a dangerous game of seduction to Cho Won.
Son Ye Jin said she spent considerable time exploring the character’s hidden emotions and motivations, working closely with Jung Ji Woo to understand what lies beneath every decision Lady Cho makes.
“What is Lady Cho really feeling? What kind of emotions is she experiencing? Why does she behave this way?” were among the questions the actress explored while preparing for the role.
The Scandal also carries a connection to the 2003 Korean film Scandal: Untold Scandal, which starred Lee Mi Sook, Bae Yong Joon, and Jeon Do Yeon. That film was itself an adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 French novel Dangerous Liaisons. The new Netflix series revisits the story in a longer format while introducing a more contemporary interpretation.
However, Jung Ji Woo stressed that The Scandal is not simply a remake of the earlier film. One of the biggest differences is the relationship between Lady Cho and Hui Yeon, which receives significantly more attention in the new series.
“The relationship between Lady Cho and Hui Yeon doesn’t even exist in the original work. We really wanted to make their relationship richer and more vivid,” the director explained.
Jung Ji Woo has also chosen a distinctive visual and narrative approach for the series. The Scandal begins and ends with pansori, Korea’s traditional narrative musical form, adding another layer to the story’s Joseon setting.
The director said he wanted to portray late Joseon as a sophisticated and highly developed society rather than relying on familiar historical-drama imagery. The costumes were also carefully designed, with the production team drawing inspiration from traditional Korean folk paintings, or minhwa.
Meanwhile, Ji Chang Wook takes on the role of Cho Won, a handsome man from a prestigious family who has earned a reputation as Joseon’s most accomplished ladies’ man. After losing contact with Lady Cho, with whom he had previously exchanged letters, he begins living a life focused largely on pleasure and entertainment.
Ji Chang Wook admitted that Cho Won proved to be more complicated than he initially expected.
“After finishing the project, I actually wondered whether he really was Joseon’s greatest ladies’ man. He’s a very complex character. He’s practically confusion and chaos personified,” he said.
Rather than approaching Cho Won in isolation, Ji Chang Wook said he focused heavily on the dynamics between his character and those played by Son Ye Jin and Nana. When the emotional aspects became difficult to navigate, he relied on Jung Ji Woo’s direction.
Nana plays Hui Yeon, a young widow who loses her husband before they can begin their married life. She subsequently lives a secluded existence, keeping herself closed off from the outside world.
Meeting Cho Won gradually changes her perspective. Beneath her reserved exterior, Hui Yeon begins to develop a desire to take control of her own life.
Nana said she found similarities between Hui Yeon and her own personality as a child. She recalled being relatively passive, afraid of the world, and cautious around other people.
That connection helped her understand Hui Yeon’s emotional journey and portray the changes that take place after she meets Cho Won.
Jung Ji Woo also praised the chemistry among the three leads. He said Ji Chang Wook brought an appealing warmth to Cho Won, along with a touch of humor, while Nana impressed him with her ability to fully inhabit Hui Yeon.
The director had particularly high praise for Son Ye Jin, saying she was able to carry the weight of the story through Lady Cho. He even compared her performance to that of a superhero, saying she essentially shouldered the entire series through her portrayal.
One of The Scandal’s biggest draws is the way it combines a classic story of seduction, betrayal, and manipulation with a more modern perspective. The series centers on a dangerous game of love filled with desire, jealousy, betrayal, and intrigue.
The game begins with a wager. Lady Cho challenges Cho Won to a seduction game, leading him to pursue Hui Yeon in an attempt to win. What starts as a seemingly entertaining challenge gradually develops into something far more complicated and dangerous.
For Son Ye Jin, the series format offered an opportunity to explore the story and its characters on a deeper level than a film could.
“As the story builds, the characters become more complex. It’s a series that will make you increasingly curious about what is going to happen to them,” she said.
She also hopes The Scandal will attract younger viewers who may never have seen the 2003 film.
Nana similarly believes fans of the original can enjoy the new series while appreciating the fresh interpretation brought by the cast and creative team.
Beyond its romantic storyline, The Scandal also promises lavish Joseon-era visuals, intricately designed costumes, and a more daring atmosphere. With its mix of romance, historical drama, and intrigue, the series aims to put a fresh spin on a story that has already been adapted for the screen.
The Scandal premieres globally on Netflix on September 18, 2026, starring Son Ye Jin as Lady Cho, Ji Chang Wook as Cho Won, and Nana as Hui Yeon.
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