LayarHijau – After School’s Nana is drawing attention following her first-ever historical drama role in Netflix’s The Scandal. Some Korean viewers have expressed disappointment, particularly over Nana’s prominent lips, while others feel that her modern image does not quite blend with her character Hui-yeon, a widow living in the Joseon era.
Directed by Jung Ji-woo and released on September 18, The Scandal follows Lady Cho (Son Ye-jin), a talented woman who feels she has too much to offer to be confined to the limited life expected of women in Joseon, and Cho Won (Ji Chang-wook), a man known as one of Joseon’s most famous womanizers. The two become involved in a daring and dangerous wager over love, while Hui-yeon (Nana) is drawn into the game.
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The series marks Nana’s first time taking on a historical drama role. Hui-yeon is a widow who lost her husband and is forced to live under the strict social rules of Joseon. She is portrayed with a simple and restrained appearance, including a white hanbok, minimal makeup and a generally somber expression.
After The Scandal premiered, however, comments began appearing on Korean online communities and social media questioning whether Nana’s image fits the atmosphere of a Joseon-era drama. Her defined facial features, particularly her full lips, became one of the most frequently discussed aspects of her appearance.
Some viewers said they found themselves focusing on Nana’s lips while watching her scenes as Hui-yeon. Others felt that Nana’s distinctly modern image made it harder for them to see her as a widow from the Joseon era.
“If Nana had been given a role that suited her, she would have really stood out. It’s a shame,” one viewer wrote. Another commented, “Instead of her acting, I keep looking at her lips.” Someone else said Nana was “too modern-looking beautiful,” making her seem less suited to the role.
Similar reactions also emerged among some international viewers. One foreign viewer commented that Nana looked like someone who had been born in Joseon, but her lips looked as though they belonged in Myeongdong, a popular Seoul district known for its modern atmosphere. The comment became part of a broader discussion about the contrast between Nana’s modern image and the historical setting of The Scandal.
Beyond her appearance, some viewers also expressed reservations about Nana’s portrayal of Hui-yeon’s emotions. The character has spent years living as a widow while suppressing her feelings, making her emotional transformation after meeting Cho Won an important part of her character arc.
According to some comments, the changes in Hui-yeon’s expressions and emotional intensity from her first encounter with Cho Won to the point where she begins opening her heart and developing romantic feelings were not pronounced enough. Some viewers felt that her expressions and reactions toward Cho Won changed too little, making it difficult to fully follow the development of her feelings.
These comments, however, come from some viewers on online communities and social media and do not represent Korean viewers as a whole. The discussion surrounding Nana’s lips, her modern image and her portrayal of Hui-yeon’s emotions is part of the range of reactions that emerged following the premiere of The Scandal.
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