LayarHijau – Ji Chang Wook has opened up about filming an intimate scene with Nana in the Netflix series The Scandal. The actor, who plays Cho Won, admitted that the scene inevitably made him feel tense and more sensitive, especially because it was his first time filming this kind of intimate scene.
Released on Netflix on September 18, 2026, The Scandal is an adaptation of the classic French novel Dangerous Liaisons. The series follows the dangerous relationship between Madam Jo, a talented and ambitious woman living within the constraints of Joseon society, and Cho Won, a man known for his reputation as Joseon’s most notorious flirt, as well as Hee-yeon, a woman caught up in their dangerous game of love.
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One of the scenes that has drawn attention since the series premiered is the intimate encounter between Cho Won and Hee-yeon. In a post-release interview, Ji Chang Wook spoke candidly about how he prepared for and approached the scene with Nana.
Ji Chang Wook Admits He Felt Nervous During the Intimate Scene
Ji Chang Wook said filming an intimate scene naturally makes an actor feel tense and more sensitive. His experience on The Scandal also felt different because it was his first time filming an intimate scene in this particular way.
“An intimate scene inevitably makes you feel tense and sensitive. It was also my first time doing an intimate scene like this, so I had some rather unique feelings about it,” Ji Chang Wook said.
However, he did not try to deliberately eliminate that tension by forcing the atmosphere to become overly relaxed. Instead, he felt that the bond he had developed with Nana through their work together naturally helped.
“Rather than deliberately trying to make things comfortable, I think the bond we had built while working together naturally helped.”
The actor also revealed that the intimate scene was not filmed early in production. The team deliberately pushed it toward the later stages of filming.
“We also put off filming the intimate scene as much as possible until later.”
That gave Ji Chang Wook and Nana more time to work together and build a rapport as acting partners before having to film a more intimate scene.
His Focus Was on the Director’s Direction
Once they were in front of the camera, Ji Chang Wook said he did not approach the scene simply as a provocative moment. Instead, his main focus was on fulfilling the needs of the scene according to director Jung Ji Woo’s direction.
“In front of the camera, I focused on doing my best to portray the level of exposure the director wanted, following the blocking and movements, and carrying out the intention of the scene.”
In production terms, blocking refers to the actors’ positions and movements during a scene. Ji Chang Wook emphasized that these elements were part of his work as an actor when filming an intimate scene.
He also previously discussed the series’ revealing scenes and said he did not spend much time worrying about how his body would look on screen.
“If I had prepared myself just to look cool, then I would have failed. It’s not that I deliberately wanted to look uncool, but the visual aspect wasn’t important when it came to the revealing scenes.”
Ji Chang Wook said he did not undergo additional workouts or specifically sculpt his body simply because he had to film revealing scenes.
“I didn’t do things like work out more or shape my body to make it look better just because there were revealing scenes.”
In fact, he wondered whether an overly idealized physique might have clashed with the tone of the series.
“Personally, I wondered whether it would have fit the tone of the series if my body had looked too good in that scene.”
As a result, much of his discussion with the director centered on why the scene was necessary and how it should be portrayed.
“We talked a lot with the director about the intention behind the revealing scenes and how those scenes should be expressed.”
His Bond With Nana Helped During Filming
Ji Chang Wook also discussed his relationship with Nana as an acting partner. He said he did not feel that he was in a position to give her advice.
“I wondered whether I was really in a position to give someone advice. Rather than giving advice, I wanted to help her as a colleague so she could find the courage to keep going.”
He explained that when working with a scene partner, an actor should think about how they can inspire each other and create a stronger scene together.
“When I meet a partner on set, I think about things like, ‘What kind of inspiration can I give this person? How can we create a good scene together?’”
He applied the same approach while working with Nana. Ji Chang Wook said he tried to create a more comfortable atmosphere so she could concentrate on the emotions of her character.
“I wanted to be there beside Nana as Cho Won so she could focus on her emotions without feeling rushed by unnecessary things. That was the role I could play.”
Ji Chang Wook also praised Nana’s approach to acting. He described her as an actress with strong instincts who places great importance on emotion.
“Nana has strong instincts and is an actress who places a lot of importance on emotion. I also found her acting mysterious. She is an actress who wants to dig into something fundamental and show it.”
He felt that Nana was constantly searching for something that felt genuine in her portrayal of Hee-yeon.
“I think Nana kept searching for something ‘real’ in this project. I felt that she worked very hard to find it and even struggled in the process.”
The Intimate Scene Has Drawn Attention Since The Scandal Premiered
Since The Scandal premiered, the intimate scene between Cho Won and Hee-yeon has become one of the parts of the series that has generated significant discussion among viewers in several parts of Asia, including China, Indonesia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
LayarHijau previously reported that during the first few days after The Scandal was released, the scene became one of the topics that drew considerable attention on Weibo.
Viewer reactions across Asia have varied, ranging from support to criticism. The attention surrounding the scene has also led to various theories among viewers about how it was produced.
Among the theories circulating online are speculation that a skin-toned bodysuit, a body double or CGI may have been used to create the scene.
However, Ji Chang Wook did not address any of those theories in this interview. Instead, he focused on his own experience filming the intimate scene with Nana, including the tension he felt, the decision to postpone filming it until later in production, and how the bond they developed as colleagues helped them through the shoot.
