Ji Chang Wook has opened up about creating Cho Won, the mysterious and notorious playboy he portrays in Netflix’s historical series The Scandal. The actor explained why he chose not to exaggerate the character’s womanizing reputation and instead built the role around subtle attitudes, behaviour and hidden emotions. Based on the 2003 film Untold Scandal, the series follows Lady Cho, Cho Won and Hui Yeon as they become entangled in a dangerous romantic wager set in Joseon-era Korea.
Ji Chang Wook Takes A Subtle Approach To Cho Won
Ji Chang Wook explained that he deliberately avoided adding exaggerated traits simply to make Cho Won appear more seductive. Instead, he wanted the character’s reputation as a playboy to emerge naturally through the way he behaves and interacts with others.
That approach was important because Cho Won is not presented as an easily understood character. His real feelings remain difficult to read, creating uncertainty around his actions throughout the story. The actor said the ambiguity made the role both enjoyable and challenging. He also had numerous discussions with director Jung Ji Woo while developing Cho Won and deciding how his personality should come across on screen.
Cho Won's Personality Goes Beyond His Playboy Image
While Cho Won is known as Joseon’s most famous womanizer, Ji Chang Wook’s interpretation focuses on the character’s complexity rather than simply his romantic reputation. The actor also acknowledged that some part of his own personality inevitably becomes part of every character he portrays.
For him, the goal was not to completely erase himself from the performance but to use aspects of his personality while shaping Cho Won into someone distinct. This adds another layer to the character, particularly because his intentions remain uncertain as his involvement with Lady Cho and Hui Yeon becomes increasingly complicated.
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Ji Chang Wook Highlights His Tense Scenes With Son Ye Jin
Ji Chang Wook also discussed his scenes with Son Ye Jin, who plays Lady Cho. He described their encounters as consistently intense, with both actors putting considerable effort into rehearsals before filming. The chemistry between Cho Won and Lady Cho is central to the drama because their relationship sets the dangerous wager into motion.
Their conversations and confrontations carry an underlying tension that continues to build as the story progresses. The actor believes viewers can feel the work that went into carefully constructing those moments, particularly through the preparation shared by the cast and director.
The Scandal Gives Ji Chang Wook Another Challenging Role
The Scandal adds another genre to Ji Chang Wook’s career, following his work across romance, action, noir and other dramatic projects. The actor has said that acting becomes more difficult to define as his experience grows because a performance depends on collaboration with the entire filmmaking team. He pointed to the importance of direction, cinematography, lighting, costumes, makeup and the surrounding environment in shaping a character.
For Ji Chang Wook, acting is therefore not an isolated process, but one that depends on knowing how to use the contributions of everyone involved. The Scandal, starring Ji Chang Wook, Son Ye Jin and Nana, premiered globally on Netflix on September 18, 2026, as an 8-episode limited series.
Final Take
Ji Chang Wook’s approach to Cho Won centres on restraint and mystery rather than simply emphasising the character’s playboy image. His collaboration with Jung Ji Woo and Son Ye Jin has helped shape a performance built around subtle behaviour, tension and emotions that remain hidden beneath the surface.
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