Son Ye Jin is opening up about her decision to star in The Scandal, Netflix’s new Korean historical drama inspired by the 2003 film Untold Scandal. The actress plays Lady Cho, a talented and independent woman navigating the restrictions of Joseon-era society while confronting desires that challenge the expectations placed on her.
At the series’s production presentation in Seoul on September 9, Son explained that the character immediately caught her attention. She also shared why she felt this was the right time in her life and career to portray a woman whose emotions and ambitions extend beyond the boundaries imposed by her circumstances.
Son Ye Jin Explains Why She Chose The Scandal
Son Ye Jin revealed that she was drawn to Lady Cho while reading the script. The actress said she felt she had reached an age when she could express the character’s feelings convincingly, particularly her complicated relationship with desire and personal freedom. The themes of the series also influenced her decision. The story explores human desire in a historical setting where expressing such feelings could be considered taboo, creating a conflict between individual longing and society’s expectations.
Another important factor was the opportunity to work with director Jung Ji Woo, whose project offered Son a chance to return to historical drama after a long break. She was also curious about how the familiar story would develop in a longer television format. Rather than simply revisiting an established narrative, the actress approached the role as an opportunity to explore a layered character whose motivations gradually become more complicated.
Who Is Lady Cho In The Netflix Series?
In The Scandal, Son portrays Lady Cho, a woman of considerable intelligence and ability who lives within the restrictive social structure of the Joseon Dynasty. Although she appears to lead an elegant life, her circumstances leave her with ambitions and desires that she cannot freely pursue. Lady Cho becomes involved in a dangerous game with Cho Won, played by Ji Chang Wook. The pair attempt to draw Hui-yeon, a virtuous widow portrayed by Nana, into their scheme, setting off a chain of events that affects all three characters.
The relationships are central to the drama, which examines attraction, manipulation and the consequences of pursuing forbidden desires. As the story progresses, Lady Cho becomes increasingly complex, and her perspective on Hui-yeon takes unexpected turns. For Son, developing these different emotional layers was an important part of preparing for the role. She described the process of building the character carefully as an engaging challenge.
Also read: Jang Gyuri Shares Her Approach To 'Four Hands, Two Sonatas'
How The Scandal Differs From Untold Scandal
The new series reimagines Untold Scandal, the 2003 Korean film featuring Lee Mi-suk, Bae Yong-jun and Jeon Do-yeon. The original movie was inspired by the French novel Dangerous Liaisons, which has also influenced several adaptations across different countries. However, director Jung Ji Woo has stressed that the Netflix adaptation is not simply a longer version of the earlier film. The series returns to the source novel while reworking the characters and their relationships for an eight-episode format.
This extended storytelling gives the creative team more room to develop motivations, emotional conflicts and shifting loyalties. Son noted that the characters’ journeys unfold differently in a series compared with a film that has only around two hours to tell its story. The production also uses traditional Korean artistic influences, including elements inspired by pansori, a form of musical storytelling. Costumes play an important role, too, with the characters’ hanbok colours reflecting their changing emotions and personalities.
When To Watch Son Ye Jin’s The Scandal
The Scandal premiered on Netflix on September 18, 2026. The eight-part series stars Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook and Nana, bringing together a central trio whose relationships drive the historical drama. For Son, the project marks a notable return to period storytelling and gives her the chance to explore a character shaped by conflicting desires, social restrictions and difficult choices.
Her comments also highlight the series’s central theme: the tension between what people want and what society allows them to express. By placing that conflict in the Joseon era, the drama explores how ambition and personal longing can become dangerous when they challenge established rules.
Final Take
Son Ye Jin’s decision to star in The Scandal was driven by her connection to Lady Cho, the opportunity to work with director Jung Ji Woo and the series’ exploration of human desire. The actress believes she is at a stage in life when she can portray the character’s complicated emotions with greater understanding. With its reimagined story, layered relationships and historical setting, the Netflix drama offers a fresh interpretation of a familiar tale.
Also read: BTS RM Clarifies Hotel Message, Faces Chris Brown Backlash