Season 1
8 episodes Sep 18, 2026
The Scandal
“Desire what is forbidden.”
2026
Returning Series • 1 Season • 8 Episodes
Director: Jung Ji-woo
Overview
In Joseon, a secret proposal ignites hidden desires in a gifted noblewoman, a famed lover and an unsuspecting lady caught in their dangerous game.
Seasons
1 listed- Status
- Returning Series
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- Sep 18, 2026
- Network
- Netflix
Next episode: S1 E1 Episode 1 (Sep 18, 2026)
Cast
8 people
Reviews
2 min readThe courtly architecture of the Joseon Dynasty has long served as a stage for rigid propriety, but director Jung Ji-woo understands that beneath heavy silk robes lies a crucible of suppressed appetites. In The Scandal, Jung adapts Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s epistolary classic Les Liaisons dangereuses—itself previously transposed to this historical milieu in the 2003 feature film Untold Scandal, into an eight-episode exploration of emotional sabotage and high-stakes seduction. The series lives fully up to its brooding tagline, "Desire what is forbidden," operating as a slow-burning chamber piece where social etiquette functions as both a weapon and an exquisite trap.
At the center of this clandestine friction stands Son Ye-jin, whose gifted noblewoman commands the narrative through calculating composure. Her character initiates the central gambit: a secret proposal extended to a celebrated lothario, played with rakish insolence by Ji Chang-wook. The objective is the methodical ruin of an unsuspecting, virtuous lady (Nana), whose innocence offends their cynical sensibilities.
Across eight carefully paced episodes, Jung constructs an intricate psychological game in which sexual conquest is merely the currency of vanity and pride.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsJoseon Intrigue: Netflix Previews Dangerous Games in The Scandal
Netflix is prepping a lavish return to historical intrigue with The Scandal, positioning the period piece as one of its high-profile Korean releases for 2026 
, . Directed and co-created by Jung Ji-woo alongside Kim Jae-joong, the series pairs Son Ye-jin with Ji Chang-wook and Nana . Set against the strict social codes of the Joseon era, latestnetflix.com's read is that the title seeks to bridge classical literary storytelling with high-stakes romantic tension , .
High-Stakes Seduction in Joseon
Adapted from literary source material, the series centers on an illicit and perilous romantic gamble , . The narrative follows three pivotal figures caught in an escalating game:
- Lady Cho, depicted as a woman who refuses to remain confined to the traditional domestic women's quarters .
- Jo-won, notorious as the premier playboy across Joseon .
- Hui-yeon, an unsuspecting noble lady drawn directly into the crosshairs of their seduction wager .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjnhSGNeHig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd-6yGFkrmA
Online chatter and promotional video previews have highlighted the drama's mature framing, circulating expectations of an 18+ historical romance centered on steamy scenes between leads Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook , .
The Cultural Focus Behind the Scenes
While online commentary centers heavily on mature romance , , director Jung Ji-woo emphasized a distinct artistic angle during a press event held with Son Ye-jin . Rather than focusing solely on romantic friction or palace scandals, the director urged prospective viewers to observe the production's traditional acoustic and dramatic texture .
Speaking about the craft behind the historical series, Jung highlighted the role of traditional vocal narrative art, stating, "I hope viewers will pay close attention to pansori. I want to introduce how beautiful and fascinating pansori is, and I encourage you to notice how it functions as you watch 〈The Scandal〉." .
Measured Details Ahead of Release
Despite the high profile of the creative leads, specific release materials remain limited in available platform listings :
- Release schedules and episode counts have not yet been fully detailed beyond its 2026 project window .
- The broader adaptation choices from the underlying book source remain under wraps .
- Beyond the central triangle formed by Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook, and Nana, character alignments for the wider ensemble remain largely unrevealed in early project summaries , .
What is established is the creative premise: an intricate collision of aristocratic pride, calculated seduction, and traditional musical elements designed for a global streaming stage , , .
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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