Netflix’s ‘The Scandal’ Release Date, Plot, Cast, Trailer and Details on Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook

Netflix is set to explore the depths of desire when reputation, power, and forbidden longing intersect in Joseon-era Korea. The streaming giant has announced a global premiere date of September 18 for ‘The Scandal,’ a series that promises a thrilling and dangerous love game set in this historical backdrop.

With a star-studded cast and an enticing premise, fans of Korean period romance have plenty to look forward to. The series is filled with drama, romance, and scandal, and will consist of eight episodes.

Netflix confirmed the premiere date on Monday, August 4, aligning the debut of this period drama with the Chuseok holiday, which falls on September 25 this year.

An official teaser trailer has already been released, offering viewers a glimpse into the world of ‘The Scandal.’ The teaser suggests escalating tensions as Cho Won pursues Hui-yeon while Lady Cho observes from the shadows.

With everything on the line, the wager threatens to have dire consequences for all three characters involved. This slow-burn tension is exactly what has generated excitement among K-drama fans eager for a new binge-worthy series.

It remains unclear whether all eight episodes will be released simultaneously on September 18 or if Netflix will choose a weekly rollout. Regardless, the wait is nearly over for viewers who have been anticipating this series since its announcement.

At the heart of the story are Lady Cho, a woman too remarkable to be confined to the women’s quarters, Cho Won, the most notorious playboy in Joseon, and Hui-yeon, a lady caught up in their wager. Lady Cho is portrayed as a sharp-witted and complex character who appears to be a devoted wife while secretly rebelling against societal constraints.

Directed by Jung Ji-woo, ‘The Scandal’ reinterprets Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s classic 1782 novel Dangerous Liaisons, infusing a modern sensibility into a period drama where characters defy social norms to chase their deepest desires. The newly released teaser provides a sneak peek into the wager that threatens to disrupt Bukchon, the core of Joseon’s high society.

The series does not need to replicate previous adaptations scene by scene, as Jung Ji-woo approaches the classic narrative from a contemporary angle. The serialized format allows for a deeper exploration of why Lady Cho initiates the wager, how Jo-won confuses conquest with affection, and what Hui-yeon risks by engaging in a relationship founded on deception.

Longtime fans of Korean cinema will recognize the familiar themes here. The series is a television adaptation of the 2003 film ‘Untold Scandal,’ suggesting that the plot will likely follow a similar trajectory of forbidden love and irresistible seduction in an era where such passions were frowned upon.

‘The Scandal’ reimagines ‘Les Liaisons dangereuses,’ the 1782 French novel presented as a series of letters that reveals an aristocracy weaponizing intimacy for conflict. Its characters manipulate reputation, desire, and trust to control one another, leading to consequences none can foresee.

The novel previously inspired a notable Korean adaptation in 2003, when ‘Untold Scandal’ relocated the story to Joseon, featuring Lee Mi-sook, Bae Yong-joon, and Jeon Do-yeon in leading roles. This layered history sets high expectations for ‘The Scandal,’ while also allowing the new series the freedom to explore themes in ways a two-hour film could not.

The central cast includes Son Ye-jin as Lady Jo, Ji Chang Wook as Cho Won, and Nana as the widow Hui Yeon. Son Ye-jin is well-known to Netflix viewers for her role in ‘Crash Landing on You,’ along with appearances in ‘Something in the Rain’ and the upcoming Netflix K-drama ‘Variety.’

She has also starred in Park Chan-wook’s ‘No Other Choice,’ which received acclaim at the Venice Film Festival. By the time ‘The Scandal’ premieres, it will have been four years since audiences last saw Son Ye-jin in a K-drama series.

Ji Chang Wook was last seen on Netflix in ‘Welcome to Samdal-ri,’ and has also starred in ‘The Sound of Magic,’ ‘Lovestruck in the City,’ and ‘Backstreet Rookie.’ Director Jung Ji Woo, known for ‘Happy End’ and ‘Heart Blackened,’ leads this new period drama.

With a director celebrated for his diverse storytelling and two leads who have captivated audiences before, ‘The Scandal’ is poised to be one of Netflix’s most anticipated Korean dramas this fall. The only question left is which of these three intertwined characters, Lady Cho, Cho Won, or Hui-yeon, will capture your heart as the wager unfolds?