"Scandal" is an eight-episode Netflix original series releasing September 18, 2026, that transplants the 1782 French novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" into Joseon-era Korea, following a talented noblewoman who proposes a dangerous romantic wager to the era's most notorious seducer. Combining multiple Korean entertainment outlets, the series is a modern remake of the acclaimed 2003 film "Untold Scandal," reworking a story that's already been adapted many times worldwide into a new, higher-production Korean television format led by Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook, and Nana.
The Story
Set in a rigidly Confucian Joseon society defined by strict social taboos, "Scandal" centers on Madam Jo (Son Ye-jin), a woman whose evident talent exceeds what her era's constraints on women allow her to express. She proposes a secret, dangerous romantic wager to Jo-won (Ji Chang-wook), described as Joseon's greatest seducer — a bet whose true purpose stays partly hidden even from the audience. The wager's target is Hee-yeon (Nana), a woman drawn into the plot's tangle of desire and consequence. Director Jeong Ji-woo has said the production deliberately avoided a straightforward melodrama structure, instead building the story around characters wrestling with a more modern sense of individual identity within Joseon's rigid social order.
Source Material and Legacy
The series is a direct remake of "Untold Scandal," the 2003 Korean film directed by Lee Jae-yong that first relocated the 1782 novel's French aristocratic setting to Joseon-era Korean nobility. That film starred Bae Yong-joon, Lee Mi-sook, and Jeon Do-yeon, and despite carrying an adults-only rating, drew more than 3.5 million theatrical admissions — a substantial box office run for its category at the time, and one widely credited with expanding what Korean period melodrama could depict on screen. The new series arrives 23 years later, expanding the story's compressed film runtime into eight full episodes and giving its central triangle considerably more room to develop.
Cast
Son Ye-jin returns to period drama for the first time in 24 years to play Madam Jo, a role that marks a significant genre shift for an actress more associated in recent years with contemporary romance and thriller work. Ji Chang-wook plays Jo-won, while Nana takes on her first major period drama role as Hee-yeon, the wager's central target. The trio's combined star power has been cited repeatedly in Korean entertainment coverage as a major factor driving pre-release attention for the series.
Scandal at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Platform | Netflix (worldwide simultaneous release) |
| Release Date | September 18, 2026, 5 p.m. KST |
| Episode Count | 8 episodes |
| Director | Jeong Ji-woo |
| Lead Cast | Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook, Nana |
| Source Material | "Untold Scandal" (2003 film); originally "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" (1782 novel) |
Content Note
Given its source material's mature themes and the original film's adults-only rating, "Scandal" is expected to carry a similarly mature content rating, dealing with adult themes of manipulation, desire, and social taboo rather than being aimed at general or younger audiences. Viewers should check Netflix's official age rating for the series before watching.
FAQ
Is "Scandal" based on a real historical event?
No — it's a fictional story adapted from the 1782 French novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," relocated to Joseon-era Korea, following the same premise as the 2003 film "Untold Scandal."
How many episodes does "Scandal" have?
Eight episodes, releasing all at once on September 18, 2026.
Has this story been adapted before?
Yes — beyond numerous international adaptations of the original novel, this story was previously adapted into the 2003 Korean film "Untold Scandal," starring Bae Yong-joon, Lee Mi-sook, and Jeon Do-yeon.
Sources: TV Report, WikiTree, and Netflix's official series page.