The Return of a Legendary Tale in South Korea
Netflix Scandal K-drama is set to captivate global audiences as a highly anticipated series hitting screens on September 18, 2026. During the production presentation held on September 9 at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Seoul, South Korea, director Jung Ji-woo alongside top stars Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook, and Nana shared thrilling details about the upcoming project. Based on the 18th-century French epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses and the iconic 2003 film Untold Scandalβwhich dominated South Korea’s box office as the top-grossing R-rated historical film of its yearβthe new 2026 series promises deeper character narratives and intense psychological warfare.
Star-Studded Cast and Bold Transformations
The series explores the dangerous love game orchestrated by the brilliant Lady Cho (Son Ye-jin) and Joseon’s ultimate romantic libertine Cho-won (Ji Chang-wook), with the chaste widow Hui-yeon (Nana) unexpectedly drawn into their web. Director Jung Ji-woo praised the phenomenal cast, highlighting Son Ye-jin’s superhero-like ability to anchor the entire drama with emotional depth. For Son Ye-jin, taking on Lady Cho marked a chance to explore human desires in a historical setting. Meanwhile, Ji Chang-wook brings a complex mix of charm, humor, and underlying vengeance to Cho-won, and Nana makes a powerful historical drama debut as Hui-yeon, a woman striving to reclaim her autonomy.
High Anticipation and Uncompromising Ratings
Maintaining the intense tone of its cinematic predecessor, the Netflix adaptation will officially carry a TV-MA (restricted) rating, prompting director Jung Ji-woo to assure fans that the mature themes will meet expectations. As the 2003 film’s cultural footprint fades into nostalgia for younger viewers, this modern 2026 episodic reinterpretation aims to redefine historical romance through detailed character arcs and electric chemistry between its lead actors.
