[Photos] Son Ye-jin commands 'Scandal' on return after 21 years: "I'm old enough to express forbidden desire" — From the production presentation

A 1782 classic perfectly transplanted to the Joseon era, this polished historical drama comes to life through director Jung Ji-woo's direction and an acclaimed cast

Actor Son Ye-jin returns after 21 years with Netflix's new series 'Scandal', promising a bold transformation on screen. Adapted from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' novel 'Dangerous Liaisons' (1782) and relocated to the Joseon era, the series boasts a deeper narrative than the 2003 film 'Untold Scandal,' which starred Jeon Do-yeon and Bae Yong-joon.

Reimagining forbidden desire, a story awakened after 21 years

At the production presentation held on the 9th at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Son Ye-jin said, "Unlike the film, the storylines of each character are much more intricate." She added, "I was drawn to the paradoxical appeal of the Joseon era, a setting in which human desire was thoroughly suppressed."

She continued, "I have now gained the experience to fully convey these complex emotions." She stressed, "Because the independent and self-possessed 'Lady Jo' is a character whose expression and inner thoughts are completely separate, I fine-tuned every detail with painstaking craftsmanship."

A dangerously charming ladies' man, Ji Chang-wook crafts a new Jo-won

The series, which premieres on the 18th, follows the dangerous wager in love between Lady Jo, the perfect noblewoman, and 'Jo-won' (played by Ji Chang-wook), Joseon's foremost ladies' man. Their game draws in 'Hee-yeon' (played by Nana), a virtuous widow, and drives the story toward catastrophe.

Ji Chang-wook explained, "Given the powerful impression left by the original film, it was inevitable that the performances of those senior actors would come to mind." He added, "But through constant communication with the director, I focused on building a distinctive 'character' of my own."

A step against fate, Nana's multidimensional transformation

Nana plays Hee-yeon, who loses her husband and lives an isolated life before awakening to her own active desires. "I deeply related to her because her story resonated with my childhood, when I lived cautiously and kept my distance from people," she said. "I hope viewers will enjoy comparing its different 'freshness' with the original."

Director Jung Ji-woo, whose credits include 'Happy End' and 'Eungyo', expressed confidence, saying, "Because we completely reconstructed the characters and their relationships, viewers will experience a clear difference from the existing film."

Maximizing Korean aesthetics, a K-historical drama set to captivate global viewers

Another highlight of the series is its heightened presentation of 'Korean aesthetics,' including hanbok, personal letters, folk paintings and pansori. Pansori frames the story from beginning to end, while the letters and folk paintings visually express the characters' innermost emotions.

Jung said, "I'm delighted to showcase the beauty of 'hanbok' to viewers around the world, and I also want to share the distinctive appeal of pansori with a wider audience."

The actors also praised the power of the meticulously crafted costumes and makeup. Son Ye-jin said, "The moment I put on the costume, I naturally felt myself becoming Lady Jo." She identified as a key point of interest "the way the identity conveyed through her pale green costumes at the beginning gradually shifts into darker tones as the character's 'desire' grows."