Netflix has confirmed The Scandal for September 18, 2026, worldwide. Known internationally as The Scandal, the series brings together Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and NANA in a historical romance about desire, power and a wager that could ruin the reputations of three people in Joseon society.
The official trailer introduces a dangerous contest of seduction, pride and social power. The series revisits the premise of Dangerous Liaisons, the French novel published in 1782, but moves its game of manipulation to a Korean elite bound by strict rules of conduct and appearances.
Below, we break down the story, cast, the adaptation’s origins, its expected episode count and the trailer’s key details—without revealing the endings of earlier versions.
When does The Scandal premiere on Netflix?
The Scandal premieres worldwide on Netflix on September 18, 2026. Netflix officially announced the global release date on August 25, 2026.
Netflix has not announced a region-by-region release time. Because this is a global Netflix release, availability may vary by time zone; viewers should check the service in their country on premiere day.
Its September release places the series at the center of a competitive month for Asian dramas. Its distinction lies in its profile: while many productions lean into contemporary romance or thrillers, The Scandal combines historical drama, sensuality and psychological manipulation with three internationally recognized stars.
What is The Scandal about?
Set in the Joseon era, the story follows Lady Cho, a noblewoman too intelligent to quietly accept the limited role society has assigned to women. Unable to turn her abilities into public power, she learns to maneuver people and desires behind the scenes.
She is the one who proposes a wager to Jo-won, an aristocrat known as Joseon’s greatest seducer. The challenge is to seduce Hui-yeon, a widow who stays away from romantic games and tries to protect her honor. What begins as a display of control takes on a different dimension when feelings stop following the rules created by the pair.
The trailer does not present this connection as an innocent romance. Lady Cho watches from afar, Jo-won approaches his target to win the wager, and Hui-yeon senses the danger even as she feels drawn to him. The central question is not simply who will end up with whom, but who can leave the game without losing their freedom, social standing or identity.
What does the The Scandal trailer reveal?
The full trailer opens with a confidential letter Lady Cho sends to Jo-won. She proposes that he seduce So-ok, a young woman chosen to become a concubine in her household. Jo-won responds with an even riskier challenge: winning over Hui-yeon, a widow known for protecting her honor.
The footage shows Jo-won approaching Hui-yeon while Lady Cho watches the game from a distance. What seemed like a controlled contest begins to slip from their grasp as the widow resists, feelings change and the wager threatens to expose secrets capable of shaking Bukchon’s elite.
The video also reinforces the series’ mature tone. Rather than treating seduction as romance alone, The Scandal places desire, reputation and power in the same contest. Each character enters the game from a different social position—and therefore does not face the same risks.
The connection to Dangerous Liaisons and the 2003 film
The Scandal reimagines Les Liaisons dangereuses, by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. Written as a series of letters, the novel exposes an aristocracy that turns intimacy into a weapon of conflict. Its characters use reputation, desire and trust to control one another, until the game produces consequences none of them can manage.
The story previously received a notable Korean adaptation in 2003. The film Untold Scandal moved the plot to Joseon, with Lee Mi-sook, Bae Yong-joon and Jeon Do-yeon in the leading roles.
The new series does not have to replicate the film scene by scene. According to Netflix, director Jung Ji-woo approaches the classic work from a contemporary perspective.
The serialized format also offers more room to explore why Lady Cho creates the wager, how Jo-won mistakes conquest for affection, and what Hui-yeon risks by entering a relationship defined by deception from the beginning.
Who’s who in The Scandal?
Son Ye-jin plays Lady Cho
Lady Cho possesses intelligence, elegance and strategic ability, but lives in an era that prevents women from formally occupying positions of power. Rather than accepting invisibility, she creates her own sphere of influence and turns other people’s intimacy into a chessboard.
The role marks an interesting change for Son Ye-jin, who is widely associated internationally with the romance Pousando no Amor. Here, the actress’s charisma serves a character who can be seductive and vulnerable, but also calculating. The mystery lies in the true motive behind the wager and what she hopes to gain from Jo-won.
Ji Chang-wook plays Jo-won
Jo-won is introduced as Joseon’s greatest seducer. He shows no interest in public office and does not believe in love as a commitment; he prefers freedom, pleasure and the satisfaction of winning a seemingly impossible conquest.
Lady Cho’s proposal appeals directly to his vanity. To win the promised prize, Jo-won approaches Hui-yeon prepared to play the man she could love. The problem begins when the performance ceases to be a simple strategy and he must find out whether he still controls the game.
NANA plays Hui-yeon
Hui-yeon is the woman selected as the target of the wager. A widow protected by a reputation for modesty, she has far more to lose than the two aristocrats who decide to play with her feelings. Society could punish her for a desire that would be just another adventure for Jo-won.
The character should not be seen merely as a victim or an obstacle between the manipulative pair. NANA must convey the conflict of someone who recognizes the threat, tries to stay away and yet begins to question a life built entirely around what others expect of her.
Materials published in Korea also cite Han Sun-hwa and Chani as supporting cast members. Netflix’s official title page currently highlights Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and NANA as the main cast.
A historical romance for adult audiences
The mature premise centers on seduction, infidelity and the abuse of power. That does not mean the series’ appeal depends solely on provocative scenes. The greatest strength of Dangerous Liaisons has always been watching intelligent characters rationalize cruelty until they discover they too can be hurt.
Joseon makes this conflict even more unequal. Jo-won can cultivate his reputation as a seducer, while Hui-yeon risks her very social existence. Lady Cho has money and prestige, yet remains limited because she is a woman. Desire, then, is never separate from the position each character occupies.
Netflix’s promotional material highlights Bukchon as the center of high society, using red flowers, interior chambers and elaborate costumes to create an image of controlled beauty. Behind it, the characters challenge rules they publicly pretend to respect.
How many episodes will The Scandal have?
Korean and international coverage indicates that The Scandal will have eight episodes. Netflix’s title page does not yet officially list the episode count, so the number should be treated as advance information until the catalog is updated.
The eight-episode format would give the adaptation more time than the 2003 film to develop the trio without dragging out the game. It would also allow more space to show the wager’s social consequences and build Jo-won and Hui-yeon’s transformations more carefully.
Where to watch The Scandal?
The Scandal will be released exclusively on Netflix worldwide on September 18, 2026. Availability and subtitle or dubbing options may vary by country.
To follow other releases from the period, also see the September 2026 Asian drama calendar. NANA also appears in our selection of K-pop idols starring in dramas this month.