After the first 8 episodes aired, the intimate scenes between Hee Yeon and Jo Won sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms. According to Ettoday, Nana and Ji Chang Wook performed the boldest nude scenes of their careers, with thousands of viewers expressing shock that both actors accepted such roles. Some opinions suggested the film used numerous intimate scenes to grab attention, while others argued these segments were fitting for the plot's progression and the characters' emotions.
Speaking to MK, actress Nana stated she participated in the project due to her admiration and respect for director Jung Ji Woo's talent, expressing her trust in him. "I was very curious how the director would adapt the original work. Deep within her personality, Hee Yeon shares similarities with me, and those are aspects I have never expressed on screen", Nana revealed.
Set in the Joseon dynasty, widow Hee Yeon (played by Nana) inadvertently becomes entangled in a wager between Lady Cho (Son Ye Jin) and Jo Won (Ji Chang Wook). Driven by romantic and power objectives, Lady Cho challenges Jo Won to seduce the widow, who is believed to have an unyielding heart. The line between the wager and genuine affection blurs as the playboy truly falls for Hee Yeon, while Lady Cho wishes him to end the game, having also developed feelings.
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Nana and Ji Chang Wook in "The Scandal". Photo: Netflix |
"The Scandal" is based on the classic novel "Dangerous Liaisons" by French writer Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, and also draws inspiration from the Korean film "Untold Scandal" (2003). Director Jung Ji Woo explained that the story's core focuses on the question "Who am I?", by gradually resolving the conflict between individual desires and societal barriers of the era. The film portrays suppressed desires and the complexity of human psyche.
Nana, whose real name is Im Jin Ah, is 35 years old and debuted in the Korean entertainment industry as a singer with the group After School. From 2013 to the present, she has consistently been listed in the top 100 most beautiful faces in the world by TC Candler, an American film, art, and beauty critique site, topping the list for two years (2014 and 2015).
Beyond singing, Nana works as a model, MC, and has appeared in reality television shows. In film, she has starred in "The Good Wife", "Into the Ring", "Error of Memory", "Kill It", "Justice", "Mask Girl", and "My man is Cupid".
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Son Ye Jin (right) and Nana. Photo: Netflix |
Male lead Ji Chang Wook is known for works such as "Healer", "The K2", "Fabricated City", and "Empress Ki". In "The Scandal", Son Ye Jin showcases a transformation in her acting style. She portrays a calculating woman, a departure from her bright images in "Summer Scent", "Crash Landing on You", and "Something in the Rain".
Nhu Anh
