Son Ye Jin’s 19+ Netflix Drama The Scandal Faces Backlash: “There’s Nothing but Steamy Scenes”
Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook and NANA’s Netflix drama The Scandal tops charts but faces criticism over its slow pacing, characters and steamy scenes.
Despite bringing together Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook, and NANA, backed by Netflix and released globally with a famous romance story at its core, The Scandal was once considered one of the most anticipated Korean dramas of September. However, after its official release, the 19+ series has failed to generate the explosive response many expected. Although it climbed to No. 1 on Netflix in South Korea, the drama has received a significant amount of criticism, with some viewers claiming there is “nothing but steamy scenes.”
Even before its release, The Scandal had plenty of reasons for viewers to set their expectations high. It marked a notable return to the small screen for Son Ye Jin, alongside Ji Chang Wook and NANA, three stars with substantial fan bases. Netflix also promoted the series as a provocative romance set during the Joseon era, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jung Ji Woo.
Most notably, The Scandal is not based on an entirely new story. The series draws inspiration from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons). The story was previously adapted in South Korea as the 2003 film Untold Scandal, starring Bae Yong Joon, Lee Mi Sook, and Jeon Do Yeon. The 2003 film attracted considerable attention and became one of the more memorable period romances in Korean cinema.
As a result, Netflix’s decision to revisit the story more than two decades later with an entirely new star-studded cast featuring Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook, and NANA naturally raised expectations. Once The Scandal premiered, however, reactions quickly became divided. The series rapidly reached No. 1 on Netflix Korea. Yet considering the popularity of its cast and the anticipation surrounding the project, its impact across many international markets has not felt as explosive as some expected. More importantly, much of the discussion has focused not on its rankings but on its quality. One of the most common criticisms concerns the drama’s slow pacing. Some viewers argue that while the original story contains all the ingredients for an intense battle of romance and manipulation, Netflix’s adaptation spends too much time on developments that leave audiences impatient. Some viewers even claimed they had to repeatedly fast-forward to make it through all eight episodes.
Characterization has also become a point of criticism. Son Ye Jin plays Lady Cho, an intelligent and calculating noblewoman who initiates a dangerous romantic wager. Netflix describes her as a woman unwilling to be confined by the restrictions imposed on women during the Joseon era. However, some viewers feel Son Ye Jin has not fully conveyed the manipulative and dangerous qualities they expected from Lady Cho. They argue that the actress retains too much of her familiar gentle image, at times making it difficult to see the character as someone deliberately playing games with other people’s lives.
NANA has also become the subject of debate. Some viewers believe her appearance feels too modern for the role of a Joseon-era widow who has maintained her chastity for years. Her facial features, overall aura, and even manner of speaking have been criticized by some as not feeling sufficiently suited to a historical setting. Meanwhile, reactions to Ji Chang Wook have been more difficult to separate between issues with the performance and issues with the script itself. His character, Cho Won, is introduced as Joseon’s most notorious womanizer, yet some viewers feel he lacks the aura of an experienced seducer
who treats romance as a game. Even by the end of the series, the character reportedly left some viewers feeling that his arc remained incomplete.
Disappointed reactions have been appearing frequently across social media.
“The pacing is incredibly slow and frustrating to watch. I don’t know what Son Ye Jin is doing with the role. The character isn’t coming through clearly enough for viewers to understand the story.”
“Individually, every member of the cast is great, but put them together with this script and it feels like a complete mess.”
“I’m a Son Ye Jin fan, but I was already exhausted by Episode 4 because it was so slow. Ji Chang Wook is supposed to be playing a womanizer, but I don’t really see it. Sometimes he comes across as more creepy than seductive. NANA just doesn’t seem suited to a historical drama. Both her appearance and accent feel too modern.”
“I love the visuals of all three leads, but NANA really does look too modern for the setting.”
“It was honestly boring. I kept having to fast-forward. The script feels so weak. The production must have had a huge budget to bring in such a star-studded cast, but even they couldn’t save it.”
“I kept watching because I like NANA and Son Ye Jin, but the pacing is unbelievably slow. Eight episodes should take around eight hours, but I finished them in about three because I skipped through so much.”
“Maybe expectations were too high because the previous adaptation was so successful. Son Ye Jin’s Lady Cho barely gives off the scheming, cunning aura the character needs. She still looks too gentle.”
“I watched all the way through Episode 8 and still don’t know what was supposed to be so dramatic. What exactly was the scandal? Or was the scandal simply all those explicit scenes?”
“Other than adding steamy scenes, I don’t see what the drama really has to offer. Even the acting feels disappointing despite having A-list and S-tier stars. The intimate scenes didn’t need to be that explicit either.”
Of course, The Scandal is not without its strengths. The series features polished cinematography, sophisticated color grading, carefully designed sets and costumes, while all three leading stars deliver striking visuals. Its intimate scenes have also been one of the factors driving discussion since the drama’s release. However, with proven source material, a respected director, and three major stars leading the cast, viewers clearly expected more from The Scandal than provocative scenes alone. Perhaps it is precisely
because expectations were so high that the lack of dramatic tension and sharply defined characters has resulted in particularly harsh criticism.
Sources: k14
