Directed by Jung Ji-woo and written by Lee Seung-young alongside Ahn Hye-song, the high-stakes South Korean historical romance drama series The Scandal made its global streaming debut on Netflix on September 18, 2026. Produced by Movierocks and Cine Forest, the eight-episode series serves as a television adaptation inspired by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses and the 2003 Korean feature film Untold Scandal. The series launched to immediate global popularity, quickly capturing top streaming chart spots across international markets for its mature themes, lavish Joseon-era production design, and intense romantic intrigue. WHERE TO WATCH & STREAMING AVAILABILITY The Scandal streams globally exclusively on Netflix, available in 4K Ultra HD resolution with High Dynamic Range and spatial surround audio options. Digital video-on-demand storefronts including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV offer season pass options for digital purchase in select international territories. Physical home media releases, including complete season Blu-ray and DVD box sets featuring behind-the-scenes featurettes and cast interviews, are slated for release via home entertainment partners. INTRIGUING FACTS & TRIVIA The series marks superstar actress Son Ye-jin's highly anticipated streaming series debut, playing the complex, manipulative noblewoman Lady Cho. Actor Ji Chang-wook plays the libertine aristocrat Cho Won, marking a conscious career shift into a mature, morally complex character involving intense emotional performance and explicit romantic scenes. The production team introduced an original mystery supporting character named Bun-hui, played by Han Sun-hwa, which was newly created specifically for this Netflix adaptation and did not appear in the original novel or the 2003 film. BACKSTORY & THEMATIC ANALYSIS The narrative takes place during the rigid Joseon dynasty, focusing on Lady Cho (Son Ye-jin), a brilliant noblewoman who feels deeply trapped by the oppressive social and gender constraints imposed on women of her era. Seeking power and psychological control, she enters into a dangerous arrangement with her cousin and former lover, Cho Won (Ji Chang-wook), a infamous libertine scholar. Lady Cho proposes a wager: if Cho Won can successfully break the vows of Ahn Hui-yeon (Nana), a pious young widow known throughout the region for her unwavering virtue and chastity, Lady Cho will finally submit to his romantic advances. What begins as a cold, calculated game of seduction rapidly spirals out of control when Cho Won finds himself genuinely falling in love with the innocent Hui-yeon. As genuine passion replaces artificial manipulation, Lady Cho becomes consumed by jealousy and attempts to reclaim authority over her game. Her increasingly destructive schemes lead to heart-wrenching betrayals, exposing the devastating personal price each character must pay for playing with human emotions in a society where genuine freedom is forbidden. Thematically, The Scandal explores power dynamics, female agency within patriarchal systems, emotional manipulation, and the illusion of control. By contrasting the strict moral hypocrisy of Confucian social structures against the hidden desires of its leads, the story illustrates how individuals operating under extreme social repression often turn to toxic manipulation to claim a sense of personal freedom. BEHIND-THE-SCENES INSIGHTS Director Jung Ji-woo collaborated with cinematographers and set designers to craft a visually stunning aesthetic, utilizing vibrant Hanbok wardrobe palettes and authentic historical architecture to contrast external social elegance with internal moral decay. Music director Lee Ji-yeon created an evocative score blending traditional Korean instruments like the gayageum with classical Western string arrangements to heighten the psychological tension between the three lead characters. Through its brilliant ensemble performances, sharp social commentary, and tragic romantic stakes, The Scandal stands as a masterclass adaptation in modern Korean television.