At Netflix’s “Next on Netflix 2026 Korea” showcase held Jan. 21 at the Conrad Seoul, the star shared that "The Scandal" marks her first return to a period drama since her debut in Im Kwon-taek’s "Painted Fire." “Hanbok looks stunning the moment you put it on,” she said with a laugh, “but you can barely move. I kept wondering how aristocrats lived in this every day.”
“The hair and accessories are heavy, and the hardest part was the gestures,” she continued. “You can’t cross your arms or lean on one hip, so every movement has to be upright and restrained. Keeping that posture for months was tough. Maintaining beauty is hard work.”
The event highlighted Netflix’s 2026 slate, with Netflix Korea Content VP Kang Dong-han in attendance alongside series, film and unscripted leads Bae Jong-byeong, Kim Tae-won and Yoo Ki-hwan. Cast members joined a panel as well: Jeon Do-yeon (Possible Love), Nam Joo-hyuk (The East Palace), Son Ye-jin (The Scandal), Park Eun-bin (The Wonder Fools) and chef Ahn Sung-jae (Culinary Class Wars).
Set in the Joseon era, "The Scandal" follows Lady Jo (Son) ― a woman whose talents outgrow the confines of her station ― and Jo-won (Ji Chang-wook), the kingdom’s most notorious seducer, as they enter a cheeky, dangerous wager in love. Their game pulls in Hee-yeon (Nana), upending all three lives. The series adapts the 2003 film "Untold Scandal " and is slated to premiere in the third quarter of this year.
While candid about the challenges of filming in hanbok, Son is confident viewers will be swept up by "The Scandal"s visual world. “You’ll see the beauty of Joseon ― its landscapes, hanbok, and hanok architecture,” she said. “Instead of going for flashy spectacle, we aimed for authenticity and an aesthetic that breathes: restrained colors, negative space, and the spatial elegance of hanok. I’m excited for global audiences to discover this side of Korea’s past.”
[Photo= Netflix]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)