The Scandal premiered on Netflix on September 18, 2026. The series is loosely based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons). It stars Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook, and Nana (Im Jin Ah). The eight-episode drama follows three people caught in a messy game of desire, betrayal, and revenge. So, if you’re looking to give the A-rated drama a chance this weekend, here’s what you need to know.
What is Netflix’s K-drama The Scandal about?
Set in the Joseon era, The Scandal follows ‘Lady Cho’, a sharp and ambitious noblewoman frustrated by the limited freedom women have. So, looking for control and excitement, she reaches out to her cousin ‘Cho Won’, who has been in love with her for years, and proposes a wager. ‘Lady Cho’ promises to accept his advances if he can win over ‘Hui Yeon’, a young widow known for her virtue.
However, there is a slight problem: ‘Yeon’ decided to remain chaste after her husband’s death before their marriage could be consummated, making her an unlikely target for ‘Cho Won’s’ usual charms. Nonetheless, another problem occurs when ‘Won’ finds himself genuinely falling for her. Soon, the three are caught in a dangerous web of love, jealousy, and manipulation, with the wager threatening to destroy them all.
Frustrated by the thought of losing control again, ‘Lady Cho’ makes a dangerous move. She plans to tell everyone that ‘Hui Yeon’ died while saving others during a storm at Hawseong. The news would help ‘Yeon’s’ family receive a prestigious Memorial Gate of Chastity. However, for the story to hold up, everyone must believe that ‘Yeon’ is dead. Meanwhile, ‘Cho Won’ learns of the plan and warns ‘Yeon’.
Nonetheless, when ‘Hui Yeon’ asks him to leave with her, ‘Cho Won’ comes clean about his wager with ‘Lady Cho’, leaving ‘Yeon’ devastated. While she is suddenly left questioning everything she thought she knew, she decides to fight the lie ‘Lady Cho’ has planned to sell. Meanwhile, ‘Won’ decides to confront ‘Lady Cho’ and realizes that she never intended to give up her wealth, position, or privileged life for him.
‘Cho Won’ is then made to present the false memorial for ‘Hui Yeon’ to the ‘King’. However, the latter ends up checking the weather records, which unravels the truth, as there hadn’t been any storm in Hwaseong on the day ‘Yeon’ allegedly died. The deception puts him at risk, but due to his relations with the ‘King’, his life is spared, and he is banished from the kingdom.
Before his departure, ‘Cho Won’ frees his servants and boards a ferry to Yanjing. However, seeing his state, the boatman offers to turn the ferry around for just half the fare. ‘Won’ doesn’t answer and instead leaps into the river, disappearing into the darkness and leaving his fate unknown.
The Scandal ending explained
The Scandal never explores what happened to ‘Cho Won’. Meanwhile, ‘Lady Cho’, who has fought so hard to hold onto her status, realizes that to keep her place in society and her wealth, she has lost the one person who knew her and stood by her for years. It is later revealed during ‘Lady Cho’s’ visit to ‘Won’s’ old home that he is still receiving letters. However, the show never reveals who sent the letters.
All we know for now is that if ‘Won’ is alive, he has chosen a life away from ‘Lady Cho’, and if not, she will never know what truly happened to him or whether her own actions played a part in his final decision. In the end, she is left facing her fear of losing control, something she fought the entire time to keep. Meanwhile, ‘Hui Yeon’ decides to walk away from her life and join a Christian community. Unlike ‘Lady Cho’ and ‘Cho Won’, she does not remain caught in the same cycle of manipulation.
The Scandal doesn’t offer a clear-cut ending to any of its characters. Instead, it forces them to deal with the price of their choices. While there is no announcement related to Season 2, the ambiguity definitely leaves the door open for more to come.
What are your thoughts on The Scandal? Let us know.
PC: Netflix
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