Actor Son Ye-jin, who returned to the screen in "The Scandal", shared her candid thoughts on the varied audience reactions and portraying the deeply complex character Lady Cho.
During a roundtable interview for the Netflix original series "The Scandal" held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul on September 29, Son Ye-jin met with reporters, offering sincere and thoughtful answers throughout. In particular, when asked about the mixed reactions among viewers following the show's release, she shared a calm and honest perspective.
"From the beginning, even though it was a provocative storyline across eight episodes, I didn't think the characters would be universally relatable to the general public," Son Ye-jin explained. "When playing Lady Cho, I didn't see her as a character people could fully empathize with, nor were any of the characters one-dimensional. Because it explores the intricate complexities of human nature, I anticipated that opinions would be divided."
She continued, "In an era where people are accustomed to fast-paced, stimulating content with rapid editing, our series has a slower tempo and features elements like pansori, which might feel unfamiliar. I decided to participate because I believed that distinct quality offered fresh intrigue. Having worked in this industry for decades, finding a project that receives universal acclaim requires every single piece to fall into place, which is never easy. Naturally, I respect each person's opinion. I hope people enjoy the series from their own perspectives, and I humbly accept whatever conversations follow."
"The Scandal" depicts the audacious and dangerous wager of love between Lady Cho (played by Son Ye-jin)—a woman far too exceptionally talented to remain confined by the societal expectations placed on women in the Joseon Dynasty—and Joseon's greatest seducer, Cho-won (played by Ji Changwook), alongside Hee-yeon (played by Nana), a woman entangled in their bet. Based on French author Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's classic novel "Dangerous Liaisons", the story is a masterpiece that has been adapted multiple times, including films such as "Valmont", "Cruel Intentions", and the 2003 film "Untold Scandal" starring Bae Yong-joon, Jeon Do-yeon, and Lee Mi-sook. Returning to historical drama after 24 years, Son Ye-jin took on the role of Lady Cho, who defies Confucian taboos of the Joseon era to propose a wager of seduction, delivering a daring transformation.
Son Ye-jin also opened up about her deep contemplation regarding the ending and her character, Lady Cho. Reflecting on the finale where she is left all alone, Son Ye-jin recalled, "For someone who always maintained a neat facade and cared so much about appearances before others, it felt as though the true Lady Cho was finally revealed. A character who never spoke the truth finally seemed to express what was real through her letter."
Even so, she openly admitted aspects of Lady Cho that were difficult to fully grasp. "The pattern where, after reuniting with Cho-won after a long time, she conceals her feelings, pretends everything is fine while talking about other things, and then suddenly proposes a bet was not entirely easy to understand," Son Ye-jin said. "However, in life, isn't there sometimes a moment when something slips out unintentionally because of what the other person says? I think that misstep is where Lady Cho and Cho-won diverged. If they had been honest with each other, they would have had a different conversation, but the subtle variations that arose from hiding their true feelings are where this story begins."
She added, "Given the many restrictions placed on women during the Joseon Dynasty, I think she suppressed her desires when an exceptional individual couldn't realize her potential. Rather than being honest, she appears full of ulterior motives. Because she is such a layered character, I constantly found myself wondering what kind of emptiness drove her to make such choices, asking myself with every script release, 'What is she feeling that leads her to act like this?'"
All eight episodes of the Netflix series "The Scandal" were released on September 18.
[Photo=Netflix]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)
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