Director Jeong Ji-woo gave a short, concise answer about the level of explicitness in "Scandal."
On the morning of the 9th, at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a production presentation was held for Netflix's new series "Scandal." Director Jeong Ji-woo attended the presentation along with Son Ye-jin, Ji Changwook and Nana to discuss the series.
"Scandal" tells the story of a daring and dangerous love wager between Lady Jo (Son Ye-jin), a woman whose talents are too great to be confined to living only as a woman in the Joseon era, and Jo Won (Ji Changwook), Joseon's greatest flirt, and the woman Hee-yeon (Nana) who becomes entangled in that wager.
This work is based on the French novel "Les Liaisons dangereuses" and is a remake of the 2003 film "Scandal: Joseon Men and Women Like Heat". At the time, due to its high level of explicitness and intense story, it ranked fourth in audience numbers among Korean films in 2003, first among films rated for adults only, and first among historical films.
When asked whether being a remake put pressure on the actors, he said, I also watched the film back then and couldn't watch it again afterward. Because it's a film, certain images remain as afterimages. Because we unfold it as episodes, the characters' narratives are much more developed. In a way, it can become a medium that makes actors more ambitious, he said.
He added, That was already 2003, so younger people might not know it or may not have seen it, so they might view it anew. As the narrative accumulates, the characters are not one-dimensional, and a more detailed trigger for starting the wager has been added. And as the wager begins, the psychological warfare between Lady Jo and Jo Won and the way they look at Hee-yeon become more ambiguous. In that respect, I think it will arouse curiosity, raising expectations.
Ji Changwook said he looked for various works based on "Les Liaisons dangereuses" and said, The 2003 "Scandal" was a work that left an impression on me. I couldn't help but recall the performances of the seniors. But it was so different that it didn't greatly help me portray Jo Won, and I couldn't imitate it. I talked a lot with the director and tried to create my own Jo Won, he explained.
Regarding the difference from Bae Yong-joon, who played Jo Won in 2003, Ji Changwook confessed, I have aspects of a fashionista... Since ours is a series, more is shown about why and how the character Jo Won lived and where he is going. So expressing slightly more complex and subtle emotions might be a different aspect of our series.
Nana, who plays the young widow Hee-yeon, said, I believe actors should naturally feel pressure. So I always take on a sense of pressure when working, using it as a driving force to give myself confidence. Fans who liked the original can fully enjoy and compare the differences and the freshness we bring. It's that fun, she said.
Because the film "Scandal: Joseon Men and Women Like Heat" drew attention for its high level of explicitness, viewers remain curious about explicit content in this series as well. In particular, the Netflix series "Scandal" carries the same adult-only rating as the original. Regarding this, Director Jeong Ji-woo gave a short, concise answer: Yes, you can look forward to it.
Meanwhile, Netflix's "Scandal" will be released on Sept. 18.
[Photo] Reporter Choi Gyu-han
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