'Seduce my husband's concubine': Why 'The Scandal' brings 'Dangerous Liaisons' back to Netflix

During King Jeongjo’s reign, Lady Cho (Son Ye-jin), who lives in Hanyang's Bukchon district and is married to the minister of rites, asks her younger cousin and former lover Cho Won (Ji Chang-wook) to seduce her husband's young concubine, So-ok. Cho Won, Joseon's notorious libertine, rejects the request as too easy. He instead targets Hui-yeon (Nana), a young widow and the eldest daughter-in-law of the left state councilor. A reckless bet begins between two manipulators who believe they can control and exploit love. Netflix released "The Scandal" on Sept. 18. The series reimagines French author Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 novel "Dangerous Liaisons." The original work has inspired dozens of international adaptations, including director Stephen Frears’ 1988 film. This production marks the fourth Korean screen adaptation, following the 2003 film "Untold Scandal," the 2012 film "Dangerous Liaisons" and the 2018 television drama "Tempted." Director Jung Ji-woo praised the 18th-century novel for possessing classic elegance while remaining strikingly modern during an interview late