In recent days, the drama The Scandal has been the focus of attention for television viewers. From its theme of a love affair to its shocking and daring scenes, the series starring Ji Chang Wook has generated a wave of discussion and controversy since its broadcast.
The Scandal is inspired by the classic French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, published in 1782. The original work has been adapted into films several times, such as Untold Scandal (2003) – starring Lee Mi Sook, Bae Yong Joon, and Jeon Do Yeon; and Dangerous Liaisons (2012) – starring Jang Dong Gun, Zhang Ziyi, and Cecilia Cheung. In 2018, the story was further adapted into the MBC television drama The Great Seducer .
Therefore, Ji Chang Wook inevitably faces comparisons with senior actors like Bae Yong Joon and Jang Dong Gun.
The role left Ji Chang Wook feeling conflicted.
Set in the Joseon era, The Scandal revolves around a daring love bet. Ji Chang Wook plays Cho Won, a notorious womanizer known as "Joseon's number one playboy," who views love as merely a game. Cho Won is challenged by Lady Cho to win over Hee Yeon, a widow trying to maintain her chastity after her husband's death. Things gradually spiral out of control when Cho Won develops genuine feelings for Hee Yeon.
In an interview with Yonhap News on September 22nd, Ji Chang Wook admitted that he was quite hesitant about participating in The Scandal . This story has been adapted many times, including popular versions loved by many viewers. This made the actor feel pressured, but also curious to challenge himself with a difficult role.
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Ji Chang Wook's appearance in the film. Photo: Netflix . |
According to Ji Chang Wook, being compared to those who have played the character before is almost unavoidable. What he cares about is creating a Jo Won with his own unique style, different from previous versions.
“The role itself is very appealing. It wasn't an easy role to choose, but at this age, the fact that I can challenge myself with such a character is something to be appreciated and meaningful. I don't act by having a pre-determined answer to the character's emotions. It's very difficult to express Jo Won's heart in just one sentence,” he shared.
For the actor, Jo Won's greatest appeal lies in his complex and elusive personality. As the story unfolds into a series, the character gains multiple layers of psychology, making him even harder to define with a single personality. Ji Chang Wook believes this ambiguity makes Jo Won seem more like a real person.
Jung Ji Woo's directing style also made Ji Chang Wook more aware of the ambiguity in Jo Won's mind. After each scene, the director forbade the actors from reviewing their performance.
“The director said that if I acted this way, it would be good, but if I acted differently, that way would also be good. This was repeated so often that sometimes the results were very difficult to describe in words. I can only guess that the director's intention was to prevent the actor from making his own judgments and specifically expressing the emotional turmoil within Jo Won,” he shared.
Ji Chang Wook said he decided to accept the role because he had faith in director Jung Ji Woo. Despite the many obstacles and difficulties encountered during filming, he still considers it a special experience.
Don't shy away from steamy scenes and controversial reactions.
Another tough challenge for Ji Chang Wook while filming The Scandal was the intimate and daring scenes. The actor had to perform many scenes involving physical contact in front of the camera.
But he said he didn't spend too much time considering performing these scenes. The actor also admitted that he didn't put in much effort training just to have a good physique for the scenes. According to him, the important thing is to accurately portray the character and situation as the director requires.
Ji Chang Wook said that acting alongside senior actress Son Ye Jin was quite a stressful experience. He wanted the antagonistic relationship between Jo Won and Mrs. Jo to be sharp enough to make the story compelling. Therefore, the actor prepared quite thoroughly for the scenes where the two interacted.
Ji Chang Wook also had high praise for Nana, the actress who played the widow Hee Yeon. He was impressed with how she meticulously explored and delved into the character's psychology to bring it to life through her acting.
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Ji Chang Wook has no regrets about starring in The Scandal. Photo: Yonhap News. |
After its release, The Scandal received mixed reactions. Most of the criticism revolved around the slow pace and numerous shocking and daring scenes. Ji Chang Wook said he had anticipated this, but was still saddened by the negative reviews his work received.
Nevertheless, Ji Chang Wook has no regrets about participating in The Scandal. “Even though the drama received only negative reviews, I don’t think it was a wrong choice,” he affirmed. For the star born in 1987, this is still a worthwhile role to try in his career, regardless of how the drama is ultimately received by the public.