On January 21, the Next on Netflix 2026 Korea event was held at a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul (Korea). This global platform announced a list of Korean TV drama projects expected to be released in 2026.
The cast of upcoming films such as Jeon Do Yeon (Possible love), Son Ye Jin (The scandal), Nam Joo Hyuk (The east palace), Park Eun Bin (The wonderfools) appeared at the event.
Among them, the project "The Scandal" attracted a lot of attention, because this is a work marking Son Ye Jin's return to the small screen after she married Hyun Bin. The most recent TV series that Son Ye Jin participated in was "The 30" which aired right before her wedding, which took place in March 2022.
Set in the Joseon Dynasty, "The Scandal" revolves around the character of Mrs. Cho played by Son Ye Jin - an outstandingly talented woman but bound by the social norms of the times.
She gets caught in a "love gamble" that is both provocative and dangerous with Joseon's most famous womanizer - Cho Won (played by Ji Chang Wook), along with the appearance of another woman, Hui Yeon (played by Nana).
This is a remake of the hit movie "Untold Scandal" released in 2003, but built with a completely new story and character.
Speaking about the project's appeal, Son Ye Jin said: "The film depicts the beauty of the Joseon era through beautiful hanbok costumes, hanok architecture and peaceful scenery.
While many recent historical dramas focus on the intensity of images, our works focus on aesthetic simplicity and historical accuracy, emphasizing the sophistication of space and atmosphere”.
She added: "I think global audiences will discover a new perspective on the beauty and elegance of Joseon's time through the visuals of the film".
The Scandal" also marks Son Ye Jin's first historical drama since she debuted with "Chi-hwa-seon".
Looking back at this experience, the actress admitted: "At first I thought the hanbok was very beautiful, but when I actually put it on, I felt constrained. I couldn't move comfortably and I wondered how the nobles lived in this costume in the old days.
The actress continued to talk about the difficulties of filming: "The hair accessories are heavy, and the most difficult thing is controlling gestures. I can't bend my arms or put weight on one leg.
Every movement must be solemn and standard. Maintaining a vertical posture for many months is really very hard. I realize how difficult it is to maintain beauty in such a dignified form.
The scandal" is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2026, close to the broadcast time of the movie "The east palace" (with actors Nam Joo Hyuk, Roh Yoon Seo, Cho Seung Woo).
Son Ye Jin humorously expressed: "Our work must be done well. This is my first Netflix movie, so I am both excited and nervous. I hope domestic and international audiences will give the movie a lot of attention and love.
