Son Ye-jin Returns to Historical K-Dramas with Netflix Series Scandal

Embracing Ambiguity and the Complex Psyche of Lady Cho

Scandal presented a fresh acting challenge because the project’s intent cannot be neatly summarized by clear-cut emotions.

Son stated that she could not explain the project by promising precise feelings, noting that she wondered what kind of divergent thoughts viewers would have while following the psychological narrative. She added that individual viewers experience the release differently, with some enjoying it and others finding it unappealing, which she views as a matter of personal taste.

Unlocking the Inner World of Lady Cho

Rather than viewing Lady Cho as a simple figure who proposes a romantic wager, Son interpreted the character through the lens of women’s lives during a harsh era that took the unexpressed talents of women for granted. Because it is a series, the production could expand upon those themes further.

Son explained that Lady Cho cannot be expressed through a single emotion, which she found appealing. Unlocking the character’s inner self proved difficult as she searched for the true face of the figure, interpreting Lady Cho’s emotions as the journey of a talented individual who compromises with reality without achieving self-actualization. Son noted that while the character maintains outward poise, her inner self holds boiling desires.

Collaboration with Director Jung Ji-woo

Son discussed her working relationship with director Jung Ji-woo, noting that he did not provide rigid directions, leaving the cast occasionally pondering the complex, multi-layered emotions.

She described the director as a poetic figure who avoided pointing to a single correct answer. Instead, they discussed how a woman possessing a large inner capacity—who hides it and compromises with reality while acting strictly as a woman on the outside—would express suppressed desires.

Overcoming Historical Drama Hesitations

The actor had previously avoided historical dramas due to physical exhaustion during early-career projects, believing sageuk was a genre she could not handle well. Her perspective shifted when she learned Jung Ji-woo would direct Scandal, as the director wanted to explore Lady Cho’s story deeply from the original source material rather than repeating portrayals from previous films.

Adopting traditional historical speech patterns required substantial effort, as Lady Cho must maintain strict emotional restraint while engaging in psychological warfare. Son noted that she worked to suppress strong emotional outbursts, choosing instead to convey tension through minute details.