Ji Chang Wook has opened up about filming the more intimate scenes in Netflix’s The Scandal, explaining that the meaning behind each scene mattered more to him than how intense or revealing it appeared.
In a recent interview, the actor discussed playing Jo Won, a complicated man caught in dangerous relationships with Lady Cho, played by Son Ye Jin, and Hee Yeon, played by Nana.
Addressing the drama’s level of intimacy and its bedroom scenes, Ji Chang Wook admitted that filming them naturally came with some tension.
He said, “Because there were scenes involving exposure and bedroom scenes, it was impossible not to feel nervous.”
However, he emphasized that the production did not approach those moments simply as provocative scenes.
“We talked a lot with the director about what those scenes meant within the relationships, rather than filming them just to show a certain level of intensity,” he explained.
Ji Chang Wook added that he deliberately avoided preparing his body in a way that would make the scenes feel focused on appearance.
“I intentionally avoided doing things like building extra muscle or emphasizing the visuals,” he said.
He also credited his existing chemistry with Nana for making the filming process more comfortable. According to Ji Chang Wook, they had already built trust through earlier scenes, which allowed them to rely on each other when filming the more sensitive moments.
His scenes with Son Ye Jin required a different kind of tension. Ji Chang Wook described the relationship between Jo Won and Lady Cho as one where even apparently calm moments carried conflict.
“There wasn’t a single scene between Jo Won and Lady Cho without tension,” he said. “Even when they were smiling, they were essentially fighting.”
He added that working with Son Ye Jin demanded a high level of concentration, especially during long takes that sometimes lasted more than 10 minutes.
Ji Chang Wook also explained that one reason he accepted The Scandal was the complexity of Jo Won. Rather than defining the character’s feelings with a single answer, he and director Jung Ji Woo allowed some scenes to remain emotionally uncertain.
The actor acknowledged that reactions to the series have been divided, including comparisons to other romance dramas and discussions about its pacing and tone. He said he understands that viewers can interpret the project differently, but described the experience as valuable because it allowed him to discover a different side of himself as an actor.
The Scandal is based on the classic French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses and follows a dangerous romantic wager involving Jo Won, Lady Cho, and Hee Yeon during the Joseon era.
