Son Ye-jin Returns in 'The Scandal' — Netflix's Most Anticipated K-Drama of Fall 2026

Son Ye-jin Is Back — And She's Playing the Most Dangerous Woman in Joseon

If you thought Crash Landing on You was the last time you'd see Son Ye-jin dominate your Netflix queue, think again. The beloved actress is making her long-awaited return to K-dramas in The Scandal, an eight-part period romance series that's shaping up to be one of the biggest Netflix releases of fall 2026.

Scheduled to drop on September 18, 2026, The Scandal is a television adaptation of the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal — and if the trailers are anything to go by, this one's going to be steamier, more dramatic, and more visually stunning than anyone expected.

A Forbidden Love Game Set in Joseon

The series follows Lady Cho, played by Son Ye-jin, a woman whose intelligence and charm far exceed the constraints placed on women during the Joseon dynasty. She enters a dangerous wits-and-seduction game with Cho Won, the kingdom's most infamous playboy, portrayed by Ji Chang-wook (The Sound of Magic, Revolver). Their escalating game of deceit pulls in a third player: Hui-yeon, a widowed and virtuous noblewoman played by NANA (Mask Girl, Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy).

Directed by Jung Ji-woo — the acclaimed filmmaker behind Tune in for Love, Eungyo, and Somebody — the series promises a genre-spanning approach that balances romance, intrigue, and period-drama grandeur. If you loved the tension of Mr. Sunshine or the scheming of The Red Sleeve, The Scandal looks like it'll scratch that exact itch.

Why This Cast Is a Big Deal

Let's talk about why this lineup is generating so much buzz. Son Ye-jin hasn't appeared in a K-drama since Thirty-Nine in 2022 — that's nearly four years away from the small screen. Fans have been patiently waiting, and Netflix is clearly banking on her star power to anchor one of its biggest fall titles.

Ji Chang-wook brings his own massive following. Known for his roles in Welcome to Samdal-ri, Lovestruck in the City, and Backstreet Rookie, he's one of the most bankable leading men in Korean entertainment. Pairing him with Son Ye-jin is the kind of casting coup that makes K-drama fans lose their minds.

And then there's NANA. The former After School member turned actress has been on a hot streak with Netflix, and her role as the vulnerable Hui-yeon looks like it could be her most emotionally complex performance yet.

Mark Your Calendar: September 18, 2026

Netflix has already dropped official posters and a teaser trailer, and the internet has been in a frenzy ever since. The Scandal lands at a time when the K-drama pipeline is absolutely stacked — 100 Days of Deception (starring Kim You-jung and Park Jin-young) hits Netflix on October 10, and Agent Kim Reactivated just became the highest-rated Netflix K-drama of 2026.

But The Scandal has something those shows don't: Son Ye-jin's return. For millennials who fell in love with her through Crash Landing on You, this is the event of the season. Set your reminders, clear your schedule, and get ready — Joseon's most scandalous love triangle is almost here.