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Netflix's The Scandal: viewership and mixed reception

Period
2026-09 ~ 2026-10
Where it stands
Ranked No. 3 among Netflix non-English TV in its second week (Sept. 21–27), then fell out of the global Top 10 in its third week (Sept. 28–Oct. 4) while remaining on some country charts, including Korea.
Updated
2026-10-09

The Scandal is an eight-episode Netflix series that moves the 18th-century French novel Dangerous Liaisons to Joseon, directed by Jung Ji-woo and starring Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and Nana. After its Sept. 18 release, Netflix's official data put it at No. 7 among non-English shows in its first week and No. 3 in its second (2.8 million views, Top 10 in 18 countries). Domestic reaction was split over its slow pacing, explicit scenes and comparisons with the 2003 film. Figures such as 'Top 10 in 40 countries' reported by some outlets do not match Netflix's official weekly data.

Fact Claim Disputed Rumor Not true

The series

The Scandal transposes Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's 1782 novel Dangerous Liaisons to Joseon. It centres on Lady Cho (Son Ye-jin), a gifted woman confined by her sex, Jo Won (Ji Chang-wook), Joseon's most notorious seducer, and Hui-yeon (Nana), who is caught in their wager. The novel was previously adapted as the 2003 film Untold Scandal.

Director Jung Ji-woo used the longer format to give Lady Cho and Hui-yeon new backstories and framed the series with pansori at its beginning and end.

3,4,8

Performance in Netflix's official data

According to the weekly (Monday–Sunday) data on Netflix's Top 10 site, The Scandal ranked No. 7 among non-English shows in its three-day first week (1.9 million views) and No. 3 in its second week (2.8 million views, 21.9 million hours). Views are total hours divided by runtime. It charted in 18 countries that second week.

In the third week it dropped out of the global Top 10 but remained in the national Top 10s of Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

1,5

Mixed reception

Domestic criticism focused on pacing slower than the 2003 film, less sharply drawn characters and too little distance from the source. Explicit scenes and casting that some felt looked too modern for a period piece also drew criticism. Others praised Korean elements such as pansori and animated folk paintings, as well as the costumes.

The team responded calmly. Ji said the series was never going to please everyone and that he did not regret it; Jung said Nana's emotional range mattered more to him than a period-accurate look.

3,6,8

Timeline

  1. Fact Press conference in Seoul. Director Jung Ji-woo said he deliberately expanded the relationship between Lady Cho and Hui-yeon, which does not exist in the novel.4
  2. Fact Global release on Netflix: eight episodes, rated adults-only (청소년 관람불가) in Korea.2,3
  3. Fact Netflix's first official week (Sept. 14–20, three days after release): No. 7 non-English TV, 1.9 million views, 14.5 million hours; No. 1 in Korea.1
  4. Claim In interviews, Ji Chang-wook said he had expected the criticism and did not regret the role. When his description of the director's methods sparked talk of a feud, he said there had been no conflict at all.6,7
  5. Fact Second week (Sept. 21–27): No. 3 non-English TV, 2.8 million views, 21.9 million hours; Top 10 in 18 countries including Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam.1,5
  6. Fact Third week (Sept. 28–Oct. 4): out of the global non-English Top 10, but still No. 3 in Korea and Vietnam and No. 4 in Indonesia.1

What people say — checked

DisputedIt entered the Top 10 in 40 countries after release

Netflix's official weekly data show at most 10 countries in week one and 18 in week two. The '40 countries' figure appears in some outlets without a stated basis, possibly third-party daily charts.1,8

DisputedIt was No. 1 in five countries including Hong Kong

In official weekly data it was No. 1 in Korea (week one) and Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam (week two); Hong Kong peaked at No. 2. Daily and weekly charts may have been mixed.1,8

FactIt reached No. 3 globally among non-English shows

Matches Netflix's official Top 10 data for Sept. 21–27 (2.8 million views).1,5

FactIt is rated adults-only

Netflix's Korean title page lists it as adults-only (청불); ratings elsewhere may differ.2

Not trueJi Chang-wook and the director fell out

Ji's description of the director's demanding methods was read as a feud, but he said there was no conflict at all and that he came to respect the director more. No report contradicts this.7

DisputedDomestic reaction was uniformly negative

Criticism of pacing, nudity and casting was widespread, but praise for pansori and costumes was also reported, and it ranked No. 1 on Netflix Korea. Coverage overall describes reaction as mixed.1,3,6,8

Why it's an issue

Related articles

The Scandal Son Ye-jin Ji Chang-wook Nana

Sources

  1. official Netflix Top 10, Top 10 TV (Non-English) — weekly global and country lists (data files), 2026-10-06
  2. official Netflix, 스캔들 (작품 페이지), 2026-10-09
  3. press The Korea Times, 'Seduce my husband's concubine': Why 'The Scandal' brings 'Dangerous Liaisons' back to Netflix, 2026-10-01
  4. press Korea JoongAng Daily, Netflix’s ‘The Scandal’ brings Dangerous Liaisons to Joseon with Son Ye-jin, 2026-09
  5. press 스타뉴스, Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and Nana spark intense interest in "Scandal"… Netflix global No. 3, 2026-09-30
  6. press 스포츠경향, 지창욱 “혹평, 예상은 했지만…즐길 수는 없네요” 넷플릭스 ‘스캔들’, 2026-09-23
  7. press OSEN, '스캔들' 혹평도 서러워 죽겠는데..지창욱, 경솔한 답변이 불러온 불화설 [Oh!쎈 이슈], 2026-09
  8. press Kagit, Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook's 'Scandal' Lands in Global Top 10 Amidst Mixed Reviews, 2026-09
  9. community Reddit r/kdramas, Scandal Netflix’s new kdrama 18+, 2026-09-18

How this article was made: read official statements, court/regulator records and at least two independent outlets; community posts are used only as attention signals. Written by Hallyu Wiki editors with AI assistance — check the sources. Request a correction