In Netflix’s The Scandal, Son Ye-jin and Nana play two women navigating a Joseon society with clear expectations for how each should conduct herself. Lady Cho is a wealthy noblewoman whose intelligence and ambitions strain against the freedoms denied to her, while Hui-yeon appears as a grieving widow committed to chastity. Their circumstances leave little room for ambiguity about the parts assigned to them, down to what they wear.
Off screen, however, the show’s leading ladies have more say in the matter. In an exclusive with MEGA, Son and Nana shared what they gravitate toward when the choice is theirs.
Warning: Minor spoilers ahead.
From The Scandal to Valentino and Everyday Ease, Son Ye-jin Has Range
Poised and socially adept, Son’s Lady Cho knows the value of appearances. She maintains the composure expected of her position as she enters an illicit wager with Cho Won (Ji Chang-wook), her longtime confidant who grew a reputation for being a playboy. Costume designer Kim Young-jin thoughtfully introduces her in light green hanbok before adding deeper shades as her ambitions intensify.
With so much of Lady Cho communicated through her garb, we wondered how much Son shares her taste for elegance. The Classic (2003) and A Moment to Remember (2004) established her as a major star in South Korea in the 2000s, followed by projects including Something in the Rain (2018) and Crash Landing on You (2019). By 2021, Valentino had appointed her a global ambassador.
“I guess it really depends on the TPO (time, place, occasion),” Son shares with MEGA. “Depending on the TPO, I have to dress formally, casually, or elegantly. Actors get to wear a lot of beautiful clothes when they’re shooting. In real life, I tend to go for more comfy, casual clothing.”
Likewise, Nana Follows Her Curiosity Wherever It Takes Her
Meanwhile, Nana’s Hui-yeon devotes more than twenty years to preserving her chastity for a man who died before they could marry. Still regarded as his widow, she remains bound to a relationship that never had the chance to begin. Without her knowing, she’s placed at the center of a game, as Lady Cho wagers that Cho Won seduce her husband’s potential concubine. When he initially refuses, Lady Cho questions his capability, so Cho Won counters by choosing the virtuous Hui-yeon as his conquest instead to prove himself.
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Such a prescribed role stands in contrast to Nana, who has spent much of her public life moving between them. Her own career in entertainment began in modeling, passed through K-pop, and eventually reached acting projects such as The Good Wife (2016), Into the Ring (2020), Glitch (2022), and Mask Girl (2023).
“I love fashion, so I don’t have one singular style. I’m interested in all different types,” she says when asked about how her clothing choices compare to Hui-yeon’s. “I think it’s a very nice way of expressing your personality, attitude, and vibe. Fashion takes a very big part in my life. I try my best to keep up to date with the trends and know more about it.”
A Woman Is More Than What Meets the Eye
Desire and autonomy frequently confront the audience throughout The Scandal, for its characters yearn for what their world keeps from them. As the stories of Lady Cho and Hui-yeon progress, the TV series honors their full depth without sanitizing their messiness and complexity. And when the secret wager is finally revealed, we get to see both women unravel, with Son and Nana delivering compelling performances.
There’s always more to appearances. Yet, even today, clothing (or a lack thereof) is still taken as evidence of a woman’s virtue, desirability, seriousness, sexuality, or worth. Still, we know the truth: we aren’t simple, neat beings that can be categorized in one box. Whatever wardrobe choice we make need not resolve every contradiction within us.
Off duty, Son Ye-jin and Nana would rather stay true to themselves. And while they may be two sides of the same stylish coin, they’re hardly the only ones. In our experiences as women, as well as our inner multitudes that can’t be defined by a trendy aesthetic or societal label, they’re also all of us.
Photos: NETFLIX PHILIPPINES, SON YE-JIN (via Instagram), and NANA (via Instagram)
