The Scandal Korean Drama: Watch Free on OneTouchTV
Forbidden desire. A dangerous wager. Two people playing a game neither of them can afford to lose.
The Scandal is one of the most talked-about Korean dramas of 2026, and it arrives on September 18. Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook lead a cast that has had K-drama fans counting down the days since the show was first announced. You can watch it for free on the OneTouchTV app as soon as it releases.
The Story Behind the Drama
The Scandal is set during the Joseon Dynasty, a period in Korean history known for its rigid social rules and strict class divisions. In this world, what you feel and what you are allowed to do are almost never the same thing.
Lady Cho is a woman who lives far beyond the limits her society has placed on her. She is sharp, calculating, and unwilling to accept the invisible walls built around her. Cho Won is the most notorious playboy in all of Joseon, a man who has never met a challenge he could not charm his way through. Between them sits a wager. One that pulls in a young widow named Hui-yeon who never asked to be part of any of this.
Director Jung Ji-woo has said he built the story around people with a very modern question underneath all the period costumes. Who am I if the age will not let me be that person? That question is what gives the drama its emotional weight.
The show is inspired by the 1782 French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos and is also a remake of the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, which starred Bae Yong-joon and Jeon Do-yeon.
Who Plays Who
Son Ye-jin as Lady Cho
Son Ye-jin plays Lady Cho, the most dangerous woman in Joseon. She moves through a world that underestimates her at every turn and uses that to her advantage. Son Ye-jin is one of the most respected actresses in Korean entertainment. Most people know her from Crash Landing on You, but this role is entirely different. Lady Cho is not someone who falls in love quietly. She plays the game on her own terms.
Ji Chang-wook as Cho Won
Ji Chang-wook plays Cho Won, a man whose entire reputation is built on seduction and wit. He has never met someone he could not win over. Lady Cho’s wager changes that. Ji Chang-wook brings exactly the kind of charisma and unpredictability this role demands, and watching him in a period setting with this material is one of the main reasons people were excited about this drama from the moment it was announced.
Nana as Hui-yeon
Nana plays Hui-yeon, a young widow who gets pulled into the game between Lady Cho and Cho Won without fully understanding what she is walking into. Her character carries a quiet vulnerability that makes her the emotional center of the story even when the other two are dominating every scene.
Supporting Cast
Kang Chan-hee plays Kwon In-ho, Shin Youn-ha plays Lee So-ok, and Han Sun-hwa rounds out a supporting cast that gives the drama real depth beyond the three main characters.
What Kind of Drama Is This
The Scandal is not a typical historical romance. It is sharp, a little dangerous, and more interested in power and desire than in straightforward love stories. Think of it as a chess match where every move has consequences, and nobody is playing with clean hands.
The Joseon setting gives the story a layer of tension that a modern drama could not achieve in the same way. The rules of that era meant that acting on your feelings came with very real costs. That pressure is what makes every scene between the main characters feel like it could go wrong at any moment.
Eight episodes is a short run for a story this layered, which means the drama does not have time to slow down. Every episode has to matter, and from what is known about the production, the team built it exactly that way.
Why This Drama Is Worth Your Time
Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook Together for the First Time
These two actors have both been at the top of Korean entertainment for years but have never appeared in the same drama before. Putting them together in a story built around tension, strategy, and forbidden desire was a decision that immediately got attention. The on-screen dynamic between them is one of the biggest reasons to watch.
A Story Rooted in Real Literary History
The drama is based on one of the most famous novels ever written about desire and manipulation. The French original has been adapted countless times across film, theatre, and television in different countries. The Korean Joseon setting brings something genuinely new to a story people thought they already knew.
Short and Focused With No Filler
Eight episodes, each around 70 minutes. The Scandal is built to be watched in full without stretching its story thin. There is no time for unnecessary side plots or slow patches. If you start it on a Friday, you will likely finish it by Sunday.
One of the Best Casts of the Year
Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook, and Nana are each known for bringing something specific and real to their performances. Putting the three of them in the same show, playing characters who are directly competing with each other, creates the kind of casting that does not come along often.
How to Watch on OneTouchTV
The Scandal becomes available on September 18. Open the OneTouchTV application on your device and search for The Scandal in the search bar. It should come up immediately. You can also browse the Drama or Historical section and find it listed among the new arrivals.
Visit onetouchtvapk.com to download the OneTouch TV APK on any device you use. It works on Android, iPhone, Laptop, Android TV, and Firestick with no account or subscription required. English subtitles are available so you can follow every scene of this period drama without missing anything.
Conclusion
The Scandal is the kind of drama that does not arrive very often. Two of Korea’s biggest stars in their first drama together, a story pulled from one of literature’s most dangerous love games, and a director known for taking unexpected creative risks. September 18 is the date to mark.
Watch The Scandal free on the One Touch TV app starting September 18, 2026.
For the full cast listing and episode guide, the complete details for The Scandal are available on MyDramaList.
Other New Dramas Streaming Now on OneTouchTV
If September 18 feels too far away, there is already plenty to watch. Made in Korea Season 2 with Hyun Bin is currently airing with new episodes every Wednesday. The Ordinary Jackpot with Lee Joon-hyuk is a funny workplace drama that started on September 10. A Love Other Than Yours with Seo Kang-joon and Ahn Eun-jin premiered on September 12 for anyone who wants something emotional and romantic right now.
People Also Ask
Is The Scandal free on OneTouchTV?
Yes. The Scandal is available free on the OneTouchTV app with no subscription or sign-in needed.
When does The Scandal release?
The Scandal premieres on September 18, 2026. All eight episodes are released on the same day.
Who are the main actors in The Scandal?
Son Ye-jin plays Lady Cho, Ji Chang-wook plays Cho Won, and Nana plays Hui-yeon. Kang Chan-hee and Han Sun-hwa also appear in key supporting roles.
What is The Scandal about?
It is a historical romance set in Joseon-era Korea. Lady Cho and Cho Won enter a dangerous wager involving a young widow named Hui-yeon. The story explores desire, power, and the cost of breaking the rules of a very strict society.
How many episodes does The Scandal have?
The Scandal has eight episodes, each running around 70 minutes. All episodes are released together on Netflix on September 18, 2026.
Is The Scandal based on a book or film?
Yes. It is inspired by the 1782 French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses and is also a remake of the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, which starred Bae Yong-joon and Jeon Do-yeon.
Does The Scandal have English subtitles on OneTouchTV?
Yes. English subtitles are available on the OneTouch TV application, so international viewers can follow the full story without difficulty.
