Key takeaways
- Ji Chang Wook portrays Cho Won in The Scandal by letting the playboy qualities emerge naturally through attitude and action rather than deliberate exaggeration.
- The actor views his performance skill not as individual talent but as his ability to collaborate effectively with directors, cinematographers, lighting designers, and the entire creative team.
- According to Ji Chang Wook, the greatest satisfaction in acting comes from communicating well with colleagues and collectively creating scenes that resonate with the team.
In a recent conversation with ELLE Korea, actor Ji Chang Wook reflected on his work in the television series “The Scandal,” examining both the demands of his character and what the craft of acting has come to mean for him as his career has progressed.
Setting the Scene: The Scandal’s World
The Drama’s Premise
“The Scandal” draws its narrative foundation from the 2003 film “Untold Scandal,” transplanting a story of dangerous desire and moral transgression into the Joseon period. The series centers on a high-stakes game of seduction and deception in an era when romantic passion existed under strict social prohibition. The stakes escalate as personal ambitions and forbidden attractions collide, with each character drawn deeper into a web of their own making.
The Cast and Their Roles
Son Ye Jin portrays Lady Cho, a woman whose abilities extend far beyond what the confines of the women’s quarters would typically permit. Ji Chang Wook takes on the role of Cho Won, characterized as the greatest playboy of Joseon. Nana appears as Hui Yeon, a third figure whose life becomes entangled in the escalating manipulations of the other two. Together, the trio enacts a narrative about passion, deception, and the consequences of desires that society forbids.
Portraying Cho Won: The Art of Restraint
The Approach to Playing a Playboy
When discussing how he constructed the character of Cho Won, Ji Chang Wook emphasized the importance of naturalism over theatrical exaggeration. “I tried not to deliberately exaggerate or add to his qualities as a playboy,” he explained. “Instead, I wanted them to be naturally reflected in his attitude and actions.” Rather than telegraphing the character’s seductive nature through obvious gestures or calculated performances, he sought to let these traits emerge organically from how Cho Won moves, speaks, and responds to others around him.
Working with Director Jung Ji Woo
The complexity of the character presented both creative opportunities and obstacles. “Cho Won is a complex and challenging man,” Ji Chang Wook noted. “Since he is a character whose true feelings remain a mystery until the very end, it was quite fun to portray him, but there were also quite a few difficult aspects.” To navigate this ambiguity, the actor had extensive conversations with director Jung Ji Woo about how to reveal and conceal the character’s inner life. These discussions proved essential to grounding the performance in a coherent emotional reality, even as the character’s motivations stay hidden from the audience.
The Actor’s Personal Imprint
When asked whether he sees himself in Cho Won, Ji Chang Wook acknowledged an inevitable bleed-through. “Inevitably, since I am the one portraying the character, a little bit of Ji Chang Wook is bound to be reflected in the character as I portray him.” This observation speaks to a fundamental truth in acting: the performer’s own temperament, instincts, and life experience become woven into even the most deliberately constructed roles.
Creating Tension On Screen
The scenes between Cho Won and Lady Cho demanded particular attention and preparation. “There isn’t a single scene in which Lady Cho and Cho Won encounter each other that isn’t breathtaking,” Ji Chang Wook remarked. “Every moment is packed.” The actors and director invested significant effort into rehearsals to ensure that the psychological and emotional intensity of their interactions would register fully. “We always put a lot of effort into rehearsals, and I think viewers will be able to fully feel the tension between the two, which has been meticulously portrayed.” The goal was not to produce surface-level drama but rather to construct scenes where the subtext—the unspoken power dynamics, the calculation, the attraction—remains palpable in every gesture and exchange.
The Philosophy Behind Acting
Throughout his career, Ji Chang Wook has worked across a range of genres and character types, continuously challenging himself to expand his range. When asked what acting means to him at this stage, his response revealed a deepening sense of its complexity. “It’s getting harder and harder. That’s because it’s not easy to define in a single phrase,” he said. Rather than becoming clearer or simpler with experience, the act of performance has only grown more elusive to articulate.
His approach now depends heavily on external support systems. “I always try to rely heavily on the help of my colleagues, from the director to the cinematography, lighting, costumes, and makeup—even the look of the space I’m standing in.” These elements are not secondary embellishments but fundamental components of the performance itself. Ji Chang Wook sees acting not as an isolated individual skill but as something that emerges from the totality of the production environment.
The Collaborative Process
This philosophy extends to how he views his own technical capabilities. “I always strive to act across various genres, but that doesn’t mean I can become a completely different person. In the end, acting is a job where you receive help from people,” he explained. “I’ve often thought that perhaps an actor’s skill lies in how well they make use of that help.” Rather than treating an actor’s talent as pure individual ability, he reframes it as the capacity to draw from and integrate the contributions of an entire team.
The moments when acting feels most rewarding align directly with this collaborative reality. “The moments when I feel the greatest thrill while acting are also, without exception, when I communicate well with my colleagues and team members. When we create a great scene that way and I see everyone happy about it, that’s when I enjoy my work the most.” This description reveals acting not as ego-driven performance but as a shared creative process where success belongs to everyone involved.
Life Beyond the Screen
Away from sets and cameras, Ji Chang Wook’s experience is less glamorous. “Honestly, my daily life these days is quite boring and repetitive. Sometimes it even feels uninteresting.” The routine of ordinary life contrasts sharply with the intensity and collaboration of his professional work. Yet this ordinariness does not undermine his commitment. “Even so, the fortunate thing is that the career I chose is still incredibly fun for me. I want to continue moving steadily toward the standards I’ve set for myself.” The work itself, rather than external recognition or lifestyle perks, remains his primary source of satisfaction.
Ji Chang Wook’s full interview and pictorial appear in the October issue of ELLE Korea. Viewers can currently watch him in “If You Wish Upon Me.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Scandal based on?
The Scandal is based on the 2003 film Untold Scandal. It tells a story of forbidden love and seduction in the Joseon period, centered on the dangerous relationship between Lady Cho (Son Ye Jin) and Cho Won (Ji Chang Wook).
How did Ji Chang Wook approach playing the character Cho Won?
Ji Chang Wook said he tried not to deliberately exaggerate Cho Won's playboy qualities, instead wanting them to be naturally reflected in his attitude and actions. He had many conversations with director Jung Ji Woo to bring the character to life and portray his complex, mysterious nature.
What does Ji Chang Wook believe an actor's skill consists of?
Ji Chang Wook believes an actor's skill lies in how well they make use of help from their colleagues, including the director, cinematography, lighting, costumes, and makeup teams. He said acting is a job where you receive help from people, and his greatest thrills come from communicating well with team members and collectively creating great scenes.
