The Scandal streams worldwide only on Netflix, with all 8 episodes released at once on September 18, 2026.
For viewers outside Korea this means one subscription decision, not a platform hunt — but the 19+ rating and per-country catalogs are worth a check first.
This post covers where to watch it, episode runtimes, how it relates to the 2003 film Untold Scandal, which plan you need, how it is performing, and who made it.
The Scandal Netflix: Where to Watch the K-Drama and the One-Line Answer
| Where can I watch it? | Netflix only — a Netflix Original, no other service confirmed |
|---|---|
| When did it release? | September 18, 2026, all 8 episodes at once |
| How long is it? | 8 episodes, 462 minutes total, episodes run 48–80 minutes |
| Is it free? | No — Netflix ended free trials in Korea and most regions |
| Rating? | 19+ in Korea — adult romance content, not a family drama |
The Scandal is a Netflix Original and streams only on Netflix, released worldwide on September 18, 2026 with all 8 episodes at once.
As of October 2, 2026, no other streaming service — Viki, Viu, iQIYI, Disney+ — has a confirmed listing for the title, and there is no separate purchase option.
A paid subscription is required: Netflix discontinued its free trial in Korea and most regions, so there is no free viewing window.
One caution before subscribing: a worldwide Netflix Original does not guarantee every country’s catalog lists it, and subtitle and dub language options were never confirmed.
Open the Netflix title page in your own account and country before assuming it is available where you are — that page is the only catalog that matters for your situation.
How Many Episodes And How Long Is Each One
The Scandal runs 8 episodes totaling 462 minutes — about 7 hours 42 minutes of screen time.
Individual episodes vary widely, from about 48 to 80 minutes, which works out to roughly 58 minutes on average (462 ÷ 8).
Because everything dropped at once, you can finish it in two long sittings or stretch it over a week — there is no waiting between episodes.
If you schedule around episode length, plan for feature-film sessions rather than standard 45-minute drama blocks, since several episodes run closer to 80 minutes.
Is It A Remake Of The 2003 Movie
Yes — The Scandal is a series-length remake of the 2003 film Untold Scandal, and both trace back to the same 1782 French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
The 2003 film ran about 124 minutes with Bae Yong-jun, Lee Mi-sook, and Jeon Do-yeon, and drew 10.25 million admissions — 6th place in the Korean box office that year.
The 2026 series stretches the same story across 462 minutes, about 3.7× the film’s runtime, built for slower psychological interior rather than a two-hour arc.
A new original character, Bun-hee (Han Seon-hwa), was added for the series, and both female leads were rewritten as more self-determining characters.
If you loved the 2003 film, expect a much longer and slower re-telling — and there are 23 years between the two adaptations.
Which Netflix Plan Do You Need
Any standard Netflix plan that lists The Scandal in your country works — there is no separate purchase or rental.
Prices differ by country and plan, so check your local Netflix help page for the current monthly cost rather than relying on quoted figures.
The key caveat is the 19+ rating: ad-supported tier catalogs often exclude explicit-content titles, and whether this series appears on the cheapest ad plan varies by region.
Before subscribing just for this show, check whether the cheapest plan in your region actually carries it — if it does not, the mid-tier plan is your real entry price.
And note there is no free trial to lean on; the decision is a paid subscription from the first month.
Is It Doing Well — And Is It Worth Watching
The series entered the Netflix global Top 10 at #17 overall and #7 among non-English titles, with about 14.5 million hours viewed and 1.9 million complete viewings in its first listed week.
Treat those figures as approximate — the week window cited overlaps the September 18 release date, so the exact measurement period is unclear.
It stayed in the non-English Top 10 into its second week, and a Korea Times piece on October 1 — 13 days after release — covered why the remake was drawing viewers.
Reception is genuinely mixed: Ji Chang-wook said in interviews the work received critical reviews he does not regret, and coverage noted a gap between viewer and critic reactions.
If you want the numbers as a quality signal, the honest read is strong initial reach with divided reviews — worth a first episode before committing to all 462 minutes.
Who Made It — Cast, Director, And The Story
The Scandal is directed by Jung Ji-woo (Eungyo, Somebody), with Son Ye-jin as Lady Cho, Ji Chang-wook as Jo Won, and Nana as Hui-yeon.
It is Son Ye-jin’s first OTT-original lead role, Ji Chang-wook’s first Netflix series in four years since The Sound of Magic, and Nana’s return three years after Mask Girl.
The story: in Joseon-era Korea, Lady Cho bets the nation’s top playboy Jo Won to seduce Hui-yeon, a chaste young widow — and the dangerous game awakens hidden desires.
It is a fusion sageuk — a period romance melodrama about a psychological love game, not a palace-intrigue political drama — and rated 19+ for sensual, adult romance content.
If I were subscribing just for this, I would not assume the mobile or ad-supported plan is enough — I would check the 19+ catalog availability first, because the ratings and the sensual content are exactly what may keep it off the cheaper tiers.
If you are expecting political sageuk action, this is a different kind of show; if you want adult romance and scheming, it is built for exactly that.
Related posts
📎 📅 Upcoming Dates — Release & Event Calendar
Sources
Which Situation Is Yours
- Before subscribing on the cheapest plan, check whether your region’s ad-supported Netflix catalog actually carries this 19+ title.
- If you only watch political palace-intrigue sageuk, look again at the genre note: this is a psychological love game, not a political drama.
- If you loved the 2003 film Untold Scandal, check your patience first — expect about 3.7× the screen time and a slower, more interior re-telling with new characters.
- Check the local Netflix plan page for current pricing in your country before assuming the mobile tier is enough.
FAQ
Q. Where can I watch The Scandal Korean drama?
Only on Netflix — it is a Netflix Original released worldwide on September 18, 2026, and no other service has a confirmed listing.
Q. How many episodes does The Scandal have and how long are they?
8 episodes totaling 462 minutes; individual episodes run from about 48 to 80 minutes.
Q. When did The Scandal come out on Netflix?
September 18, 2026, with all 8 episodes released at once worldwide.
Q. Can I watch The Scandal outside Netflix?
Not as of October 2, 2026 — no listing on Viki, Viu, iQIYI, or Disney+ has been confirmed, so check the Netflix title page for your region.
Q. Is The Scandal rated 19+?
Yes, it is rated 19+ in Korea for sensual adult romance content, which may also affect availability on the cheapest ad-supported plan.
Dates to keep in mind: filming ran from April 7 to September 30, 2025, the teaser and trailer preceded the September 18, 2026 premiere, and the Top 10 run covered September 14–27, 2026.
No follow-up date — extra episodes, a special, or another platform — has been announced, so the Netflix title page is the place to watch for changes.
This post’s numbers are current as of October 2, 2026.
Cover photo: Television screen Netflix logo, location — CC0 1.0
#TheScandal #NetflixK-drama #SonYe-jin #JiChang-wook #DangerousLiaisons #UntoldScandalremake #wheretowatchKoreandrama
📅Upcoming Schedule — this week 2 · D-2 Hangul DaySee all →
