Untold Scandal


Untold Scandal is a 2003 South Korean romantic drama film directed by E J-yong, and starring Bae Yong-joon, Jeon Do-yeon, and Lee Mi-sook. Loosely based on the 1782 French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, this adaptation takes place in late 18th century Korea, during the Joseon dynasty.
In Japan the film was given an R-18 rating by the Japanese Film Ethics Commission. The film was a major commercial success, and became the fourth highest grossing domestic film of 2003 with 3,522,747 tickets sold nationwide.

Plot

A beautiful but cynical and manipulative noblewoman makes a bet with her free-spirited womanizing cousin that he can have sex with her if he is able to seduce a young woman of great virtue. He accepts the challenge with enthusiasm though not suspecting the nasty trap he is walking into.

Cast

Monsieur de Tourvel, who was away for a court case in the novel, was in the film deceased, making Lady Jeong a widow of nine years. Furthermore, Lady Jeong lived in Ganghwa Island, and in the film, she is living in Seoul as there was a plague at her hometown at that time.
Jo-won and Madam Jo were in the film cousins, and it is revealed that Jo-won's first love was Madam Jo, whereas in the novel, they were rivals, yet using the same tools for their revenge: sex.
Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil 's former lover is arranged to be Cécile's future husband in the novel, but in the film, his character is Madam Jo's husband. In So-ok's case, she is being made into a concubine of Madam Jo's husband for the continuity of the family lineage with the elders' consent.
Lee So-ok was ushered in to Madam Jo's care to be the concubine of her husband, and is conspiring with Jo-won to make her pregnant for revenge.
Chevalier Raphael Danceny was originally Cécile's music tutor in the novel, but in the film, Kwon In-ho is the youngest son of Madam Jo's next-door neighbor and also Lady Jeong's cousin.

Awards and nominations

2003 Pusan International Film Festival
2003 Blue Dragon Film Awards
2004 Baeksang Arts Awards
2004 :it:Schermi d'amore|Verona Film Festival
2004 Grand Bell Awards
2004 Shanghai International Film Festival
2004 Korean Film Awards