This review may contain spoilers
A reality check
All I would like to say is WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING. I try to avoid sad endings like the plague and this one was exactly that. Oh gosh how much episode 9 and 10 broke me is beyond words. You can't convince me stuff like " This was an open ending" when in reality, it clearly wasn't. Let me tell you exactly why.1) The author's note in the end saying "To all those spring flowers in the world, although I couldn't achieve it, I hope your lives wont be like mine". Which is a direct way of saying to the viewers she didn't get her happy ending with the ML in the Joseon era.
2) She fell in love with the 2nd ml in the modern era and took his number. However, when she bumped into the ml from the Joseon era, she ignored him like a stranger and there was no more talking points between them which indicates a closing chapter of her with the ml in the joseon era and the modern era.
If were talking about f**ed up ending, this drama takes the cake. This is like scarlet heart ryeo 2.0.
In conclusion, I genuinely didn't expect this drama to take such a deep turn and to actually have plot considering the first couple of episodes were silly and hilarious and awkward in a more intimate sensual way but wow was I shocked when plot was introduced around episode 5.
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BEST SHORT HISTO ROMANCE !
What new can this drama bring to the K-histo landscape? This is the question I asked myself before launching it, because I know that even if we have fewer historical dramas than modern ones, most of them all look alike, because they belong to history in general.Here, we are fully in a fantasized vision of an uninhibited Joseon. Indeed, the use of a famous book containing very erotic illustrations seems to break the usual rules. It would almost be like in "Bridgerton" Korean version on some aspects. The tone is quickly set: here, we will not talk about politics, but about marriage! And even if often the two go hand in hand, the drama chooses to focus simply on the romantic aspect by exploiting the sexuality (and its discovery) of the women of the Royal Palace. Of course, at first, it's weird, but something keeps us in suspense right away: THE CASTING!
With a cast like this, the acting was superb, both from the point of view of emotions and the chemistry between the couples because of the close ages. Exit just the baby cries of Go Ara I will never get used to it I think lol but otherwise she totally has her place in history, she played so well! Chang RYUL I have no more words... He totally carried the drama with his charisma, his mysterious side; independent and his benevolence!
There is not much to say about this ten-episode drama, because it does not dwell on heavy issues such as wars or politics. We are here immersed in a gentle work, like a bold fairy tale, narrated with delicacy throughout the episodes. The story of the princess and her companions of the Palace is revealed little by little, revealing loves, friendships and deceptions that intertwave with finesse.
The story highlights women who, despite the marital constraints of the time, fight for their rights and independence. It is clear that the drama places the woman at the center of its plot, thus addressing an audience eager for stories that correspond to her. I spent a wonderful time in front of this series, seduced by the richness of each character, each of whom is distinguished by his own interest. The romances, all marked by their singular charm, intertaine while the main relationship is distinguished by a POWERFUL chemistry.
The visuals, on occasion, transport us, especially during memorable scenes, such as the hang gliding walk. In addition, the twists come at the right time, keeping the suspense brilliantly. I highly recommend this drama to those who appreciate light history and wish to take a break with too complex plots.
However: lightness does not mean heavy humor! Here we laugh at the right dose :)
Go for it because you will see what an UNCOMPLEXED and FREE history is!
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Just an escape one for me I thought but flipped something surprisingly.
Since this is the long-awaited return screen project of Go A Ra, of course, I won’t miss watching it - never mind if she was not the original choice for the female lead. Honestly, I have this preconceived low expectation about this drama. Aside from Go A Ra who has been playing lead roles previously, the rest of the cast are support characters in the past and now playing lead roles here. It was a generous act from the producer and casting director to give this set of actors a chance to shine who certainly played on-point performances – as I’ve seen so far from the wrapped 6 episodes.The R-18 restriction is giving me a wild imagination! How controversial would the story be and the “scandal” in the title let us think if it was meant literally. The story is crafted in a slow narration that after episode 2 I was thinking of dropping it but you know I haven’t seen Go A Ra act for a long time so I did brush off the idea. This is an average story about a young princess with a modern mindset and carefree personality. Her status, belonging to the royal family, impedes her relationship with her first love, and was forcefully separated. She was feeling a bit down in the dumps after but easily recovered from the pain of love when the character of Chang Ryul (her very first consort aspirant) was introduced in the story. He is a scholar, a successful merchant, and someone who knows well how to play around with women. Also, in the mix is the character of Chani, another noble scholar contending to be her princess consort whose family is tied by in-laws' relationship to the royal family. Episode 6 unlocked the pinnacle of this drama that finally sparked my interest. The odds that I am curious to know about are whether Chang Ryul is sincere in pursuing the princess and does Go A Ra authors the erotic escapade tales of her own royal family. I have been puzzled by the sight of ducks in the closing sequence of each episode and there episode 6 blew the lid off.
The series is a light periodical costume drama with no barbaric gore deaths and fighting yet a typical love story intensified by threads of intimacy that are rarely seen in historical genre series. The sexual acts though aren’t too vulgar at scale and most are illustrated in drawings. Thus far, I can tell it’s a decent option to watch but manage your expectations.
*** Additional words after completing this drama
I love the set of songs used, it served its purpose of magnifying the audience's connection both in light and heavy emotional scenes. Finally, this drama illuminates us again to pursue our aspirations, in cases such as pursuing our happiness in love and pursuing upright changes which one and the other are achievable through your own will and the people's will.
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'Powerless' Women and Marriages
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75 (a generous rounding up to 8.0 instead of down to 7.5)I think reading the synopsis here on MDL creates a false expectation of what “The Scandal of Chun Hwa” is really about. Yes, we do have the leads as described in the synopsis. But the drama is so much more than their romance, and their romance is the weakest part of the drama.
Plot:
I actually really like the general plot of the drama. Using erotic pictures of a novel as the backdrop of the drama, “The Scandal of Chun Hwa” really is about how powerless women were during that time, especially when it comes to their marriages. Women were oftentimes ignored from the inability to choose who they want to marry, the decision to accept or deny wedding proposals, the ability to divorce their husbands whether they were mistreated, abused, or cheated on. If you come from a noble family, your marriage is part of a political power struggle. If you are a commoner or slave, you were treated like a plaything for the wealthy. Using the very popular erotic novel to spread the tales of these women, it created quite a storm that has personal, political and nationwide implications. All this is very interesting to me and creates quite a unique plot for a historical drama to tell. However, the execution could have been better. I do think the pacing of the drama is good. I was able to binge watch this quickly and it holds my attention pretty well. I think the last episode is actually the slowest for me due to its focus on palace politics.
Romance:
Coming into this, I was looking for a hot romance with sizzling chemistry and a lot of skinship (kisses, hugs, bed scenes, etc). Well, I did get some of the better kisses in Korean dramas. The men are going at it passionately and hungrily, the women respond surprisingly well to these ‘attacks’. The explicit scenes weren’t really from the main actors themselves, but pictures in the novel and some minor characters. The 3 main couples we see do have intimate scenes, but no nudity (if I remember correctly) except some muscular, toned and beautiful abs/torsos and backs from the actors. LOL. Unfortunately, the main romance is a disappointment. It has a start, missing the middle and then we got the end of their romance. The initial encounter and flirting were fun. But I seem to have missed how they actually fall in love. Therefore, when finally the secrets were all out in the open, the aftermath did not gut punch me as hard as I would have liked. The other suitors come and go, and not a whole lot of time is given to them to really show their affection for FL. They feel like an afterthought. On the other hand, the grand prince/duchess romance is simple, entertaining, sweet and sexy. They didn’t have too much screentime, but I get a full story and see how they started rockily but continue to grow as a couple. The crown prince/crown princess story might have the best development. It has a complete start/middle/end. It might have gone in a direction that I didn’t want, but the ending to their love story is probably more realistic. I was just hoping for a different ending.
Acting:
This is Go A Ra’s return to the small screen after a 5-year hiatus. I can’t believe her last drama was 2020 “Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol” (which has one of the worst endings, by the way). Go A Ra’s acting is good. She looks like a young and spoiled princess in the beginning, and was great with the more emotional scenes as well. I’ve seen Chang Ryul in so many other dramas before, yet I don’t remember him at all. This is probably because he’s mainly in supporting roles but here, he’s the male lead. He is an experienced actor and he didn’t disappoint. I might not have liked how their romance was written, but the actors themselves play the roles really well. They do have good chemistry together. The acting of the whole cast is good. From the main younger leads to the older generation, I didn’t have anything to complain about.
Production:
I like the OST. The songs complement the scenes, except for that one song with English words. It was a little weird listening to it while watching a historical drama. The costumes, sets, accessories all look great. A lot of criticisms are about the explicit scenes of whether they are necessary or not. Despite not minding them and actually am excited to watch a Korean drama that is not afraid to go there, I do have to agree that some of the scenes might not be necessary. There’s a lot of focus on the pictures in the novel to tell the story. Well, I think you can achieve the storytelling without emphasizing on those pictures. On the other hand, I can also understand in order to move the plot forward that shock value is needed to show impact and aftermath. A few of the bed scenes with the leads are fine and I think are applicable to the plot. Besides, there aren’t too many anyway. I guess seeing the actors putting in effort into those scenes minimizes my criticisms of them. Thank goodness for no fish kisses.
“The Scandal of Chun Hwa” is an entertaining watch. I think it can benefit from a few more episodes to flush out the story. I enjoy the general plot but the romance disappoints me. As I said earlier, I was expecting a strong main romance after reading the synopsis. If you tamper your expectations, you might enjoy it more than me. It is by no means an excellent drama, but if you have time to kill and don’t mind some explicit scenes, this could be fun. Otherwise, you can skip this drama.
Completed: 6/16/2025 - Review #592
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Compelling & HOT Side Stories, Weak Main Plot
This drama had an intriguing premise, but for me, the strongest storylines weren’t the ones centered on the main leads. Instead, I found the arcs of The Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and the Other Woman the most compelling, followed by the initial story of Prince #2 and his fiancée/wife.❤️ Best Part - Secondary Characters
➥ The Crown Prince and Princess’s story stood out due to its depiction of their struggles with privacy—reminding me of a similar theme in The Reign (Western, English drama). Historically, royal couples were often monitored as they were responsible for producing heirs, and this drama portrays their emotional turmoil effectively. Their decisions also highlight a refreshing take on women empowerment in the Joseon era. Their storyline felt far more cohesive and engaging than that of the main leads.
➥ The drama pushed some boundaries—it was a bit risqué compared to typical K-dramas, which might appeal to some viewers. Like expect bold scenes that are quite HOT!
PROS:
➥ The Crown Prince and Crown Princess's storyline is emotionally impactful and historically intriguing.
➥ Strong themes of women empowerment
➥ Some secondary characters had compelling arcs, though they had minimal screen time.
CONS:
➥ The main leads’ storyline wasn’t very engaging and took up most of the screentime.
➥ Slow pacing—can get boring quickly.
➥ The more interesting subplots were severely underdeveloped.
Final Recommendation: Watch or Skip? My take: DEPENDS
➥ SKIP — if you are keen on the main plot and leads. If you’re looking for historical dramas with richer storytelling, you’d be better off exploring other titles.
➥ WATCH - if you want to know the secondary characters story, hot scenes and are ok with fast-forwarding through dull moments
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This review may contain spoilers
An Entertaining Watch Indeed!!
A rebellious princess who loves writing scandalous stories about herself and her family members!The show focuses on the sort of revolutionary thoughts and beliefs that were possibly impossible in the Joseon Era. Maybe that’s why it is fiction, because the kind of revolution that Grand Princess Hwa Ri could never be comprehended in that age. This sets this storyline quite different from most Korean historicals. At heart, it might seem to revolve around the erotic novels written by Princess Hwa Ri under a different pen name; she is most certainly defiant and not at all docile like most royal ladies. Whenever a problem arises, she would rightly use her erotic novels to stir the public opinion. Of course, no one knows it is the Grand Princess’ doing; but underneath all that gleam, glam and sexual overtures, “The Scandal of Chun Hwa” seeks resolutions to problems faced by the women, some of which are transient even in today’s age and time. It could be getting her Uncle punished for murdering her aunt, or seeking vengeance on her own brother when rapes a commoner, or getting the Crown Princess divorved, Hwa Ri always manages to do the impossible. This was one of the best part of this storyline; she is relentlessly committed to making women’s lives better. A true revolutionary indeed!
Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2025/03/12/the-scandal-of-chun-hwa-series-review/#more-1651
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Surprisingly addictive, but left me wanting more
This series turned out to be such a fun surprise. It had charm, boldness, and a refreshing tone that kept me hooked. I genuinely enjoyed watching it. The historical setting mixed with cheeky humor gave it a unique flair that stood out from typical period dramas.That said, I did find myself wishing for more emotional depth between the leads. Their chemistry was there, but the love story felt rushed and underdeveloped. Still, it’s a light, enjoyable ride with enough spice and plot twists to keep things interesting. I liked it a lot… just wish it had dug a little deeper where it mattered most.
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Acting is perfect. Much appreciated Chang Ryul’s remarkable appearance.
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This review may contain spoilers
A HORRIBLE ENDING
The ending is horrible. After 10 chapters of a love story between the protagonists, in the epilogue it turns out they don't end up together and she falls in love with someone else in the present. Also, The story is incomplete. The crown prince was left without his queen and his love; they should have given him a different ending as well. For starters, if they were going to create something like that in so few chapters, they should have given it a good ending. The princess protagonist didn't even know if she loved the protagonist or not.Was this review helpful to you?
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A Tale of Love and Power with Moments of Brilliance—and Frustration
The Scandal of Chun Hwa is an engaging historical K-drama that blends romance, palace intrigue, and personal struggle. With its rich storytelling, stunning visuals, and complex characters, the series draws viewers into the turbulent life of Princess Hwa-ri, a woman determined to defy expectations in a world that seeks to control her.Princess Hwa-ri is the heart of the drama, but her portrayal is a mixed bag. While she is written as a strong-willed and intelligent character, her on-screen presence doesn’t always match the depth of her story. At times, her expressions feel blank, making it hard to fully connect with her emotions. However, her journey—from a princess navigating court politics to a woman fighting for justice—remains compelling enough to keep the audience invested.
Choi Hwan, the enigmatic male lead, is one of the show’s highlights. Initially introduced as a carefree merchant with a love for wealth and women, he soon reveals himself to be much more. His quick wit, charm, and hidden layers make him an intriguing counterpart to Hwa-ri. Their dynamic is filled with tension, flirtation, and a deepening connection that adds an irresistible spark to the narrative. Watching him evolve from a seemingly self-serving businessman to someone who genuinely cares for the princess is one of the drama’s most rewarding aspects.
Beyond romance, the drama’s political conflicts add depth to the story. The court is filled with scheming ministers, power-hungry nobles, and hidden betrayals that keep the stakes high. However, some of these palace intrigues feel predictable, and the pacing occasionally drags, especially in the middle episodes. A tighter script would have made the drama even more compelling.
Despite minor flaws, The Scandal of Chun Hwa is a visually stunning and emotionally gripping watch. It offers the perfect mix of romance, tension, and courtly drama, making it a must-watch for fans of historical K-dramas—just don’t expect an all-around perfect performance.
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Good Enough
Korean Drama '' The Scandal of Chun Hwa '' is a fantasy, historical drama that explores the theme of female sexuality.The drama is indeed bold when it comes to the presentation of female needs and their views on love and sex. Thus, it presents a lot of different stories and different characters, and situations.
On the other hand, the main character's story wasn't that interesting, with the romance being basic and kind of pushed aside with a rocky pace and many cheesy twists.
Finally, the performances were all great by all the actors and actresses in the cast.
So, overall, six out of ten.
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This review may contain spoilers
Bridgerton meet's My sassy girl with a touch of Jane Austen
*The Scandal of Chunwha* reminds me of the mischievous princess from *My Sassy Girl*, but with more adult themes and set in a fictional kingdom. It feels like Korea's answer to Bridgerton , with its mix of romance, drama, and *ahem* steamy content. Like Bridgerton, the show doesn’t seem to prioritize historical accuracy, and that’s fine if you’re in it for the entertainment. And just like the popular show, there's a secret writer behind the scenes, adding another layer of intrigue with the books that contains the explicit drawings looking like the princess in various explicit positions.The first episode went off to a good start, but I found it took me a little while to connect with the characters. The pacing definitely improved by the second episode, and the storyline started to flow much better. In my opinion, the themes of the program seem more suited for an adult audience as well.
I’ve seen some reviews critiquing the show for its sex and nudity, but honestly, this is not a new trend in Korean dramas. Many Korean dramas, even historical ones, have included such scenes in the past.
In episodes 9 and 10, the show takes a dramatic turn, becoming far more gripping and intense. The chemistry between the FL and ML evolves, but as the story unfolds, their once-likely romance begins to feel increasingly uncertain. Despite this shift, the finale delivers a satisfying conclusion that ties things up neatly. Overall, it's a series I would happily rewatch in the future.
This film boasts stunning cinematography, with each shot thoughtfully crafted to enhance the visual experience. Overall, it's a well-made production, with a seamless integration of its original soundtrack. The OST complements the narrative beautifully, enhancing the mood without ever feeling overpowering or out of place.
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