'The Scandal' director questions future in erotic cinema

Amid criticisms ranging from pacing to Nana's lip filler controversy, Korea’s acclaimed erotic filmmaker hints 'The Scandal' may be his last sensual project Director Jung Ji-woo has been behind some of Korean cinema’s most acclaimed erotic dramas — including "Eungyo," the 2012 feature that catapulted Hallyu megastar Kim Go-eun to stardom in her breakthrough role as a sexually precocious high school student. Naturally, expectations were high for Jung’s latest project: an erotic K-drama adaptation of the seminal 18th-century French novel "Dangerous Liaisons" for Netflix Korea.

The pressure only intensified with the A-list cast — including Ji Chang-wook and Son Ye-jin — and the source material's track record. The novel's 2003 screen adaptation, "Untold Scandal," stands as one of the most commercially successful adult-rated films in Korean film history. Despite the hype, Jung’s adaptation has received mixed reviews, with critics pointing to its sluggish pacing and lack of dramatic tension.