Television viewers watching historical drama expect period costumes and settings to transport them to another century. When modern aesthetics collide with ancient court etiquette, audiences notice immediately.
South Korean actor Lim Jin-a, known to global audiences as Nana, has addressed widespread viewer criticism regarding her appearance in the Netflix period series The Scandal. Following the drama’s premiere on 18 September 2026, audience feedback centred heavily on her mouth, with viewers asserting that apparent lip filler broke the atmosphere of the Joseon dynasty setting.
Speaking directly to her subscribers on the fan messaging service Bubble, the thirty-five-year-old actor acknowledged the criticism without deflection.
“If my lips made viewers uncomfortable, that’s my fault,” Nana stated. “I think a personal choice I made may not have been the right choice for me as an actor.”
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She expressed concern for her longtime supporters who had to read harsh remarks online during the programme’s rollout.
“I think it must hurt the fans who love me to see the harsh criticism of me, and that makes me feel even more sorry,” she added. “I’ll work hard so that we can hear good things together from now on.”
A Chaste Widow In The Joseon Era
The eight-part production reimagines Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s 1782 French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, a narrative previously adapted for Korean cinema in the 2003 film Untold Scandal. In this television version, Nana shares the screen with prominent performers Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook.
The story follows a perilous web of seduction and aristocratic rivalry. Nana portrays Hui-yeon, a devout widow living under strict social codes of chastity.
The role marks her first performance in a traditional Korean costume drama. Audiences accustomed to her contemporary styling in thriller series found the visual contrast difficult to reconcile with a character meant to embody seventeenth-century modesty. Commentators noted that the fullness and contour of her lips appeared distinctly modern against the muted tones of traditional hanbok clothing.
Despite the visual debate, the drama secured quick commercial attention, rising to number seven on Netflix’s global non-English television rankings within three days of its release.
From Pop Stardom To Challenging Screen Roles
Nana entered the entertainment industry in 2009 as a fashion model before debuting in the popular girl group After School and its hit pop trio Orange Caramel. She holds a certified professional make-up artist licence, a background that gave her an early interest in styling and public presentation.
Her transition into dramatic screen work began with praised supporting appearances, including her award-winning role in the 2016 Korean adaptation of The Good Wife. She demonstrated range in the mystery film Confession and led the science-fiction series Glitch.
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In 2023, she earned widespread recognition in Netflix’s dark thriller Mask Girl, portraying an office worker whose pursuit of online celebrity leads to violence.
Her candour regarding the criticism reflects an established history of addressing personal decisions publicly. In 2022, she drew public attention by displaying full-body tattoos during promotional appearances, later undergoing extensive removal procedures after describing them as a coping mechanism during a difficult emotional period.
Nana will return to Netflix in the upcoming crime series Materesa, directed by Queen of Tears director Jang Young-woo, portraying a criminal psychologist investigating homicide cases.
