Capital Scandal

Capital Scandal

Promotional poster for Capital Scandal
Also known as Scandal in Old Seoul
Scandal in the Capital
Kyeongseong Scandal
Modern Romance
Genre Historical
Romance
Comedy
Drama
Based on Love Story in the Capital
by Lee Sun-mi
Written by Jin Soo-wan
Directed by Han Joon-seo
Starring Kang Ji-hwan
Han Ji-min
Ryu Jin
Han Go-eun
Country of origin South Korea
Original language(s) Korean
No. of episodes 16
Production
Producer(s) Jung Sung-hyo
Lee Jung-seob
Location(s) Korea
Running time Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 (KST)
Release
Original network Korean Broadcasting System
Original release 6 June (2007-06-06) – 2 August 2007 (2007-08-02)
Chronology
Preceded by Several Questions That Make Us Happy
Followed by Sayuksin
External links
Website

Capital Scandal (Hangul: 경성 스캔들; RR: Gyeongseong Seukaendeul; lit. "Scandal in Gyeongseong") is a 2007 South Korean television series starring Kang Ji-hwan, Han Ji-min, Ryu Jin and Han Go-eun. It aired on KBS2 from June 6 to August 2, 2007 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 16 episodes.

Based on Lee Sun-mi's novel Love Story in the Capital,[1] the story juxtaposes the heroic anti-Japanese movement with young romance by depicting the capital Seoul of the 1930s during colonial rule, at that time called "Gyeongseong" (hence its alternate title Scandal in Old Seoul). It was a time when the nation's independence fighters fought against pro-Japanese traitors, while traditional Joseon-era Confucian values clashed and coexisted with a more modern way of life. The series portrays one of the darkest periods of Korean history with a mixture of tragedy, comedy and romance.

Synopsis

Sunwoo Wan (Kang Ji-hwan) is one of the capital's most notorious womanizers who alleges that he can seduce any woman within 10 minutes. The handsome, fashionable and rich young man doesn't have worries about the fate of his country. He gambles with his colleagues on his ability to seduce Na Yeo-kyung (Han Ji-min) whose nickname is "Jomaja" (the last woman of the Joseon Dynasty). She is known as a woman who doesn't care about her appearance and has no interest at all in dating. She runs a small bookstore while working as a volunteer teacher for poor children. Yeo-kyung is a very determined woman and has strong faith that her country will be liberated from Japan in the near future. Dating a guy or getting married is something she'll do only after the independence of her native land.

At first Wan doesn't take his bet seriously, but as events escalate in the capital, he finds himself falling in love with Yeo-kyung. She opens his eyes to the social injustices around him, which transforms him into becoming an independence movement activist himself. As Wan says, "Love is the strongest and most effective strategy for independence and revolution."

Cast

Main characters

A thoroughly "modern boy," Sunwoo Wan is always dressed fashionably in the latest trends and likes jazz, gambling and women. He frequents the night clubs and has his face splashed on the tabloids. The most famous playboy in Gyeongseong, Wan is confident that it takes him only ten minutes to seduce a girl. One day he makes a bet that he will break his record by seducing not some pretty and sophisticated girl, but the prudish independence fighter nicknamed Jomaja. But what begins as false love later evolves into genuine feelings. He experiences real love for the first time, which later evolves into patriotism. The former hedonist turns into an enthusiastic independence fighter.
Unlike most young women of the era, Yeo-kyung has received an advanced education but still prioritizes pre-modern moral values. She still wears a traditional white blouse and a black skirt. She is strong-willed and stubborn -- to the extent that she makes others want to challenge her. Many young men have tried to approach her but failed. Rumor has it that she scolded on man for a full hour for daring to ask her out. That's why Gyeongseong guys have given up on her; they just sarcastically and disparagingly call her Jomaja, meaning "the last woman of Joseon."
Having received an elite education in Tokyo, Soo-hyun has outstanding work abilities, good manners and neat looks, and he is quickly climbing up the promotion ladder at the Japanese government in Korea. Everybody knows that Japanese high-ranking official Ueda Mamoru fully trusts and relies on him. But as talented as he is, Soo-hyun also has many enemies, including his Japanese coworkers, Korean underlings and even his childhood friend Sunwoo Wan. He merely ignores people who accuse him of betraying his country. His face is always expressionless and doesn't betray his secrets, and he only smiles briefly at decisive moments.
A famous gisaeng, Song-joo has spellbinding looks that can charm anyone, and enviable skills at dancing and singing. Only men of high social status can meet with her. Those who don't have enough money or power to meet with her in person can hear her songs on Gyeongseong Radio or see her smiling face on Japanese government PR posters hanging at the train station. Song-joo is the top celebrity of the era when there were no entertainers in Joseon yet.

Supporting characters

Original soundtrack

  1. Gyeongseong Scandal - Eru
  2. Because of you - Jeon So-young
  3. Elegy
  4. Dance with me
  5. You who believe this is the end - Jay
  6. No Life Without You (feat. Soseol)
  7. Winds of Gyeongseong
  8. Gyeongseong Scandal (Inst.)
  9. Sweet Song - Noh Jin-young
  10. Gyeongseong BLUES
  11. Mong (dream)
  12. Waltz of Destiny
  13. Elegy Tango
  14. You who believe this is the end (Inst.)
  15. One Summer
  16. Because of you (Inst.)
  17. In a Mood

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2007
KBS Drama Awards[3]
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Kang Ji-hwan Won
Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Han Ji-min Won
Han Go-eun Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Kang Nam-gil Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Han Go-eun Won
Best Young Actor Choi Woo-hyuk Won
Netizen Award, Actress Han Ji-min Won
Popularity Award, Actor Kang Ji-hwan Nominated
Popularity Award, Actress Han Ji-min Nominated
Best Couple Award Kang Ji-hwan and Han Ji-min Won
2008
44th Baeksang Arts Awards
 Best Actor (TV) Kang Ji-hwan Nominated
Best Actress (TV) Han Ji-min Nominated
Best New Director (TV) Han Joon-seo Nominated
Banff World Media Festival
 Rockie Award Capital Scandal Won

References

  1. ↑ "Capital Scandal". KBS World. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  2. ↑ Wee, Geun-woo (23 December 2009). "Kang Ji-hwan's Movie Picks". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  3. ↑ "2007 Year-end Korean drama awards round-up". Hancinema. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 2013-08-25.

External links

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