Nana has responded directly to the criticism surrounding her appearance in Netflix’s new historical drama The Scandal, where a debate over her lips quickly became one of the early talking points surrounding the series. What began as discussion about whether her fuller-looking lips suited the Joseon-era setting eventually became personal enough for the actress to address how the criticism affected both her and her fans.

Her response was notably reflective rather than confrontational. Nana acknowledged that a personal appearance choice might not have been the right decision for her work as an actress, while also apologizing to fans who had been forced to watch the criticism unfold. The comments have now added another layer to the conversation surrounding her first historical drama.

Nana addresses criticism over her appearance in The Scandal

On September 22, Nana discussed the controversy through a fan communication platform, directly acknowledging the criticism surrounding her lips in The Scandal.

Rather than dismissing the discussion, she reflected on whether her personal decision about her appearance was appropriate while portraying Hee Yeon, a young widow living under the restrictive expectations of Joseon society.

“If my lips made people uncomfortable when they watched, then that was my fault,” Nana said.

She continued with another candid reflection:

“I think my personal choice may not have been the right choice for me as an actress.”

Nana also focused on the people supporting her. She explained that seeing the criticism directed toward her could be painful for fans who care about her.

“I think it must hurt my fans who love me to see all the criticism directed at me. That’s why I’m even more sorry.”

She then added:

“I’ll try to make sure we can hear more good things together going forward.”

Her comments placed the emphasis on her own responsibility as a performer rather than turning the controversy into an argument with viewers.

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What Nana’s statement does — and does not — confirm

The distinction is important because some viewers had speculated online that Nana had undergone lip filler.

That speculation eventually became described as a lip-filler controversy, but Nana’s statement did not confirm that she had received such a procedure.

Instead, her comments referred to her personal choice and whether that choice was appropriate for her work as an actress.

The available information therefore does not establish that Nana underwent lip filler treatment. The filler claim came from viewer speculation, while Nana’s own comments focused on her appearance choice and its suitability for her role.

Other viewers pushed back against the criticism, arguing that focusing so intensely on one physical feature of an actress had gone too far. The discussion consequently expanded into a broader conversation about how an actor’s personal appearance choices can interact with the visual identity required for a historical production.

Why Nana’s appearance became a talking point after The Scandal premiered

The Scandal premiered globally on Netflix on September 18, and Nana plays Hee Yeon, a young widow whose life has been shaped by devotion to her late husband and the restrictive expectations placed on women in Joseon.

The role is especially significant for Nana because it marks her first historical drama since her acting debut.

That meant the actress was moving away from the contemporary and sophisticated image associated with several of her previous characters. For The Scandal, she adopted traditional hanbok costumes along with period-appropriate speech, mannerisms and expressions to portray Hee Yeon.

After the series arrived, however, some viewers became heavily focused on Nana’s lips.

Online criticism questioned whether their fuller appearance suited the historical setting. Some viewers said the feature became distracting during close-ups, emotional sequences and side-profile shots.

The debate did not develop in isolation from the character itself. Hee Yeon’s appearance, mannerisms and restrained existence are all connected to the Joseon setting, making the way Nana presented the character part of the wider visual identity of the series.

Detail	Verified information
Series	The Scandal
Global Netflix premiere	September 18, 2026
Nana’s character	Hee Yeon / Hui-yeon
Character	Young widow shaped by devotion to her late husband and Joseon-era social restrictions
Nana’s historical-drama status	First historical drama since her acting debut
Controversy	Viewer criticism and speculation surrounding the appearance of Nana’s lips
Nana’s response	September 22 through a fan communication platform
Lip-filler confirmation	Not confirmed by Nana

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The Scandal is already reaching viewers worldwide

The appearance controversy has unfolded alongside measurable early success for The Scandal on Netflix.

According to Netflix’s official weekly Top 10 data covering September 14 to September 20, the series ranked No. 7 among the Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows.

During that period, The Scandal recorded 1.9 million views and 14.5 million hours viewed.

The timing makes that performance particularly notable in context: the series premiered on September 18, meaning the weekly chart captured only its first three days of availability.

The drama also entered the Top 10 in 10 countries and regions:

• South Korea
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Netflix lists The Scandal as a limited series starring Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and NANA, with Jung Ji-woo and Kim Jae-joong credited as creators.

The Joseon-era story behind Netflix’s The Scandal

At the centre of the series is a story adapted from one of the most famous works of French literature.

The Scandal takes Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses and reimagines its dangerous game of seduction and manipulation within Joseon-era Korea.

Netflix describes the story as revolving around Lady Cho, Cho Won and Hui-yeon, whose lives become entangled in a dangerous wager driven by desire and temptation.

Son Ye-jin plays Lady Cho, an exceptionally talented woman whose abilities and ambitions exceed the limitations imposed on women in Joseon society. She becomes the driving force behind the wager at the centre of the story.

Ji Chang-wook portrays Cho Won, a man known as Joseon’s greatest playboy. Lady Cho draws him into a dangerous game involving love and seduction, but his pursuit eventually brings him into contact with Hui-yeon.

Nana’s Hui-yeon is a widow who has spent years living a restrained life following the death of her husband. Her encounter with Cho Won forces her to confront emotions and desires that she has suppressed.

Netflix’s original announcement described Hui-yeon as a woman who “becomes unknowingly entangled in their risky bet,” while presenting the drama as a story of forbidden desire unfolding against the strict social order of Joseon.

The historical setting therefore plays an important role beyond simply changing the location of the original French story. The restrictions imposed on women in Joseon reshape the relationships, motivations and conflicts surrounding the central characters.

Nana takes on a very different acting role

For Nana, The Scandal represents another significant stage in a career that began in music before expanding into acting.

She debuted as a member of After School in 2009 and later built a varied acting career through projects including The Good Wife, Glitch, Mask Girl and Climax.

Her role in The Scandal differs from many of those contemporary characters because Hee Yeon’s identity is deeply connected to the social expectations of the Joseon period.

Hee Yeon is a widow who has remained committed to her late husband and to the ideals of chastity expected of her. Her encounter with Cho Won begins to challenge that restrained existence, becoming an important part of the drama’s emotional conflict.

That transformation was one of the major points of interest surrounding the production before its release. Nana’s traditional costumes, period speech and performance style were all designed around a character far removed from many of the modern roles audiences may associate with her.

Her participation in the drama’s mature material also generated additional attention ahead of its worldwide release.

The Scandal follows an earlier Korean adaptation of the same story

Netflix’s The Scandal is not the first Korean production to bring Les Liaisons dangereuses into a Joseon setting.

The 2003 film Untold Scandal similarly reimagined the French novel as a story of forbidden relationships among members of Joseon society.

The film starred Bae Yong Joon, Lee Mi Sook and Jeon Do Yeon, with Jeon Do Yeon portraying the character corresponding to Nana’s Hee Yeon.

Untold Scandal became a major Korean box-office success and attracted more than 3.5 million moviegoers, despite receiving an adults-only rating at the time.

The Netflix series revisits the same broad source material with a new cast and a longer television format, placing Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and Nana at the centre of its dangerous love game.

Netflix’s official description emphasizes the combination of the classic source material, Joseon society and a contemporary narrative sensibility.

Nana’s response shifts attention away from lip-filler speculation

The controversy surrounding Nana’s lips has become one of the early discussion points surrounding The Scandal, but her response focused on a different question: the responsibility she feels when making appearance choices as an actress.

Her comments acknowledged that what might be considered a personal choice can take on a different meaning when an actor is portraying a character in a specific historical environment.

At the same time, Nana expressed concern about the effect of the criticism on her supporters.

Her apology to fans was not a confirmation of the online speculation about cosmetic procedures. Instead, she specifically reflected on whether her personal choice was appropriate for her work and apologized because people who love and support her had to watch the criticism directed at her.

That distinction remains central to understanding the controversy.

The filler claim came from viewer speculation, while Nana’s own comments referred to her personal choice and its suitability for her work as an actress.

There is therefore no basis in Nana’s statement to treat the lip-filler speculation as an established fact.

The discussion instead illustrates how an actor’s real-world appearance can become part of the conversation when that actor enters a highly stylized historical production, particularly when viewers have strong expectations about period authenticity.

The Scandal continues to attract global attention

Despite the discussion surrounding Nana’s appearance, The Scandal has already established an early presence on Netflix’s global non-English television chart following its September 18 premiere.

Its 1.9 million views and 14.5 million hours viewed between September 14 and September 20 provide measurable context for the show’s initial performance. The series also appeared in the Top 10 across 10 countries and regions, demonstrating that its audience extends beyond South Korea.

The drama is currently available worldwide on Netflix, with Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and Nana leading the cast.

As the Joseon-era love game unfolds, Nana’s Hee Yeon remains one of the central figures caught between desire, social expectations and the dangerous wager driving the story.

For Nana, the project is also a notable chapter in her acting career. It marks her first historical drama while placing her in a role that required a major shift from many of her previous contemporary characters. The response to her appearance has now created a separate conversation about personal appearance choices, historical character design and the expectations audiences bring to period dramas.

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Conclusion

Nana’s response to the The Scandal appearance controversy has added important context to a debate that began with viewer reactions to her lips. She acknowledged the criticism, reflected on whether her personal choice was appropriate for her work as an actress and apologized to fans who had been affected by the negative reactions.

At the same time, the available information does not confirm the online speculation that she underwent lip filler. Her own statement addressed her personal choice rather than confirming a cosmetic procedure.

The conversation comes as The Scandal makes a strong early showing on Netflix, ranking No. 7 on the Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows chart for September 14–20 with 1.9 million views and 14.5 million hours viewed. With its Joseon-era reimagining of Les Liaisons dangereuses, Nana’s first historical-drama role and a global cast led by Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook and Nana, the series has already generated substantial attention both for its story and for the conversation surrounding its performers.

Disclaimer: This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided below, including Netflix’s official announcements and Top 10 data and the supplied Korean media reports concerning Nana’s comments. The article reflects information and statements available as of September 24, 2026. Nana’s comments address her appearance and personal choice but do not confirm that she underwent a lip-filler procedure. Viewer reactions and speculation described in the source material should not be treated as established facts about Nana’s appearance or medical history.

Sources

• Netflix: The Scandal premieres September 18
• Netflix official page for The Scandal
• Netflix Global Top 10: September 14–20, 2026
• Maeil Business Newspaper: Nana addresses criticism over her lips
• MoneyToday: Nana directly responds to the controversy
• ChosunBiz/OSEN: Nana apologizes over lip criticism

Featured Image Credit: Netflix