Capital Scandal (KBS, 2007)

Last edited by Suzumi on Sat Sep 08, 2007 7:12 am; edited 1 time in total

Title: 경성스캔들 / Capital Scandal
Also known as: Scandal in the Capital / Scandal in Old Seoul / Modern Romance
Episodes: 16
Genre: Fusion drama, Romance

Based on the novel “Sad Story of the Capital (경성애사, 京城哀史)” by Lee Sun Mi (이선미), the same author as Coffee Prince, this drama portrays a love story during the 1930s during the independence movement.

Na Yu Kyung (Han Ji Min) is a book store owner and a lobbyist, as she is a purist of Korean culture. Sun Woo Wan (Kang Ji Hwan), the youngest son of a rich and famous family, is involved in the independence movement with his magazine that records scandals and spreads lewd content to the public. Yu Kyung and Woo Wan meet under strange circumstances, which sets both of them under disagreeable terms with one another. Lee Soo Hyun (Ryu Jin) is a Josenjing who rises amongst the ranks of the government; his connection with Woo Wan goes way back into the past as childhood friends. Then there's Cha Song Joo (Han Go Eun), a famous courtesan of the time who is acquainted with Woo Wan and secretly admires Soo Hyun. Through scandal, bets, and mere coincidences, the four become entangled in a great development of romance and suspense.

Links:
DramaWiki
Official Website
Subtitle Thread
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Personally, I find this drama to be one of the best I've watched. It is beyond amusing and colorful yet it still manages to hold a serious touch to it at the same time. Big Smile

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:36 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I also started watching it on TV as Scandal on Old Soeul. I know that it edited to fit in more commercials. I find it interesting so far and I like Han Go Eun who was in More Beautiful than a Flower and Lawyers. Also Ryu Jin from Oh Pil-Seung and Realy Really Like You. I saw two eps so far but I will probably see a couple more to to know if I want to download the full eps. I know WITHS2 is subbing this and the always do a great job.

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:22 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I'm currently watching the drama & next week will be the end on KBS World.. really good drama..I love Maja & wan..they look so good as a couple.. Mr. Green

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I'm glad we all share the same sentiment Big Smile

...I really enjoy watching this series, it's one-of-a-kind Big Smile

the plot is really great, the actors have good chemistry to one another, and it deviates from the usual "love triangle" storyline...there's a good mix of romance, comedy and action, and a little bit of history Big Smile

I love its comic mood that contrasts the drama's gloomy setting thumleft

...Unfortunately the show's underrated in Korea... Sad

I just hope to get more nice reviews to this one Smile

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:45 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

OK...I have been drawn in with the completion of ep 4. Started downloading eps 1-4 and wil rewatch. I like Kang Ji Hwan also (saw him in BSGS with no subs ha ha). The story has started to become very intriguing as nothing is as it seems on the surface and there were some surprising developments. the mean police officer reminds me of the very mean one in Seoul 1945. they both seem to be unnecessarily violent to the poor people.

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:44 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I'm currently watching this drama and I like it alot so far, at ep 4. I really like Han Jimin in her role as a pious independence fighter.

The show is a romcom but has its underlying elements of drama and political intrigue. And everything seems so well produced. The sets are splendid.

Since I suck at reviews and because caps can be informative, I'll post a few up:

Hidden:

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:08 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I'm on episode 6 now.

Sometimes this show reminds me of an anime considering its romcom elements between various characters and something about the cinematography and screenplay when the show is trying to be funny.

What's interesting about the show is that it's like a small bubble of romance-comedy floating around inside of a larger bubble of suspense and danger. The latter part feels just as genuine as the lighter elements of the show. Thus, there's a dual push pushing the story and it's almost stratisphied (?) but the effect isn't jarring at all, imo.

One thng I'd criticize this show for is that although I find this show humurous (when it's being humurous), sometimes I start to think the comic timing is slightly off. Ever get that feeling? Also, Kang Ji Hwan overacts a bit. But these weaknesses are shooed away quickly by the other elements of the show. I like the instrumental score a lot.

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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:30 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I usually lurk around the forums, but I felt it was an appropriate time for me to create an account just to post to this certain thread. It pleases me that there are other people who watch this series. I honestly feel that Capital Scandal is heavily underrated show. It's rejected a lot that I've learned to expect from a Korean drama, and it just feels new to me. I actually love all of the characters, and that, in my case, is a very rare thing when it comes to dramas. The show also knows how to throw me off, and I love that the most. There aren't unbelievable cliffhangers, but I seem to eat up every word that comes out of a character's mouth and then find that those words aren't the truth at all. Sure, it's not masterpiece. There are some predictable moments at times, but I was purely shocked from some of the plot twists.

Ssang, you chose some of the best images to put up. Episode 6 was a great one. It seems that anyone I talk to about the series has an affinity for fedoras. Ha! I'd like to hear more about what you have to say about the timing of the comedic moments. I'm not sure if I caught those myself.

I watched some of Coffee Prince before I started on this series, and I felt that Coffee Prince was one of the strongest shows this summer. However, after starting Capital Scandal, my opinions have changed. Out of all the Korean dramas I've watched, Capital Scandal is definitely topping off my list of favorites because of the time period, characters, and storyline. It's definitely more tolerable than the things I've seen, and it disappoints me that not many people have looked into this series at all.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:12 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

^ I like fedoras for some reason. A lot. I don't know why. Smile

I've seen ep 8 now which ended on a cliffhanger. Ep 7 was hillarious. If you've ever played Street Fighter 2, you'd know why. Plus, I really enjoyed this scene..

Hidden:

ps: I only caught this show because of this thread. I wouldn't have watched it otherwise. Also, if you're looking for a good K show, I recommend 9 End 2 Outs, which I'm enjoying the most of the 4 shows I'm currently watching. Also, if you haven't seen Soulmate, I think you'd like that show too.

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:46 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I can't say that I've played Street Fighter 2 before, so can you tell me why it's hilarious? I know the joke's never that good when it has to be explained. Aw, I hope you keep posting more pictures. I'm obviously too lazy to go back and post up images. That scene's one of my favorites.

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll look into them after I move.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:05 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

It's brief but difficult to miss if you're a fan of the video game. Toward the end of the fight scene in ep 7, Kang Ji Hwan's character does a fancy uppercut move. But when he does, he shouts "shoryuken!" which is the sound Ryu and Ken make whenever they execute that same move. Laugh

See this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPj63Ms_q3M

I'm glad you like the caps.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:11 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Yeah, I think Capital Scandal started airing two weeks ago on KBS World, after Mawang. I caught the first 2 episodes, and then missed out on Episodes 3+4. It looks good so far, and I loved the swing number in the first epi. I kinda wish SBS was producing this though, this is more in line with the kind of recreational stuff they're good at. Time of Dog and Wolf is coming up soon on MBC at the same timeslot, so I'm not sure whether I'm going to commit to this show yet. Is Time of Dog and Wolf that good?

As it turns out, the novelist who wrote Capital Scandal wrote -- you guessed it -- the Coffee Prince.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:21 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Ssang, I see now! I only got to play the Street Fighters games whenever I went over to someone else's house, so I never did get too familiar with them. Thanks for explaining all that.

belleza, I haven't seen Time of Dog and Wolf, but a few of my friends have said they liked it, although I don't know any specifics. Oh, and I do know that the novelist was the same. I'm the original poster's sister. Suzumi always knows to research her stuff before she starts watching something, but I guess she forgot to mention that in the first post.

Smile

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:04 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I am watching this series right now, with a very bad english sub. But, who cares, so long as I understand what going on in every scene. This is so good, something different from the rest. Kang Ji Wan Han Ji Min is an unlikely couple, but the screen brighthens everytime they are there. Hey KJW is getting more good looking every series...ha!

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:33 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0