Nana, who took on her first historical drama role in Netflix series The Scandal, has unexpectedly found herself at the center of controversy over her lips. Although she plays Hui Yeon, a widow who remained chaste for years after losing her husband, some viewers argued that Nana’s plump lips and modern, sophisticated appearance did not blend naturally with the character and made it harder to become immersed in the story. Nana eventually addressed the criticism herself, acknowledging that her personal choice “wasn’t the right choice as an actress.”
Set during the Joseon era, The Scandal follows a dangerous wager involving love between Lady Cho (Son Ye Jin) and Cho Won (Ji Chang Wook), as well as Hui Yeon (Nana), the woman who becomes entangled in their game. After losing her husband, Hui Yeon lives while preserving her chastity and initially tries to push away Cho Won when he approaches her, only to gradually find herself wavering.
Following the series’ release, Nana’s appearance attracted almost as much attention as her acting. Hui Yeon’s restrained image is emphasized through white hanbok and minimal makeup, but some viewers felt that Nana’s distinctive facial features and full lips looked out of place for a widow living in the Joseon era. Online comments included, “I keep looking at her lips instead of her acting” and “All I can see are her lips.”
The discussion even led to speculation that Nana may have received lip fillers. Photos from her appearance at a supermodel competition in 2009, as well as images from the early days of her debut with After School, resurfaced online as people compared changes in her appearance over the years. Her lips appear thinner in some of those older photos. However, factors such as makeup, facial expressions, and camera angles can significantly affect how someone looks in photographs, meaning it is not possible to determine whether she underwent any particular cosmetic procedure based on old images alone.
Nana was also aware of the reactions from viewers. On September 22, she addressed the issue through a fan communication platform, saying, “If my lips made viewers uncomfortable, then that’s my fault. I think my personal choice was a choice that may not have been right for me as an actress.”
Nana also expressed concern that her fans might be hurt by the negative reviews directed at her, adding that she would work harder so they could hear more positive responses in the future. Rather than avoiding a situation in which her appearance became a bigger talking point than her acting in her first historical drama, she openly reflected on her own choices.
The Scandal places Korean aesthetics at the forefront through its beautiful hanbok, art direction, and traditional pansori music. In a period drama, the extent to which an actor’s image naturally blends with the atmosphere of the production can have a significant impact on viewers’ immersion. The reactions surrounding Nana show that discussions over an actor’s appearance can extend beyond simple personal preferences, becoming part of the broader debate over how convincingly a character fits within the visual world of a drama.
Sources: Naver