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Wait a minute.
Lady Cho and Cho Won are cousins?
If you've been watching Netflix's The Scandal, you may have noticed that the relationship between these two characters is more complicated than it first appears.
Lady Cho and Cho Won are relatives who exchanged letters during childhood. Years later, they reconnect and begin a dangerous game involving another woman, Hui-yeon.
That raises a question international viewers may not expect to ask while watching a historical romance:
Could cousins marry in Joseon Korea?
And if Lady Cho and Cho Won were already related, what made their relationship so complicated?
The answer takes us into Korean family terminology, marriage restrictions, and the importance of family lineage in Joseon society.
Are Lady Cho and Cho Won Really Cousins in The Scandal?
Yes.
Netflix's official Episode 1 description identifies Cho Won as Lady Cho's cousin.
The series also establishes that they shared a history before the events of the drama.
They exchanged letters during childhood, sharing their thoughts with each other before reconnecting years later.
That childhood connection adds another layer to their adult relationship.
They are not strangers meeting for the first time.
They already know each other.
But understanding that they are cousins is only the beginning.
To understand why their relationship raises cultural questions, we need to learn how Korean families describe relatives.
What Does Sachon Mean in Korean?
Sachon (사촌, 四寸) means a first cousin in Korean: the child of your parent's sibling.
The word combines:
| Korean | Hanja | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 사 | 四 | Four |
| 촌 | 寸 | Degree of kinship |
The word 촌 (chon) is used in Korean to count degrees of family relationship.
This is called:
촌수 (chonsu) — degree of kinship.
In Korean family terminology, relatives can be described according to how many steps separate them in a family tree.
For example:
| Relationship | Korean | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Parent and child | 부모와 자녀 | 1촌 |
| Siblings | 형제자매 | 2촌 |
| Uncle or aunt and niece or nephew | 삼촌·고모·이모와 조카 | 3촌 |
| First cousins | 사촌 | 4촌 |
This is different from the way English speakers usually describe family relationships.
English uses terms such as:
First cousin.
Second cousin.
First cousin once removed.
Korean can express family distance through a numbered system.
Once you understand 촌수, the word 사촌 becomes much easier to remember.
Why Are First Cousins Called “Four Chon”?
Imagine two children whose parents are siblings.
To count their relationship in the Korean kinship system, follow the family tree.
Child A → Parent A → Grandparent → Parent B → Child B
That's four steps.
So the two children are:
4촌 — 사촌 (sachon).
Here's another example.
You and your brother share the same parents.
The relationship between you and your brother is counted as:
You → Parent → Brother
That's two steps.
Therefore, siblings are 2촌.
This system helps explain why Korean family vocabulary can feel surprisingly precise to English-speaking learners.
But it also leads us back to the question behind The Scandal.
If Lady Cho and Cho Won are cousins, would marriage between them have been acceptable in Joseon Korea?
Could First Cousins Marry in Joseon Korea?
Marriage between first cousins was generally prohibited under Joseon's restrictions on marriage between close relatives.
However, the complete history is more complicated than a simple rule that every person sharing a surname or family connection was forbidden to marry.
Joseon marriage restrictions distinguished between different kinds of kinship.
These included relatives connected through the father's family, relatives connected through the mother's family, and people who shared a surname or ancestral origin.
A scholarly study of Joseon marriage law, based on the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, explains that restrictions on close relatives and same-surname marriage developed through legal codes and royal orders.
For first cousins, the key point is straightforward.
A close blood relationship mattered even when the two people did not share the same surname.
That distinction is especially important for international viewers.
What Is Geunchinhon?
The Korean word for marriage between close relatives is:
근친혼 (geunchinhon, 近親婚).
It is often translated as:
Consanguineous marriage.
Or, more simply:
Marriage between close relatives.
Let's break it down.
| Korean | Hanja | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 근 | 近 | Near |
| 친 | 親 | Relative or kin |
| 혼 | 婚 | Marriage |
Together:
근친혼 = marriage between close relatives.
This is the broad concept relevant to the question of first-cousin marriage.
But there is another Korean expression you may encounter when researching Korean marriage history.
동성동본 (dongseong dongbon).
And the two should not be confused.
What Does Dongseong Dongbon Mean?
Dongseong dongbon (동성동본, 同姓同本) means sharing the same surname and the same ancestral clan origin.
For example, two people might both have the surname Kim.
But that alone does not tell you whether they belong to the same ancestral clan.
Korean surnames can be associated with different ancestral origins, known as:
본관 (bongwan).
The expression 동성동본 combines two ideas.
동성 — same surname
동본 — same ancestral origin
Joseon's marriage restrictions placed considerable importance on paternal lineage and surname-based kinship.
The historical rules changed over time, and the degree to which they were enforced also varied.
Research on early Joseon shows that actual marriage practices did not always follow the intended restrictions perfectly.
So remember this distinction:
근친혼 concerns close kinship.
동성동본 concerns a shared surname and ancestral origin.
The two categories can overlap, but they are not identical.
Could Cousins Have Different Surnames in Korea?
Absolutely.
Imagine a brother and sister.
The brother has a son.
The sister has a daughter.
Those two children are first cousins.
But because Korean surnames have traditionally followed the paternal line, they may have different surnames.
For example:
Kim family son → Kim Min-su
His sister's daughter → Lee Ji-yeon
Min-su and Ji-yeon have different surnames.
But they are still first cousins.
That is why looking only at surnames cannot tell you whether two Korean characters are closely related.
This is particularly useful when watching historical K-dramas with large family networks.
A character may have a different surname from another character and still be a close blood relative.
Did Joseon Have the Same Marriage Rules Throughout Its History?
No.
Joseon lasted for more than five centuries.
Its family practices, legal regulations, and social expectations developed over time.
Scholarly research on Joseon marriage law distinguishes between the principles expressed in legal codes and the actual cases recorded in historical documents.
One study identifies restrictions on same-surname marriage and restrictions involving maternal relatives and other close kin, while noting that their legal treatment could differ.
Another study of early Joseon finds examples of marriages involving people from the same surname and ancestral origin despite attempts to restrict such unions.
This does not mean that first-cousin marriage was generally accepted.
It means we should avoid treating more than 500 years of Korean history as if every family followed one completely unchanging rule.
Historical K-dramas often compress a complicated social world into a single story.
Learning the background helps us appreciate that world without oversimplifying it.
Why Does Lady Cho and Cho Won's Relationship Feel So Complicated?
Now return to The Scandal.
Lady Cho and Cho Won are cousins.
They also share a childhood history.
And Lady Cho is a married woman when the story begins.
Netflix's official description introduces her as a gifted noblewoman whose husband takes a young concubine in the hope of having an heir.
Their relationship therefore exists within several overlapping social boundaries.
Family relationship
They are relatives, not unrelated romantic acquaintances.
Marriage
Lady Cho already has a husband.
Social reputation
Their actions take place within a society where elite families placed importance on lineage and reputation.
Personal history
They knew each other before the dangerous game began.
The cousin relationship is one important part of that picture.
But it would be too simple to say that their entire story is scandalous only because they are cousins.
The drama also explores desire, manipulation, marriage, and the limits placed on individuals by their social world.
Why Did Family Lineage Matter So Much in Joseon Korea?
For many elite families, marriage was not simply a private decision between two people.
It could connect households.
It could affect inheritance and succession.
It could influence a family's social relationships.
And it could shape the standing of future generations.
This is why family background appears so often in historical K-dramas.
Characters may ask about someone's parents, surname, family status, or marriage prospects before discussing their personal feelings.
These questions can sound unusually intrusive to a modern international viewer.
But within the historical setting, they may reveal how marriage was understood as a relationship between families as well as individuals.
We've already explored part of this world through 양반 (yangban), 첩 (cheop), and 서얼 (seoeol).
Now we can add another concept:
가문 (gamun) — family or lineage.
Understanding 가문 makes the family relationships in The Scandal easier to follow.
Is Sachon the Same as “Cousin” in English?
For first cousins, yes.
But English and Korean organize family relationships differently.
In English, the word cousin can be used quite broadly in everyday conversation.
Korean has more specific terms for different family relationships.
For example:
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 사촌 | sachon | First cousin |
| 친척 | chincheok | Relative |
| 가족 | gajok | Family |
| 가문 | gamun | Family lineage |
| 촌수 | chonsu | Degree of kinship |
| 본관 | bongwan | Ancestral clan origin |
The word 사촌 identifies a particular relationship.
친척 is broader.
And 가문 directs attention toward the family as a lineage rather than simply a group of people living together.
These distinctions are especially useful in historical dramas.
Real Korean Examples
These are original example sentences, not dialogue from The Scandal.
1. 우리 사촌이야.
Uri sachoniya.
“We're cousins.”
A natural way to explain a family relationship.
2. 사촌이랑 어릴 때부터 친했어.
Sachonirang eoril ttaebuteo chinhaesseo.
“I've been close to my cousin since childhood.”
This helps illustrate the kind of long-standing connection that can exist between cousins.
3. 두 사람은 친척이야?
Du sarameun chincheogiya?
“Are those two related?”
A useful question when you're trying to understand a complicated K-drama family tree.
4. 같은 성이라고 다 친척은 아니야.
Gateun seongirago da chincheogeun aniya.
“Having the same surname doesn't mean everyone is related.”
This is particularly useful when learning about Korean surnames and ancestral origins.
Related Korean Words
Here are five words to remember from this lesson.
사촌 (sachon)
First cousin.
근친혼 (geunchinhon)
Marriage between close relatives.
동성동본 (dongseong dongbon)
Sharing the same surname and ancestral clan origin.
본관 (bongwan)
Ancestral clan origin.
가문 (gamun)
Family lineage.
Together, these words help explain why family relationships in historical K-dramas can involve much more than personal affection.
Quick Korean Tip
The next time two characters in a historical K-drama are introduced as relatives, listen for:
사촌 — sachon.
If you hear it, remember:
They are first cousins.
Then pay attention to the rest of the relationship.
Are they childhood friends?
Are they members of the same household?
Do their families have expectations about marriage?
Does one character already have a spouse?
A single Korean family word can change how you understand an entire storyline.
FAQ
Are Lady Cho and Cho Won cousins in The Scandal?
Yes. Netflix's official Episode 1 description identifies Cho Won as Lady Cho's cousin. The characters also share a childhood history of exchanging letters.
Could first cousins marry in Joseon Korea?
First-cousin marriage was generally prohibited under Joseon's restrictions on marriage between close relatives. The detailed rules varied according to the relationship, period, and legal framework.
What does sachon mean in Korean?
Sachon (사촌) means first cousin. It refers to a four-degree kinship relationship in the Korean system of counting family connections.
What does geunchinhon mean?
Geunchinhon (근친혼, 近親婚) means marriage between close relatives.
What does dongseong dongbon mean?
Dongseong dongbon (동성동본, 同姓同本) means sharing the same surname and ancestral clan origin. It is not identical to the concept of close-relative marriage.
Can Korean cousins have different surnames?
Yes. Cousins related through a parent's sister or through different paternal lines can have different surnames while still being close blood relatives.
Why was family lineage important in Joseon marriage?
Family lineage could influence marriage arrangements, inheritance, succession, and social relationships, particularly among elite households.
Recommended Korean-Learning Resources
If this lesson makes you curious about Korean family relationships, the most useful resource is not necessarily a product.
Start with a simple family tree.
Write down:
부모 — parents
형제자매 — siblings
삼촌 — uncle
이모 — maternal aunt
고모 — paternal aunt
사촌 — first cousin
Then draw the connections.
You can also explore reliable historical resources that explain Korean family structures and marriage customs.
Useful starting points include:
The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
For Korean family terminology, lineage, and historical marriage customs.
The National Institute of Korean History
For Joseon-era laws and historical records.
A Korean-English Learner's Dictionary
For checking the meanings and usage of words such as 사촌, 친척, and 가문.
A notebook is enough to begin building your own K-drama family tree.
Keep Exploring Korean Culture Through The Scandal
If you're following our The Scandal Korean culture series, continue with these lessons:
→ What Does “Yangban” Mean? The Korean Social Class Behind The Scandal
→ Why Couldn't Widows Easily Remarry in Joseon Korea? The Culture Behind The Scandal
→ What Is an Anchae? Why Joseon Women Lived in Separate Quarters in The Scandal
→ What Does “Cheop” Mean in Korean? The Concubine System Behind The Scandal
→ What Does Seoeol Mean? Why Children of Concubines Had Different Status in Joseon Korea
→ What Does “Namnyeo Sangyeoljisa” Mean? The Korean Title Behind The Scandal
→ Why Did Lady Cho and Cho Won Exchange Letters? The Meaning of Seochal in The Scandal
Discover more Korean expressions and culture through our Learn Korean Hub.
Final Thought
Lady Cho and Cho Won's relationship in The Scandal is complicated for more than one reason.
They share a family connection.
They share a childhood history.
And they live in a society where marriage, lineage, and reputation carry significant weight.
The Korean word 사촌 helps us recognize one part of that relationship.
But learning about 촌수, 근친혼, and 가문 reveals a much larger cultural picture.
The next time a K-drama introduces two characters as relatives, you may find yourself paying closer attention to the family tree.
Because sometimes understanding who someone is related to changes how you understand the entire story.
Keep watching.
Keep listening.
Keep discovering Korean through the K-contents you already love.
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