The SBS drama "We Have a Winning Chance," starring actress Ha Young, will not be scheduled as planned. Netflix series "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" will also replace Ha in her existing role with another actress as it begins filming Seasons 2 and 3.
The changes come in the wake of controversy over allegations that Ha's great-grandfather collaborated with Japan during its colonial rule of Korea.
On Oct. 19, Netflix confirmed that Seasons 2 and 3 of "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" would be produced simultaneously and announced the cast lineup. Jung Ye-in has joined the series to take over the female lead role previously played by Ha Young, alongside returning cast members Ju Ji-hoon, Choo Young-woo, Yoon Kyung-ho and Jung Jae-kwang.
It was also reported that day that SBS had recently removed "We Have a Winning Chance" from its programming lineup for the first half of next year. The drama's production team said, "We are considering various options for its release, but no specific broadcast schedule has been confirmed."
Recently, Yasuhiro Ono, an associate professor of Korean history at Kyushu University in Japan, stressed the need to understand the historical meaning of the term "pro-Japanese collaborator" in South Korea amid the controversy over allegations that Ha Young's great-grandfather collaborated with Japan.
In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun on Oct. 11, Ono said, "In South Korea, the term 'pro-Japanese collaborator' does not refer to someone who likes Japan or holds a friendly attitude toward it." He added that the term had been used for about 120 years to mean a traitor to the country, having originated before the Korean Peninsula became a Japanese colony.
In Japan, being pro-Japanese generally means having a favorable attitude toward Japan. In South Korea, however, the term "pro-Japanese collaborator" carries a strong historical connotation, referring to people who cooperated with Japan's colonial rule during the 1910-1945 period. Ono stressed that debates over addressing the legacy of such collaborators should not be reduced to a matter of liking or disliking Japan.
"The root of the problem lies in Japan's colonial rule, so the issue of addressing pro-Japanese collaborators is naturally a historical issue between South Korea and Japan in a broad sense," Ono said. "It is inappropriate to interpret debates over pro-Japanese collaborators within South Korea as expressions of hostility or criticism toward present-day Japan."
The controversy over allegations that Ha's great-grandfather collaborated with Japan during its colonial rule of Korea erupted in August. At the time, Ha appeared on a variety show to promote her newly released Netflix drama "Such a Shitty Love" and revealed that she came from a family of doctors spanning four generations.
It was later revealed that her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, was listed as a council member of the pro-Japanese organization Daejeong Chinmokhoe, which was formed in Seoul in 1916. He was also reportedly among the medical staff who treated Lee Wan-yong, a prominent pro-Japanese official who was seriously wounded in an attack by independence activist Lee Jae-myeong. Allegations also emerged that Ahn had served poison to Emperor Gojong at the instigation of Japanese officials after treating him.
Other claims surfaced, including records indicating that Ahn had served on a committee preparing a memorial for Ito Hirobumi during the Japanese colonial period, as well as allegations that Ahn's wife was the daughter of a high-ranking Japanese military officer stationed at the Japanese Government-General of Korea.
Ha's agency initially denied the allegations, calling them "completely unfounded." However, after supporting documents continued to emerge, it reversed its position and issued an apology. Ha Young also released a handwritten apology, saying, "As a descendant, I sincerely apologize." The controversy nevertheless intensified, and she eventually announced her departure from "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call."
At the time, Ha continued filming "We Have a Winning Chance," which still had later scenes left to shoot, fulfilling her role on set. However, the drama's release has since become uncertain.
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