Actress Ha Young Continues Filming Amidst 'Pro-Japanese' Controversy; Set to Appear in 'A Trauma Center' Seasons 2 and 3

South Korean actress Ha Young (하영) is embroiled in a significant controversy after it was revealed that her great-grandfather had alleged pro-Japanese ties, despite her previously boasting about her family's "four generations of doctors" on a broadcast. As the scandal continues, she has not withdrawn from her new drama, Victory Is Hopeful (승소유희), which is currently filming. Furthermore, reports suggest she will appear in Seasons 2 and 3 of her breakout hit, A Trauma Center (외상중증센터), indicating her career has not been entirely impacted.

Victory Is Hopeful is expected to conclude filming in September. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating that Netflix is not only preparing for Season 2 of A Trauma Center but also simultaneously developing Season 3. According to Korean media outlet OSEN, Ha Young currently has no plans to withdraw and is expected to continue her role in both upcoming seasons.

Below are translated comments from Korean netizens

1. Are they insane?
2. Seeing them push through with Victory Is Hopeful, I knew it would be the same for other dramas.
3. A Trauma Center is trash, seriously ㅋㅋ

4. Wasn't A Trauma Center not even targeting the domestic market? And if they’re going to filter out pro-Japanese individuals, they should filter out drug users first…
5. At this point, isn't that Ha Young person really problematic? If it were me, I would have stepped down already.
6. That role isn't even important; replacing her wouldn't feel awkward.

7. The surviving national traitors must have very strong connections at the top.
8. Wow, go to hell. At this point, anyone who consumes this drama should be criticized too.
9. It's like they're waiting for someone else to make a decision first ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

10. Didn't they say filming hasn't started yet? Why is this happening?
11. I'm going to criticize everyone who watches that drama ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Is idol worship above the nation?
12. They've learned that as long as it's entertaining, they can push through controversies without issues. They should face consequences, but since it turned out well, they won't think anything of it.

13. She can't even make it to trending topics anymore ㅋㅋㅋ It quickly died down here too, so they probably think they just need to tough it out. Joseon Exorcist, which was canceled due to criticism, is still being criticized anyway. But look at the viewership ratings for Taxi Driver, Under the Queen's Umbrella, Mr. Queen, and Grand Prince, which endured criticism without being canceled—would they ever stop production?
14. She's not even the lead, so why on earth???
15. What else can we expect? It's just them colluding and making hundreds of millions in appearance fees anyway.

16. To be honest, a lot of Victory Is Hopeful has already been filmed, so I don't think she'll step down. But why A Trauma Center? Filming hasn't even started, and her role isn't a main one.
17. The production company or broadcast station has learned they can endure it ㅋ
18. It's all about money anyway… They've learned that they just need to tough it out. There's no way they'll kick her out.

19. Who is this important to cause such a fuss?
20. Does she want to repay with her acting? ㅋ Didn't she say her family is rich? If she loves showing off wealth so much, why can't she let go of acting? Her major was painting anyway, so why keep acting and infuriating Koreans??? Why doesn't she step down herself???
21. If she reflects on her ignorance, she should at least self-reflect and pretend to study history.

22. It's time to make a boycott list.
23. I won't watch it, please let it fail.
24. I've been boycotting since last time. There's more than one controversial person, and if they succeed, they'll be praised again.

25. Wow, how amazing. All broadcast station production teams are the same, people without historical awareness, pampered and living well among themselves. How ridiculous this country must seem to them.
26. Replace the director who's protecting Ha Young, and replace Ha Young too. She's not some great actress, and her role isn't important enough for anyone to care if she's replaced. Enough is enough, they're still testing the waters.
27. I think stepping down herself would be better for her image.

28. It just feels like the national traitors still have strong backing, right?
29. As expected, thick skin is hereditary, good luck!
30. Wow, usually when a celebrity has such a big problem, they either step down themselves or get fired immediately. But she's not a very famous actress, nor an important figure, yet they're stubbornly protecting her. It's strange.

31. At least boycotting Netflix would have an impact, but Netflix won't be affected, so there's no reason for them to care.
32. National traitors.
33. Give me the list of sponsors.

34. Is the country going to collapse, damn it? Are they going to put a Japanese person who takes pride in being a national traitor on public television? Damn it, read the constitution, you lunatics. From now on, not just her, but everyone who watches that drama, all the advertisements, and the writers, directors, and actors—I'm going to call them all national traitors. You just wait and see~
35. Unbelievable.
36. Step down yourself;;

37. There was enough time to replace her, but they're stubbornly pushing through…
38. They're protecting even an unknown person like this???
39. No conscience, the production team too.

40. Is this the recent trend? Why is it like this, don't feel uncomfortable. Ah, really? It just ends like that. Whether it's the president or celebrities, the recent trend just makes me want to curse.
41. Filming hasn't even started, I can't understand.
42. Who is she? At this point, Ha Young herself should step down. What she's doing is exactly like her ancestors; where can that bloodline go? If she appears in that drama, I'll think of Sorok Island and probably won't be able to watch it ㅠ She has to bear the consequences herself.

43. I'll just stop watching most dramas ㅋ Not watching anything is the easiest.
44. This is truly not just uncomfortable; it hasn't even been 100 years since liberation, why do we have to see someone who boasts about their pro-Japanese Sorok Island ancestor on TV?
45. It should be scrapped, but SBS is at least somewhat understandable. Here, filming hasn't even started, and it's not a core role, yet they're still going along with it? There are even worse people ㅋ I heard the director liked a post, so it seems they're all similar. At this point, they're all national traitors, lunatics.

46. If she were a descendant of a Nazi war criminal, would they still cast her? This is truly insane, I hate it so much, I don't even want to watch. At least step down yourself, what right do you have to appear? I will participate in boycotts or any other action. The incomplete reckoning of pro-Japanese collaborators still affects us today, it's terrifying.
47. Descendants of independence activists live difficult lives abroad, while descendants of national traitors live well. Who would want to be an independence activist then? You all rebuilt the Republic of Korea with the blood of those people, yet…
48. Does she have connections? It's really strange; other actresses would be immediately cut off for something like this.