South Korean actress Ha Young will not return for the upcoming seasons of the hit Netflix medical drama The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call. The streaming platform confirmed her departure on September 1, 2026, following public backlash over her great-grandfather’s activities during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea.
Ha Young played nurse Cheon Jang-mi in the first season of the series, which premiered in January 2025. She was scheduled to reprise her role in seasons 2 and 3, which are expected to begin filming in October 2026. Netflix issued a statement confirming her exit, saying the company respects her decision.
“Ha Young has decided not to appear in the follow-up to ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,’ and we respect her decision.” – Netflix
What Sparked the Controversy Around Ha Young
The trouble began when Ha Young appeared on the KBS variety show Problem Child in House last month. During the episode, she talked about her family’s medical history spanning four generations. She mentioned her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, describing him as the first doctor to open a practice in Hanyang after returning from Japan, where he studied Western medicine.
Korean netizens started looking into Ahn Sang-ho’s historical background. They found records indicating he had been involved in pro-Japanese activities during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea, which lasted from 1910 to 1945. Historical documents showed that he served as a council member of the Daejeong Friendship Association, an organisation established in 1916 with leadership tied to Japan’s colonial administration.
The timing of her comments made things worse. She spoke about her family heritage just days before Korea’s Liberation Day on August 15. Many people felt her remarks showed a lack of awareness about the country’s painful history under Japanese rule.
Ha Young’s Agency Initially Denied the Allegations
Ha Young’s agency, BISTUS Entertainment, first responded to the allegations by calling them “groundless”. But as more historical records came to light, the agency changed its position. They acknowledged that the historical documents did exist and apologised for their earlier statement.
The situation drew even more attention because of South Korea’s unresolved history with pro-Japanese collaborators. Many people remain angry that descendants of those who worked with Japan’s colonial government continued to benefit from wealth and privilege after Korea’s liberation in 1945. The controversy even reached the political level, with President Lee Jae Myung mentioning asset seizures from colonial collaborators during his Liberation Day address.
Ha Young’s Personal Apology
On August 12, 2026, Ha Young posted a handwritten apology on social media. The 33-year-old actress admitted she had not fully understood her great-grandfather’s history when she spoke about her family.
“Shamefully, in that state of ignorance, I spoke of my great-grandfather at various gatherings as if he were a source of family pride.” – Ha Young
She took responsibility for her actions and apologised to fans for causing trouble. Ha Young said her understanding of her great-grandfather had mostly come from stories passed down within her family. She admitted she spoke about him without fully knowing his historical background and the broader meaning of her comments.
“I regret that I spoke lightly about my family history without properly understanding our country’s painful history under Japanese colonial rule.” – Ha Young
The actress also said she takes her great-grandfather’s wrongdoing very seriously and sincerely apologised as his descendant.
Netflix Confirms Ha Young Will Not Return
After weeks of public pressure, Netflix officially confirmed on September 1 that Ha Young would not appear in the follow-up seasons of The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call.
The show’s production team had already started preparing for seasons 2 and 3. The original web novel author, Lee Nak Joon, had previously shared that preparations for the second season were complete and the team was looking for filming locations. Filming was expected to start in October 2026.
Netflix has not confirmed whether they will recast Ha Young’s character Cheon Jang-mi or write the character out of the story entirely. The platform also remained cautious when asked about replacement casting or future production schedules.
Ha Young’s Role in The Trauma Code
Ha Young played senior nurse Cheon Jang-mi in the first season of The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call. The medical drama follows genius trauma surgeon Baek Kang Hyuk, played by Ju Ji Hoon, as he works to revive a struggling Severe Trauma Care team. The show also stars Choo Young-woo as doctor Yang Jae Won.
The three characters formed a strong trauma unit at the hospital. Ha Young’s performance as the skilled nurse earned her the Best New Actress award at the 2025 APAN Star Awards. Her character was one of the drama’s central supporting figures in the first season.
The series became a major hit after its January 2025 release. It topped Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for non-English TV shows and quickly secured plans for two more seasons.
Ha Young’s Current and Upcoming Projects
Despite leaving The Trauma Code, Ha Young remains active in the entertainment industry. She is currently starring opposite Jung Hae-in in the Netflix series Our Sticky Love.
Ha Young is also set to appear in the upcoming SBS legal drama The Long Shot Trial alongside Lee Je-hoon. She is expected to wrap up filming for that project on September 3, 2026.
Her next steps after completing these projects remain unclear at this time.
What This Means for The Trauma Code Seasons 2 and 3
With Ha Young’s departure, the production team for The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call faces decisions about how to handle her character’s absence. The show’s makers have not yet announced whether they will find a new actress to play Cheon Jang-mi or remove the character from the story.
The upcoming seasons are expected to continue the story of the trauma team, with Ju Ji-hoon and Choo Young-woo returning as the lead characters. Netflix has not provided official confirmation about the filming schedule for seasons 2 and 3, despite reports suggesting an October start date.
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Public Reaction and Fan Response
The controversy has drawn strong reactions from the South Korean public. Many people expressed disappointment over Ha Young’s comments about her family history, especially given the timing near Liberation Day.
Some fans have started discussing possible replacements for Ha Young’s character online. However, no official announcements have been made about casting decisions for the new seasons.
The situation has also sparked broader conversations about historical accountability in South Korea. The unresolved issues from Japan’s colonial rule, including the treatment of wartime “comfort women,” remain sensitive topics that continue to affect public discourse.
The controversy opened up old wounds and brought attention to generational trauma from one of the most difficult periods in Korean history. The public reaction showed how deeply these historical issues still resonate with people today.
Also Read: Ha Young Apologizes in Handwritten Letter Over Great-Grandfather’s Pro-Japanese Colonial Past
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