Netflix’s series Our Sticky Love is currently ranking No. 1 on the TOP 10 Series in Korea chart, with the drama and its cast receiving positive responses from viewers. However, just as the series needed more attention to build on its success, promotional activities have been repeatedly canceled due to the controversy surrounding lead actress Ha Young and allegations regarding her great-grandfather’s suspected history as a pro-Japanese collaborator during the Japanese colonial period.
The controversy has now extended beyond Ha Young herself, affecting Our Sticky Love, her co-stars and her upcoming projects.
Netflix canceled Ha Young’s scheduled press interviews for Our Sticky Love on August 14th. The interviews were expected to mark her first official meeting with the media since the controversy began, but they were ultimately called off. The timing, just one day before Korea’s Liberation Day, appears to have added further pressure.
The impact has also reached her co-star Jung Hae In. He was scheduled to participate in interviews for Our Sticky Love on the same day, but his interviews were also canceled after careful consideration.
In Our Sticky Love, Jung Hae In plays a boxing coach who leaves behind his past in an organization and starts a new chapter in life. Through the role, he has showcased a wider range of acting skills, including intense action scenes, comedic moments, and emotional romance. The interviews would have been an opportunity to discuss his performance and the drama’s growing popularity, but the promotional opportunity has disappeared due to the controversy.
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The situation is also affecting Ha Young’s upcoming projects. The production team of the SBS drama The Long Shot Trial, which stars Ha Young alongside Lee Je Hoon, is closely monitoring the developments.
An SBS representative stated, “The Long Shot Trial has already completed a significant portion of filming. We are aware of the situation and are watching how it develops.” In the drama, Ha Young plays Yeo Shim Hee, a rookie lawyer who overcomes her lack of financial and social background through determination and hard work.
Replacing a lead actor after much of the filming has been completed is extremely challenging. Reshooting finished scenes would lead to major financial losses and scheduling issues. However, moving forward with promotions as planned is also difficult while the controversy remains unresolved. The production team, which is preparing for a release next year, and co-star Lee Je Hoon are now facing unexpected challenges.
This situation is especially unfortunate for Lee Je Hoon, as his previous project, tvN’s The Second Signal, has also faced delays and an uncertain release schedule due to controversy surrounding co-star Cho Jin Woong. As a result, multiple projects featuring Lee Je Hoon have been affected by issues involving his co-stars.
Our Sticky Love has lost a key promotional window, while The Long Shot Trial has encountered an unexpected challenge even before its release. The situation has become more complicated as the controversy surrounding Ha Young’s family history begins to affect not only her own career but also the projects she is part of, as well as her co-stars, production teams, and staff. Attention is now focused on how the controversy will impact Ha Young’s current and upcoming projects, as well as her future career.
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