Ha Young’s upcoming drama The Long Shot Trial, co-starring Lee Je Hoon, has been pulled from SBS’s lineup for the first half of next year amid controversy over her great-grandfather’s alleged collaboration with Japan during its colonial rule of Korea.
OSEN reported on October 19th that SBS has removed the drama from its schedule for the first half of next year. Discussions are ongoing about when and how the series might air.
The Long Shot Trial is a lighthearted legal detective drama about an unconventional law firm led by Kwon Baek, a former lawyer who now works as a paralegal. Using unorthodox methods, he devises strategies to win seemingly impossible cases.
The series has drawn attention for its pairing of Lee Je Hoon, known for hit dramas such as Signal and Taxi Driver, and Ha Young, who gained recognition for her role in The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call.
However, controversy over Ha Young’s great-grandfather’s historical record has cast uncertainty over the project. She has been accused of collaborating with Japan during its colonial rule of Korea, a deeply sensitive issue given the country’s history of Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945.
Ha Young had previously stepped down from the planned second and third seasons of The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call amid the controversy.
The production team has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, although filming for The Long Shot Trial has already wrapped.
“We are taking the issues related to the cast very seriously,” representatives for the drama said. “We are currently holding careful discussions with the production company and other relevant parties to consider various options.”
SBS has since removed the drama from its first-half schedule, but its future remains uncertain. The network has yet to decide whether the series will air in the second half of next year or be shelved indefinitely.
SBS is reportedly weighing its options carefully, seeking a solution that minimizes further harm while taking into account the efforts of the many cast and crew members who worked on the production.
UPDATE:
SBS confirmed to Maeil Business Newspaper’s Star Today on October 19 that There’s a Chance of Winning has been pulled from its original schedule.
“Given the hard work of the many cast and crew members involved, we are carefully considering various options. However, no new air date has been confirmed yet,” the network said.
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