SBS faces backlash for airing Ha Young's new drama

Korean broadcast network SBS is facing public criticism over its upcoming legal drama, The Long Shot Trial, starring actress Ha Young. The show, set to air on February 26, 2027, just three days before a major national holiday commemorating the 1919 Korean independence demonstrations, has sparked outrage due to its sensitive timing. Furthermore, The Long Shot Trial is an adaptation of the Japanese television series Legal V: Ex-lawyer Shoko Takanashi, adding to the controversy.

Actress Ha Young's casting as a righteous lawyer has been criticized, with online posts condemning her family's history and questioning the propriety of her role before the patriotic holiday. The criticism stems from the family's pro-Japanese royalty roots and the family's alleged theft of Kim Ik-nam's legacy, where the grandfather served as a doctor during human experiments at Sorokdo. The timing of the show's premiere has been deemed ironic, as it comes three days before the Independence Movement holiday.