{
  "id": 1437997,
  "title": "SBS faces backlash for airing Ha Young's new drama",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/sbs-faces-backlash-for-airing-ha-youngs-new-drama",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T06:57:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20260817/sbs-faces-backlash-for-airing-ha-youngs-new-drama"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korean broadcast network SBS is facing intense criticism for its upcoming legal drama, \"The Long Shot Trial,\" which stars actor Ha Young. The series, set to premiere on February 26, 2027, is particularly controversial due to Ha Young's family's historic ties to the Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. The timing of the premiere, just three days before Korea's major national holiday commemorating the 1919 Korean independence demonstrations against Japanese occupation on March 1, has only intensified the backlash. Commenters are deeply angered by Ha Young's casting as a righteous lawyer ahead of such a patriotic holiday. Online posts have widely condemned the family's history and questioned the propriety of her role. The criticism is so intense that one commenter sarcastically remarked, \"It's ironic — a family with pro-Japanese royalty roots flexing after stealing Kim Ik-nam’s legacy, whose grandfather worked as a doctor during the human experiments at Sorokdo, and now their kid is playing a righteous lawyer three days before Independence Movement.\"",
  "summary": "Korean broadcast network SBS is facing mounting public backlash over its upcoming legal drama \"The Long Shot Trial,\" which stars actor Ha Young amid intense scrutiny over her family's historic ties to the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. The series is scheduled to premiere on Feb. 26, 2027, just three days before Korea marks a major national holiday commemorating the 1919 Korean independence…",
  "key_points": [
    "SBS drama 'The Long Shot Trial' premieres Feb 26, 2027",
    "Actor Ha Young's family linked to Japanese colonial rule",
    "Criticism intensifies due to premiere timing before March 1 holiday"
  ],
  "editors_take": "SBS's decision to air Ha Young's new drama ahead of a major national holiday honouring Korea's independence movement has sparked outrage, highlighting the network's apparent disregard for sensitivities around historical issues.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "SBS faces backlash for airing Ha Young's new drama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/sbs-faces-backlash-for-airing-ha-youngs-new-drama-1439718",
        "published": "2026-08-17T07:07:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}