{
  "id": 1439718,
  "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",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T07:07:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "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 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.\n\nActress 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.",
  "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": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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",
        "published": "2026-08-17T06:57:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}