"It doesn't look like there's any hope."...Ha Young's risk leaves 'There Is Hope' in a dilemma [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

News has emerged that filming for the new drama "There Is Hope," starring actor Ha Young, is about to be completed. The drama "There Is Hope" finds itself in a dilemma: it cannot halt production due to misfortunes, nor can it ignore public opinion.

SBS's new drama "There Is Hope" is a comedic legal detective series centered on a law firm led by Kwon Baek (played by Lee Je-hoon), a former lawyer who turns around hopeless cases. Filming is underway with the goal of broadcasting in the first half of 2027. Actor Lee Je-hoon plays Kwon Baek, a former lawyer, while Ha Young portrays Yeo Sim-hee, a rookie lawyer with no money or background.

"There Is Hope" was introduced as one of SBS's flagship dramas for the first half of the year during the drama media day held in June, drawing significant attention. Actor Lee Je-hoon, another lead star, expressed confidence by saying, "Since this is a drama with infinite potential, I want to continue with this cast into the next season. There is hope for it to become a seasonal series." The project was clearly conceived with the possibility of a seasonal format in mind.

The production team and actors had anticipated success for "There Is Hope," but earlier this month, they unexpectedly encountered a major obstacle. While most of the filming had already been completed, allegations surfaced that lead actor Ha Young is a descendant of pro-Japanese collaborators.

Everything began with statements made by Ha Young himself. In variety shows and YouTube content visited for promoting the drama, Ha Young emphasized that his family has been a lineage of doctors for four generations, frequently mentioning his great-great-grandfather. He stated, "My great-great-grandfather was one of the first to open a Western medicine Jeon Mun (Rep.) in Hanyang," adding, "After studying medicine in Japan, he opened the first Yang (Rep.) in Hanyang and treated patients at Ko Jong (황제)."

Ha Young's great-great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho (1874–1927), graduated from the Tokyo Zaisei Medical School in Japan in 1902 and was the first Korean to obtain a Japanese medical license. He is also a figure suspected of pro-Japanese collaboration during the Japanese colonial period. As the controversy spread, records emerged showing that on December 10, 1918, Ahn Sang-ho had written in Maeil Sinbo, an institutional investor-backed newspaper at the time: "I am like a Japanese person; I wear Japanese clothing, my wife is Japanese, and our family's rules and diet are entirely Japanese. Unlike Koreans, we do not even own a single Korean robe." This revelation intensified public outrage.

As the allegations spread, the Institute for Joint Research on Colonial History also issued a statement. The institute said, "Although Ahn Sang-ho was a professional doctor who graduated from the Gwangmu Imperial Japanese Language School and Tokyo Zaisei Medical School, it is an undeniable fact that behind his impressive resume lie pro-Japanese and pro-collaboration activities such as: commemorating Itō Hirobumi, the mastermind of Japan's invasion; participating in colonial rule and exploitation institutions; engaging in activities promoting Korean-Japanese assimilation and joining pro-Japanese organizations; and internalizing assimilationist ideologies."

As the situation grew increasingly negative, public attention turned to Ha Young's upcoming projects: "There Is Hope" on SBS and Season 2 of Netflix's original series "Severe Trauma Center." In response, SBS stated, "'There Is Hope' has already been filmed to a significant extent. We cannot disclose details about the amount of footage shot or the specific progress rate. We are aware of this matter and are closely monitoring its developments." This was their initial position.

Among these reports, news emerged on the 26th that "There Is Hope" is approaching the end of filming in early September, and Ha Young, who stars in the drama, plans to continue with the remaining shooting schedule. Regarding this, an SBS official told StarNews, "Considering the practical need to minimize harm to numerous staff and cast members, we are coordinating various aspects of the necessary remaining schedule," while adding, "We kindly ask for your broad understanding as it is difficult to provide specific details about filming arrangements." Ultimately, there has been little change from their initial stance.

SBS finds itself in a dilemma by taking on lead actor risks even before broadcasting — indeed, even before filming was completed. With most of the shooting already finished, discarding existing footage and replacing the lead actor would not only result in massive production cost losses but also require re-coordinating schedules with other actors and staff. This includes securing locations and cooperation, setting up sets, and post-production work. In reality, this is far from a simple issue.

On the other hand, proceeding with broadcasting while ignoring public opinion and keeping Ha Young in the cast is also not easy. Even if they push forward with airing, given that "There Is Hope" deals with themes of justice and law, there are concerns that viewers will struggle to fully immerse themselves in Yeo Sim-hee's role. Consequently, many netizens have responded skeptically, saying, "Despite the title, it doesn't look like there is any hope."

Criticism has grown even louder after it was revealed that the drama is based on a Japanese original and its planned premiere date falls around March 1st next year. With the production team unable to move forward or backward, all eyes are now on what decision they will make.

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*This content was translated by AI.