The report comes as Ahn grapples with the fallout from controversy surrounding her great-grandfather
Actress Ahn Ha-young, who has recently faced controversy over allegations surrounding her great-grandfather’s activities during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea, is reportedly set to remain part of Netflix’s “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” in its upcoming seasons.
According to local entertainment outlet Osen, Netflix is reportedly preparing both a second and third season of the hit medical series, with Ahn expected to reprise her role
Ahn starred in the first season as Cheon Jang-mi, a fifth-year senior nurse on the severe trauma team. Jang-mi was one of the drama’s three central characters, alongside the genius trauma surgeon Baek Gang-hyeok (Ju Ji-hoon) and his protege Yang Jae-won (Choo Young-woo).
“The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” became an immediate hit following its January 2025 release, reaching No. 1 on Netflix’s global non-English TV rankings just 10 days after its debut.
However, Netflix told The Korea Herald that details regarding the production of the follow-up to “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," including whether Ahn would return and when filming would begin, were difficult to confirm at this stage.
Meanwhile, Ahn came under scrutiny in August after comments about her family background resurfaced during promotions for Netflix Korea’s “Our Sticky Love.” Across several entertainment programs she appeared on for promotional purposes, Ahn said her great-grandfather had operated a Western-style clinic in Hanyang, the former name for Seoul, and treated Emperor Gojong.
Although Ahn did not identify her great-grandfather by name, online speculation identified him as Ahn Sang-ho, a doctor who was active during the Japanese colonial period. Historical records subsequently confirmed that Ahn Sang-ho served as a council member of the Daejeong Friendship Association, an organization founded in 1916 whose leadership included figures associated with Japan’s colonial government.
Ahn’s agency, Bistus Entertainment, initially denied allegations that Ahn Sang-ho was a pro-Japanese collaborator. The agency reversed its position the following day after further verification of historical records and apologized for its initial statement, saying it had failed to sufficiently verify the information.
On Aug. 12, as the backlash intensified, Ahn posted a handwritten letter on her social media, saying after personally reviewing historical records, Ahn said she learned of her great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese activities. She apologized for having “casually spoken about family history” without properly understanding Korea’s painful history under Japanese colonial rule.
Ahn added she had only known fragments of her great-grandfather’s life through stories passed down by her family and, “in that state of ignorance,” had spoken about him at various occasions “as though he were a source of family pride.”
yoonseo.3348@heraldcorp.com
