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Unfortunately, this was to be expected. A familiar face from «The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call» will be missing from the lineup going forward. Ha Young, who played nurse Cheon Jang-mi in the first season of the hit Netflix medical drama, has decided not to appear in future seasons.
The news first surfaced on September 1 in the Korean media before being confirmed directly by Netflix. According to initial reports, it was the actress herself who informed the production team that she would be unable to continue with the project.
Netflix Confirms Ha Young's Decision
In a brief statement, Netflix confirmed her departure while emphasizing that it respects her decision: «Ha Young has decided not to appear in the sequel to “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,” and we respect her decision.»
Ha Young had, however, initially been listed among the cast members likely to reprise their roles in subsequent seasons. In the first season, she played Cheon Jang-mi, a nurse on the trauma team who had helped her gain significant public recognition.
The series primarily follows Baek Kang-hyuk, played by Ju Ji-hoon, a highly talented trauma surgeon who joins a struggling trauma team with the goal of turning it around.
Ha Young's departure also comes in the wake of a recent controversy surrounding allegations about her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities. However, Netflix did not indicate in its statement that this controversy was the reason for his departure. Therefore, one should not establish a causal link that has not been officially confirmed.
A Casting Change Before the Sequel
This departure now raises an important question: What will become of Cheon Jang-mi? At this time, no information has been released regarding a possible new actress to take over the role or the character's removal from the plot.
Meanwhile, preparations for the sequel to «The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call» are continuing. Recent reports suggested that filming would begin in October, although Netflix had indicated at the time that details regarding the schedule and cast remained difficult to confirm.
Ha Young, for her part, is continuing with her other projects. In particular, the actress is set to finish filming her new SBS drama «The Long Shot Trial» on September 3.
The sequel to «The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call» will therefore have to proceed without Cheon Jang-mi as viewers came to know her in the first season, while further details on the cast and production are now awaited. This is news we at Kdrama Kopi regret, though it was predictable given the turn the controversy surrounding the actress has taken and the power of cancel culture in South Korea.
