Who will replace Ha Young as Cheon Jang-mi in The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call Season 2?
That question has quickly become one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the Netflix K-drama after it was confirmed that Ha Young will not return for the follow-up.
Cheon Jang-mi was an important member of Baek Kang-hyuk’s trauma team in Season 1, so her absence creates a problem that the next season will have to address.
Will Netflix recast Cheon Jang-mi?
Will the character leave the hospital?
Or could a completely new character take her place?
Here is what has actually been confirmed — and what remains speculation.
Has Ha Young Officially Left The Trauma Code?
Yes.
Netflix confirmed on September 1, 2026 that Ha Young will not participate in the follow-up installments of The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call.
Ha Young played Cheon Jang-mi, a nurse in the trauma center who worked alongside Baek Kang-hyuk, played by Ju Ji-hoon, and Yang Jae-won, played by Choo Young-woo.
Her departure followed controversy surrounding the pro-Japanese activities of her great-grandfather during Korea’s colonial period.
Netflix has not said that Ha Young was fired.
The company said it respected the actor’s position regarding her participation in the follow-up.
Has Cheon Jang-mi’s New Actress Been Announced?
No.
As of now, there has been no official announcement identifying an actress who will replace Ha Young as Cheon Jang-mi.
This is important because several actress names are already being discussed online.
Those discussions are currently fan speculation, not confirmed casting news.
Until Netflix or the production team makes an announcement, reports claiming that a particular actress has already been selected should be treated cautiously.
Will Netflix Recast Cheon Jang-mi?
Recasting is one possibility, but it has not been confirmed.
From a storytelling perspective, keeping Cheon Jang-mi would make sense.
She was already established as a member of the trauma center and had relationships with the other major characters.
Replacing Ha Young with another actress would allow the writers to continue Jang-mi’s storyline without explaining why an important member of the team suddenly disappeared.
But recasting also carries a risk.
Ha Young’s performance helped define the character in Season 1, and viewers may need time to accept another actress playing the same role.
That leaves the production with a difficult choice.
Could Cheon Jang-mi Leave The Story?
That is another possibility.
Instead of recasting the character, the writers could explain that Jang-mi transferred to another department or hospital, left the trauma center, or simply moved on before the events of the next installment.
The series could then introduce a new nurse or medical professional to join Baek Kang-hyuk’s team.
This approach would avoid a direct recast.
However, it would also mean losing a character who had already become familiar to viewers.
At this stage, there is no official information indicating which option the production has chosen.
Which Actresses Are Fans Talking About?
K-drama fans have already started discussing possible replacements online.
Names including actresses such as Pyo Hye-jin, Lee Sung-kyung, Park Ju-hyun and Go Youn-jung have appeared in fan conversations about who could fit into the world of The Trauma Code.
But there is a crucial warning:
None of these names should currently be treated as an official replacement for Ha Young.
They are examples of fan casting and online discussion.
There is currently no confirmed report that Netflix has cast any of them as Cheon Jang-mi.
Why Is Replacing Cheon Jang-mi So Important?
Jang-mi was more important to Season 1 than her job title might initially suggest.
The Trauma Code is built around the formation of Baek Kang-hyuk’s unconventional trauma team.
Each member fills a different role in that group.
Baek Kang-hyuk is the brilliant and aggressive trauma surgeon.
Yang Jae-won begins as an inexperienced doctor who is gradually transformed by working with him.
Cheon Jang-mi provides another essential perspective from inside the trauma center.
She is practical, capable and able to deal with Baek Kang-hyuk’s unusual personality while keeping the medical team functioning.
That chemistry is one reason viewers noticed Ha Young’s departure immediately.
The question therefore isn’t simply:
“Who replaces the actress?”
It is also:
“Who fills Jang-mi’s place inside Baek Kang-hyuk’s team?”
Could The Trauma Code Introduce a Completely New Character?
Yes — and this may ultimately be just as important as the recasting possibility.
A new character would give the writers more freedom.
Instead of asking viewers to compare a new actress directly with Ha Young, the production could create someone with a completely different personality and relationship with Baek Kang-hyuk.
That could even change the dynamics of the trauma team in Season 2.
For example, a new nurse or doctor could initially clash with Baek Kang-hyuk rather than immediately fitting into the existing group.
But again, this is only a storytelling possibility.
Netflix has not announced such a character.
Is The Trauma Code Season 2 Canceled Because Ha Young Left?
No cancellation has been announced because of Ha Young’s departure.
Her exit concerns her participation in the follow-up, not an announcement that the entire project has been abandoned.
That distinction matters because some viewers encountering the casting news may assume that production itself is in trouble.
For now, the more relevant question is how the production will restructure the ensemble without the actress who played Jang-mi.
What Should Fans Watch for Next?
There are three announcements that will tell us what happens next:
1. An official Cheon Jang-mi recasting announcement
This would confirm that the character remains in the story.
2. A new female cast member
If a new actress joins under a different character name, that could indicate the production has decided not to recast Jang-mi.
3. Official Season 2 character or production information
This should eventually reveal whether Jang-mi remains part of Baek Kang-hyuk’s trauma team.
Until one of those things happens, any supposed “replacement actress” should be considered unconfirmed.
Final Answer: Who Is Replacing Ha Young?
For now, the answer is simple:
No replacement for Ha Young as Cheon Jang-mi has officially been announced.
Fans are already suggesting several actresses, but those names remain speculation.
The production now has three realistic storytelling options:
recast Cheon Jang-mi, remove the character, or introduce someone new.
And that makes the future of Jang-mi one of the most interesting unanswered questions heading into the next chapter of The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call.
We will update this article when Netflix or the production team officially announces what will happen to Cheon Jang-mi.