The film was suppose to finish around 1:48:13. However, the shocking finale was considered to be too extreme for its time's public hence the unfitting cut after the original ending was added in post-production.
Hanyo was the first and the last film Eun-shim Lee, who plays Myung-sook in this film, starred in. The public hated immoral Myung-sook so much that no director hired her after this film.
South Korean star Ahn Sung-ki (70) who plays the son, Chang-sun, is seen as an 8-year old childhood star in this film in his first breakout role. Although barely recognizable in Hanyo, Ahn is now considered one of South Korea's most respected actors and is often dubbed "the nation's actor".
This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #690.