Her image has taken a major hit.
Actress Ha Young‘s father has come forward to address the controversy surrounding their family’s history.
Recently, Ha Young found herself at the center of a major controversy after her agency confirmed that her great-grandfather was Ahn Sang Ho, a physician who studied Western medicine in Japan and treated Emperor Gojong.
Rising K-Drama Actress’ Alleged Pro-Japanese Family History Revealed
The controversy stemmed from the discovery of Ahn Sang Ho’s name on a list of council members of the Daejeong Sileop Chinmokhoe, a pro-Japanese organization.
On August 10, KST, the actress’s father, Ahn Byeong Mun, spoke to Ilgan Sports and confirmed that his grandfather’s name appears on the organization’s list of council members. However, he emphasized that he felt “deeply troubled” by it as a descendant.
Mr. Ahn explained that when the allegations first emerged, he and his family dismissed them as unfounded, based on stories passed down through generations about his grandfather’s relationship with Prince Uihwa, a historical figure remembered for his strong resolve against Japanese colonial rule. Ahn mentioned that his grandfather served the Prince closely, even deciding to return to Korea after the Prince urged him to come back and serve the nation while he was working at Tokyo Jikei University School of Medicine. Given their close association, Ahn admitted he had never imagined his grandfather could be implicated in a controversy over pro-Japanese collaboration.
Regarding his grandfather’s marriage to a Japanese woman and his abandonment of the traditional Korean lifestyle, Ahn explained that the marriage came about because Prince Uihwa introduced his grandfather to a woman working in Tokyo while the grandfather was staying there. He admitted that he didn’t consider marrying a Japanese woman the same as collaborating with Japanese colonial forces. In fact, his grandfather supposedly insisted to his grandmother that his family remain in Korea and contribute to society.
I have vivid memories of my grandmother from my childhood—always dressed in a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) while caring for her grandchildren and farming the land herself.
— Ahn Byeong Mun
However, Ahn also expressed his willingness to re-examine his grandfather’s life in the context of the country’s history and take responsibility as a descendant accordingly.
I have no intention of glorifying my grandfather’s past simply because he is family. I apologize for the concern caused by this controversy, and moving forward, I will study history again with a cautious and humble attitude while reflecting on what my family ought to do.
— Ahn Byeong Mun
This candid confession, however, has failed to appease netizens.
- “Deep down, they identify as Japanese.”
- “Even an ordinary Twitter user could identify them as a pro-Japanese collaborator based on just a few clues. Does it make any sense for their own descendants not to know?”
- “Do you really think you could tear down, with your own hands, the life you’ve spent all these years justifying? Enough. Just keep your head down and live quietly.”
- “Disgusting.”
- “Let’s reclaim the assets of pro-Japanese collaborators.”