Rising Actress’ Father Issues Apology After Family’s Pro-Japanese Ties Resurface

Ha Young‘s father, referred to as Mr. A, has issued a public apology on behalf of his family regarding the pro-Japanese controversy surrounding his great-grandfather, An Sang Ho.

In an interview with Ilgan Sports on August 10th, Mr. A addressed the growing backlash after An Sang Ho’s name was found listed on a 1916 roster of council members for Daejeong Chinmokhoe, a pro-Japanese organization. He had initially called the claim “unfounded,” but later explained that his earlier response was shaped by stories passed down in his family about the relationship between Uichinwang (Prince Uichin) and An Sang Ho.

However, just a day after his apology, on August 11th, an old letter he had written to his daughter resurfaced online and reignited the controversy. The letter, originally published in JoongAng Ilbo back in 2002, described the family as a “medical dynasty” spanning generations, detailing the histories of both great-grandfather An Sang Ho and grandfather An Bu-ho, along with his own education and medical career.

Citing a book he owns titled “Pioneers of Korean Medicine,” Mr. A recounted that An Sang Ho had treated Prince Uichin and was persuaded by him to return to Korea to serve the country. He also noted that An Sang Ho organized Hanseong Uisahoe, a doctors’ association, in 1915 and served as its first president.

Mr. A also addressed a 1918 Maeil Sinbo article that claimed An Sang Ho married a Japanese woman and lived a Japanese-style life. He confirmed that this was true — that An Sang Ho’s wife, his own grandmother, was indeed Japanese, and that the marriage had been arranged through an introduction by Prince Uichin. He added that he never considered the marriage itself to be an act of pro-Japanese collaboration.

“I have no intention of glorifying my grandfather’s past just because he is family,” Mr. A stated. He explained that he is now carefully re-examining how his grandfather lived through that period of history, and repeated his apology, pledging to study history more carefully and humbly going forward.

Source: (A)