Ha Young’s Agency Reverses Course, Confirms Great-Grandfather’s Pro-Japanese Record After Initial Denial

Ha Young’s agency has issued a follow-up statement addressing the controversy surrounding her great-grandfather’s wartime background, reversing its earlier denial.

Her agency stated on August 11th, “We are sharing our official position regarding Ha Young’s family history that was recently reported,” adding, “First, to explain the part we previously said was ‘unfounded’ — after further verification, we have confirmed that a record does exist showing that her great-grandfather, An Sang Ho, was listed as a councilor on the roster of the Daejung Chinmokhoe [Taisho Friendship Society] in 1916. We sincerely apologize for the confusion caused by hastily responding that it was ‘unfounded’ without sufficient verification.”

Her agency continued, “While answering questions during a recent broadcast appearance, Ha Young mentioned her family’s four-generation history in medicine. The actress herself feels very heavy-hearted that this unintentionally led to controversy,” explaining, “Through this incident, we’ve come to deeply realize just how much careful verification is needed when conveying historical facts and a person’s background to the public.”

Her agency added, “Ha Young, too, takes to heart the concern this has caused, and will approach things with even greater care and humility going forward.”

Earlier, Ha Young appeared on KBS 2TV’s “Problem Child in House” (often abbreviated “Okmuna”), which aired on the 7th, and revealed that her family has been in medicine for four generations. At the time, Ha Young said, “My great-grandfather went to Japan to study Western medicine. I heard he was the first doctor to open a clinic in Hanyang,” adding, “He even treated Emperor Gojong.”

Her great-grandfather’s real name wasn’t mentioned on the broadcast, but based on Ha Young’s account, netizens speculated that the person in question was An Sang Ho.

An Sang Ho was a figure who studied Western medicine in Japan during the Korean Empire era before returning to Korea to work as a doctor. He is also known to have been the first Korean to obtain a Japanese medical license. However, his activities during the Japanese colonial period, seen as pro-Japanese, have become a subject of controversy.

Regarding this, Ha Young’s agency told Donga.com on the 10th, “After confirming with the actress herself, it has been confirmed that Ha Young’s great-grandfather is An Sang Ho.” However, on the issue raised online regarding his pro-Japanese activities, the agency was tight-lipped, saying only, “The facts differ from what’s being reported.”

But on the 11th, the agency reversed its earlier position in a new statement, acknowledging the related facts.

Source: (A)