"Defining Ha Young's Great-Grandfather as a Pro-Japanese Collaborator? A Dangerous Notion," Historian Speaks Out [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Historian Shim Yong-hwan argued that labeling actor Ha Young's great-grandfather, the late Ahn Sang-ho, as a pro-Japanese collaborator is "a dangerous notion."

On the 11th, in a lengthy post, Shim stated, "Suddenly, the issue of a female actress's great-grandfather has heated up online. Additionally, articles have emerged claiming that the historical community has determined her great-grandfather was indeed a pro-Japanese collaborator." He added, "This controversy is unlikely to be resolved through any rational mediation and will ultimately be settled by time."

Shim continued, "Nevertheless, I feel compelled to say a few things. The theory of Emperor Gojong's assassination is an 'assassination theory.' While it is true that it served as the catalyst for the March 1st Movement, it was merely rumor and not considered a historical fact. Therefore, labeling him as a pro-Japanese collaborator simply because he was her attending physician at the time is incorrect."

He further explained, "While it is true that he was an elite of his time, belonged to organizations like the Daetong Friendship Association where many pro-Japanese collaborators participated, and that his family home was used during Japan's colonial propaganda efforts—meaning he may not be regarded as a respected figure in his later years—it is dangerous to label him a 'pro-Japanese collaborator' solely based on his membership in specific organizations without clear evidence of actual collaboration. Regarding this, there is one academic paper by Lee Jung-eun that does not support the claim that he was a pro-Japanese collaborator. (For reference, Ahn Sang-ho was born in 1872, and the Japanese colonial period corresponds to his later years; however, the paper studies his life during the Enlightenment era.)"

Shim pointed out, "The situation has escalated absurdly. Because many people accept the Emperor Gojong assassination theory as fact, her great-grandfather is already considered the perpetrator of the assassination. By allowing a single scholar's statement to be generalized by the media as representing the 'historical community,' she has now been branded as the descendant of a pro-Japanese collaborator." He added, "The problem is that once controversy begins, conflicts escalate too quickly toward extremes, and everyone turns a blind eye to the resulting damage. The actress's great-grandfather was an outstanding medical elite who received favor from Prince Ui in his youth and appears to have shouldered some level of social responsibility. Of course, if concrete evidence of his pro-Japanese collaboration emerges, he would be classified as a collaborator—but that is a matter to be addressed only after such facts are confirmed."

Emphasizing that "the actress's fault lies in her lack of sincere reflection on the uncomfortable truths of her family history," Shim stated, "Most importantly, if we hastily label individuals as 'pro-Japanese collaborators,' too many people from the past will be branded as such, and eventually, the very criteria for what constitutes pro-Japanese collaboration—and thus what we should criticize and remember—may disappear. We need to establish clearer standards for how far back we should consider someone a 'descendant.' Just as collective punishment was wrong, an ancestor's merits cannot be claimed as one's own. It is time to reach conclusions on who qualifies as a 'descendant of independence activists' and what rights and responsibilities they should enjoy as a result."

Meanwhile, Ha Young's agency, Vistars Entertainment, addressed the controversy surrounding her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese ties on the 10th. While confirming that "Ha Young's great-grandfather was indeed Ahn Sang-ho," the agency drew a line by stating, "There are parts of the report regarding Ahn Sang-ho's pro-Japanese activities that do not align with the facts."

Subsequently, on the 11th, Vistars Entertainment bowed in apology, saying, "Upon further verification, we confirmed that records exist showing Ahn Sang-ho's name appearing on the list of councilors for the Daetong Friendship Association in 1916. We sincerely apologize for causing confusion by hastily responding with 'baseless' without sufficient verification." The agency added, "During a recent appearance on a broadcast program, Ha Young mentioned her family's four-generation history in the medical profession while answering questions. This inadvertently led to controversy, and the actress herself is deeply troubled by the situation."

The agency concluded, "Through this incident, we have deeply realized how crucial careful verification is when conveying historical facts and an individual's biography to the public."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.