'Great-grandfather Ha Young's collaboration with Japan' controversy sparks fan response: "We do not agree with collective punishment, but..." [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Amidst controversy surrounding the past activities of Ha Young's great-grandfather, physician Ahn Sang-ho, fans of the Netflix series "Such a Damn Love" have called on Ha Young to make a responsible public statement.

On the 12th, fans of "Such a Damn Love" released a lengthy statement through online communities such as ONLINE, demanding that Ha Young clearly state her current awareness and position in her own words.

The fans began by stating, "Historical controversies surrounding Ha Young's great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho continue to unfold." They added, "Viewers and fans who cherish 'Such a Damn Love' and express concern over this matter do not agree with accusations that hold descendants responsible for their ancestors' actions or with collective punishment approaches."

They continued, "However, Ha Young has previously introduced her great-grandfather's medical career and her family's medical history through interviews and broadcasts, publicly stating she was 'proud' of them. Therefore, we believe it is necessary for her to clearly explain in her own words what differences exist between the family history she knew at the time and the newly confirmed or raised historical records, as well as how she currently accepts these matters, rather than relying solely on indirect explanations from her agency."

The fans further emphasized, "This request does not mean asking for an apology on behalf of ancestors' mistakes, nor does it demand acknowledgment of unverified suspicions. Since this controversy concerns family history that Ha Young publicly introduced and positively evaluated, we are requesting a responsible statement in which she accepts confirmed facts as they are, honestly explains parts she was unaware of at the time, and clearly draws a line against claims not verified as fact."

"Such a Damn Love" is a romantic comedy depicting the heartwarming cohabitation of Go Eun-sae (played by Ha Young), a prosecutor with amnesia, and Jang Tae-ha (played by Jung Hae-in), who insists on being her self-proclaimed boyfriend. The series was released on the 7th, with Jung Hae-in and Ha Young starring as the male and female leads.

The fans stated, "'Such a Damn Love' is not a work created solely by Ha Young but a joint result made over a long period by multiple actors including Jung Hae-in, the production team, and staff." They added, "As viewers and fans of the work, we are regretfully observing how controversies surrounding an individual actor immediately after the release have become burdens not only for the work itself but also for the activities of other cast members. Therefore, we believe that Ha Young directly stating her current awareness and position is a more responsible choice for the work and her colleagues than remaining silent or providing unclear indirect explanations."

However, the fans drew a clear line by stating they are not calling for Ha Young's removal, withdrawal from the project, or suspension of her acting activities, nor do they agree with criticism directed at her entire family.

They explained, "We also do not agree with methods that definitively treat unverified historical suspicions as facts. What we are requesting is for Ha Young to responsibly explain the family history she publicly disclosed based on currently confirmed facts and to clearly state her position to the work and viewers affected by this controversy."

Finally, the fans said, "We request that Ha Young distinguish between facts and speculation, honestly explain what she knew at the time versus newly confirmed information, and take a responsible stance that considers her colleagues who worked on the project together with viewers. Since she publicly introduced her family history, we urge her to clearly state her current awareness and position in her own words to responsibly conclude this controversy."

Previously, Ha Young appeared on KBS 2TV's variety program "Problem Children of the Attic" on the 7th for promotional purposes regarding the work. At that time, she revealed that she comes from a four-generation family of physicians, stating, "My great-grandfather studied Western medicine in Japan and was the first physician to open a clinic in Hanyang," adding that he "Ko Jong (황제) until he passed away." However, after the broadcast, past activities of Ahn Sang-ho, identified as Ha Young's great-grandfather, were re-examined online, sparking controversy.

Ahn Sang-ho is known to have graduated from Tokyo Jai Medical School in Japan in 1902, returned to Korea, and taught Western medicine. He later served as a royal physician. Records indicate he was active in the pro-Japanese organization "Daejeong Friendship Association" during the Japanese colonial period, married a Japanese woman, and lived a Japanese-style life. Reports also mention he was introduced as an exemplary family under the concept of "Japan and Korea as one body," leading to controversies surrounding his pro-Japanese activities.

Ha Young's agency initially responded on the 10th that the related suspicions were baseless, but reversed its position just one day later.

On the 11th, the agency stated, "We have confirmed that there is indeed a record showing Ahn Sang-ho's name listed as a councilor in the Daejeong Friendship Association in 1916. We sincerely apologize for causing confusion by hastily answering 'baseless' without sufficient verification."

They continued, "Through this incident, we deeply realized how crucial careful verification is when conveying historical facts and an individual's biography to the public. Ha Young has also taken this matter to heart, and we will proceed with greater caution and humility in the future."

The fallout from the controversy surrounding Ha Young is spreading to the broadcasting and advertising industries. The production team of "Problem Children of the Attic" has discontinued on-demand viewing services for segments featuring Ha Young, and advertisements featuring her have successively been converted to private status. Scheduled interviews with both Ha Young and Jung Hae-in have also been canceled.

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*This content was translated by AI.