"Why was the story about your grandfather's time on Surokdo left out?"...Ha Young is 'angry' over a half-hearted apology [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Ha Young posted an apology regarding controversies surrounding her great-great-grandfather Ahn Seong-ho's collaboration with Japan, but critics pointed out that the story about her grandfather Ahn Bu-ho's connection to Surokdo was omitted.

On the 12th, netizens left comments on Ha Young's apology post about her great-great-grandfather, including: "Why did you leave out your grandfather's story about Surokdo?", "Shouldn't you also explain about Surokdo?", "How do you feel that your grandfather was involved with Surokdo? Surokdo was almost like a 'maruta' (human experiment subject)", "I hope this apology doesn't end with mere words", and "If this apology had been posted before the false claims were debunked, it would have ended there. For now, I have no intention of watching any of your works."

Additionally, further criticisms followed, such as: "Please comply well with the law that will take effect on December 3, 2026. The 'Special Act on the State Ownership of Assets of Pro-Japanese Collaborators' has been revised and promulgated, marking a formal legal amendment effective from December 3, 2026," and "Change 'pro-Japanese-like actions' to 'pro-Japanese actions.' You're trying to subtly water it down."

On this day, Ha Young posted a handwritten apology on her SNS, stating: "I sincerely apologize for causing great disappointment and pain due to matters related to my great-great-grandfather. Recently, upon learning about the past actions of my great-great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho, I have reflected on our family history with a heavy heart."

She added, "Through stories passed down within the family, I only knew fragments of my great-great-grandfather's life. Regrettably, in that state of ignorance, I have brought up stories about him at various occasions as if they were family pride." She continued, "This incident prompted me to personally search for relevant materials, through which I learned of my great-great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities. I reflect on how I lightly mentioned our family history without properly understanding the painful period of Japanese colonial rule in Korea's history."

Ha Young sparked controversy after appearing on the KBS 2TV variety program 'Problem Children Are Among Us' broadcast on the 7th, where she introduced her family as a four-generation lineage of doctors starting from her great-grandfather. Subsequently, it was revealed that Ha Young's great-great-grandfather was Ahn Sang-ho, a doctor with pro-Japanese activities, and her grandfather was Ahn Bu-ho, a doctor who worked on Surokdo.

The controversy intensified as reports resurfaced claiming that Surokdo, where Ahn Bu-ho worked, was a site of human rights violations including sterilization surgeries, abortions, and dissection practice targeting Hansen's disease patients.

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*This content was translated by AI.