"Hah Young's Great-Grandfather Included in List for Ito Hirobumi Memorial Gathering" Shocking Testimony [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

New testimony has emerged regarding the past pro-Japanese activities of Ahn Sang-ho, the great-grandfather of actor Hah Young.

Bang Hak-jin, secretary-general of the Institute for Joint Research on Colonial History, mentioned Ahn Sang-ho's pro-Japanese activities in an interview with KBS on the 12th, explaining that he "attended a national school, went to Japan for further studies in medicine, and upon returning to Korea, worked as a doctor in his hometown of Jongno."

He continued, "Ahn Sang-ho has a record of being listed in pro-Japanese organizations. In 1909, the year when Righteous Avenger Ahn Jung-geun assassinated Ito Hirobumi, a gathering was held in Seoul to commemorate Ito Hirobumi. Ahn Sang-ho's name appeared on that list, which constitutes his first pro-Japanese act. Subsequently, he also listed his name with Gyeong Seong-bu-hyeop (Rep.) and the Daejeong Friendship Association."

Secretary-general Bang Hak-jin stated, "The Daejeong Friendship Association is characterized by including 'Daejeong,' the era name of the Emperor, in its organization's name. The purpose of this group was to advocate for the fusion of Koreans and Japanese into one nation through the policy of 'Naisen Yūgō' (Japan-Korea Integration). It was an organization that led colonial rule policies." He further argued, "While being listed in the Daejeong Friendship Association does not automatically classify someone as 100% a pro-Japanese anti-national actor, it is considered a representative pro-Japanese act to be perceived as a propaganda ambassador for the forced Japan-Korea Annexation."

Secretary-general Bang Hak-jin added, "The absence of a name in the Pro-Japanese Biographical Dictionary does not mean one was not a pro-Japanese collaborator. The severity may differ, but the facts remain unchanged. What is important in the criteria for inclusion are active participation, continuity, and repetition. Ahn Sang-ho was not included because his level of active participation is considered relatively low, but this does not change the fact that he committed pro-Japanese acts."

On the 12th, Hah Young issued a personal apology statement, saying, "I sincerely bow my head to apologize for causing great disappointment and pain due to matters related to my great-grandfather. Recently, upon learning about my great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho's past actions, I have reflected on our family history with a heavy heart." He continued, "Until now, I only knew fragments of my great-grandfather's life through stories passed down within the family. Regrettably, in my ignorance, I had brought up stories about my great-grandfather at various occasions as if they were family pride. Through this incident, while searching for relevant materials myself, I learned of my 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."

He further stated, "When the controversy first arose, I also did not fully understand the facts, which led my agency to issue a statement claiming the allegations were baseless. I believe this was due to my own shortcomings in conveying an incorrect stance without sufficient verification. For causing even greater confusion and pain as a result, I sincerely apologize." He bowed his head again, adding, "Given how heavy and regrettable this matter is, I struggled with how best to convey my apology, which is why my official statement was delayed. I offer my repeated apologies for this delay."

Hah Young said, "The fact that I was unaware of these matters cannot be an excuse to ignore or trivialize this history. I accept this fault heavily and sincerely apologize as a descendant. It is especially regrettable that my shortcomings caused controversy just before the Liberation Day holiday." He concluded, "I will deeply internalize this incident. I will carefully examine our family history and that era, and adopt a more cautious attitude toward history moving forward. Furthermore, I will strive to study our history in depth and do my utmost to serve with respect for all those who contributed to Korea's liberation and peace, including the meritorious figures of independence. I will not just speak but act on this promise. Once again, I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been troubled by this matter."

Hah Young had appeared on KBS 2TV's 'Problem Children in the Attic' broadcast on the 7th, revealing that his family has been a lineage of doctors for four generations. He then shared about his great-grandfather, stating, "I heard he went to Japan to study Western medicine and was the first doctor to open a clinic in Hanyang, and that he treated Ko Jong (황제)."

However, speculation later arose that Hah Young's great-grandfather was Ahn Sang-ho, a doctor active during the Japanese colonial period. As his past actions were re-examined, suspicions of pro-Japanese collaboration spread. Moreover, the controversy intensified with the revelation that Hah Young's grandfather, Ahn Bu-ho, who served as a professor at Catholic University of Korea's School of Medicine and treated Joo Im (Prof.), had worked as a doctor at National Sorokdo Hospital, where human rights violations against Hansen's disease patients occurred.

In response to this, Hah Young's agency, Vistars Entertainment, stated on the 10th that "Ahn Sang-ho is indeed Hah Young's great-grandfather," while denying the pro-Japanese allegations as baseless. However, within a day, the agency reversed its stance, explaining, "Upon further verification, we confirmed that records actually exist showing Ahn Sang-ho was listed on the councilor roster of the Daejeong Friendship Association in 1916." They added, "We sincerely apologize for causing confusion by hastily responding with 'baseless' without sufficient verification. Through this incident, we deeply realized how crucial careful verification is when conveying historical facts and an individual's biography to the public."

Due to this controversy, Hah Young faced immense criticism as multiple issues were simultaneously re-examined: not only the allegations of his great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities but also controversies surrounding his grandfather's past human rights violations at Sorokdo Hospital and an interview where his father mentioned the 'Japan-Korea Annexation.' Consequently, a severe backlash has followed, including the removal of promotional videos for Netflix's 'Such a Stupid Love,' cancellation of interviews, deletion of reruns of 'Problem Children in the Attic,' and the non-disclosure of various advertisement videos featuring Samsung Electronics.

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*This content was translated by AI.