Shim Yong-hwan: "Caution Needed Before Labeling Ha Young's Great-Grandfather Ahn Sang-ho as a Pro-Japanese Collaborator"; Post Deleted Amid Criticism: "Why Would a Historian Erase History?" [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Historian Shim Yong-hwan deleted a post in which he stated that it would be premature to definitively label Ha Young's great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, as a pro-Japanese collaborator.

On the 15th, it was confirmed that among Shim Yong-hwan's Instagram posts, a post from the 13th in which he expressed caution by stating "one cannot definitively conclude someone is a pro-Japanese collaborator merely because their name appeared on a list of an organization" had been deleted.

In response, netizens left comments expressing confusion, such as "Does it make sense for a historian to erase records?" and "Why did you take down the shield post? At least stand by your convictions until the end."

However, his statement titled "Regarding Ha Young's Great-Grandfather Issue – Why We Must Be 'Cautious' About Defining 'Pro-Japanese Collaborators'" remains on his YouTube channel.

Previously, Shim Yong-hwan shared on his social media: "I have received considerable criticism and observed various perspectives and debates. I intended to share additional thoughts once the situation stabilized, but due to excessive misunderstanding, insults, and harm spreading to those around me, after much deliberation, I am responding."

He first stated, "The core of the anger seems to be that if someone was a member of the 'Daejeong Friendship Association,' a pro-Japanese organization, they should be considered a pro-Japanese collaborator by default, and there is clear evidence from a Maeil Shinbo report." He further explained that there is no disagreement that the Daejeong Friendship Association was indeed a pro-Japanese group. Shim Yong-hwan noted, "The Daejeong Friendship Association is correctly identified as a pro-Japanese organization and is very familiar to historical researchers," citing relevant studies such as Jang Shin's "Daejeong Friendship Association and the Inner-Korea Integration Movement" and "The Founding and Operation of Chosun Ilbo by the Daejeong Friendship Association in the 1920s." He particularly pointed out that Ahn Sang-ho's name appears six times in the first paper.

He also added that records indicate Ahn Sang-ho married a Japanese woman and faced public backlash among Koreans at the time due to the Maeil Shinbo report. Based on this, Shim Yong-hwan concluded that it is entirely plausible that Ahn Sang-ho complied with colonial rule and colluded with the Japanese imperial government to some extent.

While stating, "With this level of evidence, one could definitively say he was a pro-Japanese collaborator," he emphasized, "However, in research on the Daejeong Friendship Association, his pro-Japanese activities are limited to only his initial membership in what was then a 'friendship organization' and fragmented records from the later years of his life that require more thorough examination. Making definitive conclusions based solely on this might help gain public favor by aligning with current trends, but it is academically absolutely incorrect."

He further stated, "Active collaborators should be dealt with firmly, while those who were not active or who committed offenses but have shown remorse should receive punishment commensurate with their actions," stressing that not only membership status but also the degree and nature of pro-Japanese activities must be examined together.

However, as additional evidence of Ahn Sang-ho's pro-Japanese activities emerged later, Shim Yong-hwan deleted some of his posts.

On the 7th, during a broadcast of KBS 2TV's "Problem Children in the Attic," Ha Young revealed that her great-grandfather opened Yang (Rep.), the first hospital in Hanyang, and treated patients at Ko Jong (황제)_. She also mentioned that she comes from a four-generation family of doctors, including her grandfather, father, mother, and older sister.

Subsequently, it was revealed that Ha Young's great-grandfather was Ahn Sang-ho, a pro-Japanese collaborator who served as an advisory council member of the Daejeong Friendship Association, a pro-Japanese organization established in Seoul in 1919. In response, Ha Young's agency initially issued a statement calling the claims "baseless," but later confirmed their accuracy and released a revised statement: "The actor is currently in a state of deep sorrow over this matter. We sincerely apologize for causing concern to everyone due to this incident and pledge to approach future situations with greater caution and humility."

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*This content was translated by AI.