"How many traitors?".. Great-grandfather controversy over Ha Young sparks appearance of 'pro-Japanese collaborator scanner' [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

As controversy continues over actor Ha Young's great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities, an online tool dubbed the "pro-Japanese collaborator scanner," which allows users to check whether their family had any pro-Japanese collaborators, has gained attention on the internet.

On the 16th, a website called "Pro-Japanese Collaborator Scanner," created by an independent developer, drew interest primarily through online communities. The developer stated, "We will immediately inform you whether your family had any pro-Japanese collaborators by searching through public records of 19,059 individuals and 1,006 anti-national activists."

The site works by allowing users to input their surname and ancestral home (bon-gwan), then displaying side-by-side lists of independence activists and pro-Japanese collaborators who share the same ancestral home. Users can also share search results with others.

However, the site includes a notice stating: "Sharing the same ancestral home does not imply direct blood relation or close kinship. A single ancestral home may include hundreds of thousands of members, and the actions of ancestors are unrelated to the personal responsibility of their descendants (in line with the spirit of Article 13, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution, which prohibits collective punishment)."

It also states: "This service displays only officially recognized public records regarding deceased historical figures—such as those from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' Electronic Hall of Merit and reports from the Commission for the Investigation of Pro-Japanese Collaborators' Activities—organized by ancestral home."

Netizens who accessed the site shared their search results online, expressing varied reactions such as "Neither pro-Japanese nor independence activists in my family," "I've lived with pride," "Thankfully so," "Thank you, ancestors," and "Do you want to be a pro-Japanese collaborator? Check your household registry." Some even posted specific counts, such as "14 independence activists, 5 traitors XX," confirming the number of independence activists and pro-Japanese collaborators in their ancestral home.

The heightened interest in the "Pro-Japanese Collaborator Scanner" stems from recent controversy over Ha Young's great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities, which erupted around the anniversary of Korea's liberation (Gwangbokjeol).

Previously, on the 7th, Ha Young appeared on KBS 2TV's variety program "Problem Children Are Here!" and revealed that her family has been a lineage of physicians for four generations. She stated, "My great-grandfather studied Western medicine in Japan and was the first doctor to open a clinic in Hanyang," adding that he even treated "Ko Jong (황제)."

Following the broadcast, controversy erupted as Ha Young's great-grandfather, identified as Ahn Sang-ho, was re-examined online for his past pro-Japanese activities.

Ha Young's agency initially issued a statement on the 10th dismissing allegations of pro-Japanese collaboration surrounding Ahn Sang-ho as "baseless," but reversed its position just one day later. On the 11th, the agency said, "We have confirmed that records exist showing Ahn Sang-ho's name listed in the 1916 Daetong Friendship Council's councilor roster. We sincerely apologize for causing confusion by hastily responding 'baseless' without sufficient verification."

The agency further added, "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 also takes this matter seriously and will approach future responsibilities with greater caution and humility."

The controversy surrounding Ha Young has now spread to the broadcasting and advertising industries. The producers of "Problem Children Are Here!" have discontinued on-demand viewing services for segments featuring Ha Young, while advertisements in which she appeared are being successively switched to private status. It is reported that Ha Young continues filming SBS's upcoming drama "There Is a Chance," scheduled for release next year.

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*This content was translated by AI.