"Ha Young's Great-Grandfather Ahn Sang-ho Claimed to Be Japanese, Served as Councilor of Pro-Japanese Group: Additional Testimony [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Additional evidence has emerged regarding the past pro-Japanese activities of actor Ha Young's great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho.

According to Sunday Newspaper on the 18th, the September 1913 issue (Volume 1, No. 6) of the Japanese-language general magazine "Joseon Gongron" featured a profile titled "Pioneer of Japan-Korea Assimilation: A Korean Husband and Japanese Wife," highlighting Ahn Sang-ho's life and family.

The magazine described Ahn Sang-ho's clinic located in Namdaemun, stating, "His speech and demeanor are no different from those of people living in Japan." It detailed how he graduated from the Tokyo Jikei Hospital Medical School, served as a physician for Prince Yi Kang (Yi Gang), and married Japanese wife Kawaguchi Isoko in 1907. The publication further noted that his clinic flourished, leading to the acquisition of land and farmland within two to three years, calling Ahn Sang-ho "a man blessed with good fortune." Subsequent records from the 1926 Maeil Shinbo also revealed that Ahn Sang-ho owned approximately 100,000 pyeong (about 330,000 square meters) of forested land in the Siheung area.

Additionally, a 1907 issue of the Japanese medical journal "Igei Shimbun," citing Sato Susumu, praised Ahn Sang-ho as "a model for Korean medical education." Furthermore, according to a 1918 Maeil Shinbo interview, Ahn Sang-ho stated, "I do not own a single piece of traditional Korean clothing and cannot eat spicy food," adding that he considered himself "exactly the same as a Japanese person."

Reports also indicate that in 1916, Ahn Sang-ho served as a councilor of the pro-Japanese organization Daetong Chingokhoe. He also held positions including member of the committee preparing for the memorial service for Ito Hirobumi, member of the Keijo City Council, and head of the Keito Jongno Financial Cooperative.

Meanwhile, in an appearance on KBS 2TV's "Problem Children of the Attic" broadcast on the 7th, Ha Young revealed that his family has been a lineage of physicians for four generations. He added regarding his great-grandfather: "I heard he studied Western medicine in Japan and was the first physician to open a clinic in Hanyang, and that he treated Ko Jong (황제)."

However, speculation later arose that Ha Young's great-grandfather was Ahn Sang-ho, a physician active during the Japanese colonial period. As his past activities were re-examined, allegations of pro-Japanese collaboration emerged.

In response, Ha Young's agency, Bisters Entertainment, initially stated on the 10th: "It is confirmed that Teacher Ahn Sang-ho is indeed Ha Young's great-grandfather," while denying the pro-Japanese allegations as baseless. However, just one day later, the agency reversed its position, explaining: "Upon further verification, we have confirmed that records exist showing Ahn Sang-ho was listed as a councilor of the Daetong Chingokhoe in 1916." The agency added, "We sincerely apologize for causing confusion by hastily responding 'baseless' without sufficient verification. This incident has deeply taught us how critical careful scrutiny is when conveying historical facts and an individual's biography to the public."

Due to this controversy, Ha Young faced intense criticism as multiple issues resurfaced simultaneously: allegations of his great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities, past human rights violations at Sorokdo Hospital by his grandfather, and an interview where his father mentioned the "Japan-Korea Annexation." Consequently, a severe backlash followed, including the removal of promotional videos for Netflix's "Such a Ridiculous Love," cancellation of interviews, deletion of reruns from "Problem Children of the Attic," and non-disclosure of advertising campaigns featuring Samsung Electronics and other brands.

Subsequently, on the 12th, Ha Young issued a personal apology statement: "I sincerely bow my head to apologize for causing great disappointment and pain due to matters related to my great-grandfather. Upon learning about my great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho's past activities, I have reflected deeply on our family history." 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 casually mentioned him as a source of family pride on various occasions. Through this incident, while personally researching relevant materials, I discovered his pro-Japanese actions. I reflect on how lightly I spoke of our family history without properly understanding Korea's painful experience during the Japanese colonial period."

He further stated: "When the controversy first arose, I also lacked accurate knowledge of the facts, leading my agency to issue a statement claiming the allegations were baseless. I believe it was my own shortcoming that allowed an incorrect position to be conveyed without sufficient verification. For causing even greater confusion and pain, I sincerely apologize." He bowed his head again, adding: "Given the gravity and remorse of this matter, I struggled with how best to express my apology, which is why my official statement was delayed. I offer my repeated apologies for this delay."

Ha Young concluded: "The fact that I was unaware does not justify ignoring or trivializing this history. I accept this fault seriously and, as a descendant, sincerely apologize. It is especially regrettable that my shortcomings caused controversy just before the anniversary of Korea's Liberation Day. I will deeply internalize this incident. I will carefully examine our family history and the era it represents, and commit to adopting a more cautious attitude toward history moving forward. Furthermore, I will diligently study our history and strive to honor all who contributed to Korea's liberation and peace, including those recognized as independence activists. I will not merely speak but act accordingly. Once again, I sincerely apologize to everyone who has been troubled by this matter."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.