Actor Ha-young's side apologized after reversing its stance a day later, having first explained that allegations of her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities during the Japanese colonial era were "groundless." It said that upon further review, it confirmed a record showing that great-grandfather An Sang-ho was listed in 1916 as a councilor of the pro-Japanese group Daejeong Friendship Association.
Ha-young's agency, Visters Entertainment, issued an official statement on the 11th, saying, "We would like to address the part we previously said was 'groundless,'" and added, "As a result of additional verification, we confirmed that there is indeed a record showing that great-grandfather An Sang-ho was listed in 1916 on the councilors' roster of the Daejeong Friendship Association."
The agency said, "We sincerely apologize for hastily responding that it was 'groundless' without sufficient verification and causing confusion."
The controversy began when Ha-young recently introduced her family history on a broadcast, saying she comes from four generations of physicians. On the 7th, Ha-young appeared on KBS2 variety show "Problem Child in House" and said, "My great-grandfather opened the first Western-style clinic in Hanyang at the time and treated Emperor Gojong."
Afterward, as it became known online that Ha-young's great-grandfather was An Sang-ho, a physician during the Japanese colonial period, suspicions were raised about pro-Japanese activities.
An Sang-ho studied medicine in Japan, returned to Korea, and practiced medicine, and is known to have treated Gojong in 1919 with a Japanese physician. An interview about his marriage to his Japanese wife, published in 1918 in Maeil Shinbo, the organ of the Japanese general government, was also revisited as grounds for the pro-Japanese allegations.
On the 10th, the day before, Ha-young's side countered, saying, "It is true that Ha-young's great-grandfather is An Sang-ho, but the claim circulating on online communities that he was a pro-Japanese collaborator is groundless." At the time, the agency said it was "checking" the pro-Japanese materials raised online.
However, after confirming within a day that An Sang-ho's name does in fact appear on the Daejeong Friendship Association's councilors' roster, it corrected its previous position.
The Daejeong Friendship Association was formed mainly by influential Koreans during the Japanese colonial era and is regarded as a pro-Japanese group.
Regarding Ha-young's remarks on the broadcast, the agency said, "She mentioned her family's four-generation medical business history," and added, "Because of this, the actor is feeling very heavy-hearted about unintentionally causing controversy."
It continued, "Through this incident, we have deeply realized how careful verification is needed when conveying historical facts and a person's history to the public," and said, "Ha-young will also take to heart the concern caused by this matter and will proceed with greater caution and humility going forward."