Actor Ha-young (33, birth name An Ha-young) personally apologized over controversy surrounding pro-Japanese activities by great-grandfather An Sang-ho. At first, through her agency she said allegations raised were not true, but after related records were confirmed, she reversed course, and Ha-young also bowed her head in person.
On the 12th, Ha-young posted a handwritten letter on her social media and said, "I bow my head in apology for causing great disappointment and hurt over matters related to my great-grandfather," and added, "As I came across my great-grandfather An Sang-ho's past activities recently, I looked back on my family's history with a heavy heart."
Ha-young said she had only a fragmentary understanding of her great-grandfather's life from stories passed down through family. "Shamefully, in that ignorant state I brought up stories about my great-grandfather in various settings as if boasting about my family," she said, confessing, "In the process of personally searching related materials because of this incident, I learned of my great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities."
She added an apology, saying, "I reflect on having lightly mentioned my family history without properly knowing Korea's history that went through the painful period of Japanese colonial rule."
She also acknowledged responsibility for the agency's initial stance of "groundless" when the controversy first arose. Ha-young wrote, "While I, too, did not know the facts accurately, a stance saying it was groundless went out through the agency," adding, "I think allowing a mistaken position to be conveyed without sufficient verification is also my shortcoming."
She continued, "I sincerely apologize for causing even greater confusion and hurt because of this," and bowed her head again, saying, "I also repeatedly apologize for the delay in expressing my position as I struggled with how to convey my apology given how grave and regrettable this matter is."
She also noted that not knowing the past could not be a reason to make light of historical facts. Ha-young said, "I believe the fact that I did not know cannot be a reason to turn away from or make light of that history," and added, "I solemnly accept that fault and, as a descendant, I sincerely apologize."
She added another apology, saying, "At a time just before Liberation Day, I am all the more sorry for causing trouble because of my shortcomings."
She also pledged to properly examine her family's history and the historical context of the time. "I will engrave this matter deeply in my heart," she said. "I will look squarely at my family's history and that era, and I will take a more cautious attitude in how I approach history going forward."
She also emphasized, "As I study our history in depth, I will do my best to serve, with respect, the independence patriots and everyone who worked for Korea's liberation and well-being," and added, "I will put it into action, not just words."
Ha-young concluded, "Once again, I sincerely apologize to everyone I have caused concern."
Earlier, on the 7th, Ha-young appeared on the KBS 2TV entertainment program "Problem Child in House" and introduced her family history, saying, "From my great-grandfather, grandfather, father, to my older sister, we are a family of doctors for four generations." She also said her great-grandfather "opened the first Western medical clinic in Hanyang and treated Emperor Gojong."
After it became known that Ha-young's great-grandfather was doctor An Sang-ho (1872-1927), controversy erupted over his activities during Japanese colonial rule. An Sang-ho graduated from Tokyo Jikei Medical School in Japan in 1902 and practiced medicine, and he is known to have served as a contract physician to Gojong and Sunjong.
In particular, the controversy grew after records confirmed An Sang-ho's name on the 1916 list of councilors of the Taisho Friendship Association, in which pro-Japanese figures participated.
Ha-young's agency on the 10th issued a stance online calling allegations of An Sang-ho's pro-Japanese activities "groundless," but later reversed its position and apologized after confirming that An Sang-ho's name did in fact appear on the Taisho Friendship Association's councilor list.
Because of the controversy, Ha-young also canceled scheduled promotional interviews for the Netflix series "Our Sticky Love."