Advertising cutoffs and industry distancing continue for actress Ha-young, who apologized for her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese actions. But even within the same broadcaster, radio and drama are taking polar opposite approaches.
It has been five days since Ha-young apologized for her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese actions. On the 12th she released a handwritten apology saying, "I bow my head and apologize for causing great disappointment and hurt due to matters related to my great-grandfather. Recently, learning of the past actions of my great-grandfather An Sang-ho, I have looked back on my family's history with a heavy heart."
Ha-young said she had only known about her great-grandfather's life fragmentarily through family stories, and that in a state of ignorance she had mentioned him like a family boast on several occasions. Ha-young said, "In the process of searching for related materials myself, I learned of my great-grandfather's pro-Japanese actions. I reflect on having lightly mentioned family history without properly knowing the painful time Korea endured under Japanese colonial rule."
Ha-young revealed on a variety show that she comes from a family of doctors for four generations, and it was later revealed that An Sang-ho, who showed pro-Japanese actions, was her great-grandfather. The agency initially took the position that it was "groundless," but reversed its stance a day later and drew heavy criticism.
As a descendant of a pro-Japanese collaborator who had spoken of it like a family boast while ignorant of it, Ha-young could not avoid criticism. First, clothing brands and large corporations quietly made her advertisements private, hinting at the seriousness of the situation. The variety show in which Ha-young had revealed she was "from a family of doctors for four generations" was taken off on-demand viewing, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which had appointed her as a promotional ambassador, also made the video private, distancing itself.
Meanwhile, Ha-young is currently filming the next SBS new drama The Long Shot Trial. The Long Shot Trial stars Lee Je-hoon and Ha-young and is a bright, comic legal drama. After the controversy over Ha-young's great-grandfather's pro-Japanese actions emerged, the drama's side said they were "watching the situation" and took a cautious stance, unable to easily decide on Ha-young's departure, and filming is reported to be continuing.
On the 13th Ha-young became emotional during filming and burst into tears, and filming was temporarily halted. After a few hours of rest to compose herself, filming reportedly resumed with difficulty.
While the drama was unable to easily decide on Ha-young's departure and faced public backlash, radio removed Ha-young's appearance. OSEN confirmed that on the 5th the video of Ha-young's appearance on SBS PowerFM Wendy's Youngstreet was made private. The reason for making it private was not revealed, but it appears to be due to the controversy over Ha-young's great-grandfather's pro-Japanese actions. By contrast, the video of last year's appearance on Cultwo show remains available for playback.
Having mentioned her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese actions without sufficient historical awareness, Ha-young is reeling from fierce aftershocks despite her agency's apology and her handwritten apology.
[OSEN]