Actor Lee Ji-ah expressed her intention to apologize regarding her grandfather's collaborationist controversy.
On the 21st, Lee Ji-ah said through her agency BH Entertainment, “I deeply recognize my grandfather's historical errors and sincerely apologize as a descendant.”
Lee Ji-ah noted, “My grandfather passed away in the year I turned two, so I grew up completely unaware of his collaborationist activities,” and added, “After first learning about this through an article in 2011, I visited the Korea Institute for National Unification to verify the facts and studied relevant materials.”
She continued, “In the process, I confirmed my grandfather's donation records, and even considering the historical context of the time, I believe such actions cannot be justified for any reason.”
Earlier, a media outlet reported that Lee Ji-ah's father, A, is in an inheritance dispute over land valued at 35 billion won with his siblings. Controversy arose when it was revealed that A and his siblings are the children of the late collaborator Kim Soon-hung.
Lee Ji-ah explained, “I have not received any financial support from my parents since I became independent at the age of 18,” and added, “It has already been over 10 years since I cut ties with my parents due to family circumstances.”
She further stated, “I am completely unaware of and have no involvement in the family assets or lawsuits regarding the land ownership disputes,” and noted, “If the land at the center of this controversy in Anyang was acquired during the Japanese colonial period, it should definitely be reclaimed by the state.”