[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] Actress Ha Young has apologized for allegations that her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, collaborated with Japan.

On the 11th, Ha Young’s agency, Busters Entertainment, issued a statement saying, “We would like to address the matter we previously described as ‘groundless,’” adding, “Following further verification, we have confirmed that records do indeed exist showing that her great-grandfather, Mr. Ahn Sang-ho, was listed as a council member of the Daejeong Friendship Association in 1916. We sincerely apologize for causing confusion by hastily responding that the allegations were ‘groundless’ without sufficient verification,” the agency stated in a revised statement.
They continued, “Actress Ha Young recently mentioned her family’s four-generation history in the medical profession while answering questions during an appearance on a TV program. She is deeply troubled by the unintended controversy this has caused,” adding, “Through this incident, we have come to deeply realize how careful verification is required when conveying historical facts and an individual’s background to the public.”
The agency added, “Actress Ha Young also deeply regrets the concern this incident has caused and will approach her work with an even more cautious and humble attitude going forward.”
Recently, Ha Young appeared on KBS2’s *The Problem Children of the Attic* and revealed that she comes from a family of doctors spanning four generations, explaining, “My great-grandfather opened the first Western-style clinic in Hanyang and treated Emperor Gojong.” In particular, she disclosed that while portraying nurse Cheon Jang-mi in the Netflix series *Trauma Center*, she received extensive medical advice from her family.
Subsequently, allegations surfaced in online communities that Ha Young’s great-grandfather was Ahn Sang-ho. Ahn Sang-ho studied Western medicine in Tokyo, Japan, and became the first Korean to open a Western-style hospital; he also treated members of the royal family. He is well known for having treated Emperor Gojong alongside a Japanese doctor when the emperor collapsed in 1919.
However, Ahn Sang-ho is also a figure suspected of pro-Japanese collaboration. According to an article published in the Maeil Shinbo in 1918, suspicions of pro-Japanese collaboration arose after it was revealed that Ahn Sang-ho, upon marrying a Japanese woman, stated, “I am just like a Japanese person. I don’t own a single set of traditional Korean clothing, and I can’t eat spicy food at all,” and that he was a member of the Daejeong Friendship Society.
As these allegations surfaced, a representative from Ha Young’s agency, Busters Entertainment, stated, “While it is true that Ha Young’s great-grandfather is Ahn Sang-ho, the claims circulating in online communities that he was a pro-Japanese collaborator are completely baseless.” Regarding the evidence cited online as proof of Ahn Sang-ho’s pro-Japanese activities, the representative remained tight-lipped, saying they were “currently verifying” the claims. However, the agency issued another apology just one day later.
Ha Young, who debuted in the 2019 drama *Doctor Prisoner*, has continued her acting career through dramas such as *The Odd Lawyer Woo Young-woo*, *Model Detective 2*, and *Lee Doo-na!*. Last year, she garnered attention both domestically and internationally for her portrayal of nurse Cheon Jang-mi in the drama *Trauma Center*. She is currently starring as the lead character, Go Eun-sae, in *Such a Shitty Love*, which was recently released on Netflix.