[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] Actress Ha Young apologized and expressed remorse over allegations that her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, was a pro-Japanese collaborator.

On the 12th, Ha Young posted a handwritten apology on her social media, beginning with the words, “I bow my head in apology for causing great disappointment and hurt due to matters related to my great-grandfather. Upon learning of my great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho’s past actions recently, I have been reflecting on my family’s history with a heavy heart.”
She continued, “Until now, I had only a fragmentary understanding of my great-grandfather’s life based on stories passed down through my family. To my shame, in that state of ignorance, I have spoken of my great-grandfather on various occasions as if he were a source of family pride,” she said. “Through this incident, as I personally searched for relevant materials, I learned of my great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese activities. I deeply regret having casually mentioned our family history without properly understanding the history of our country, which endured the painful period of Japanese colonial rule.”
He continued, “Furthermore, when the controversy first arose, I did not have an accurate grasp of the facts, which led to my agency issuing a statement claiming the allegations were groundless. I also consider it my own shortcoming that an incorrect statement was conveyed without sufficient verification. I sincerely apologize for causing further confusion and hurt as a result,” she said, bowing her head. “I also apologize again for the delay in issuing this statement, as I was deeply troubled by the gravity of the matter and struggled to find the right words to express my remorse.”
Ha Young stated, “I do not believe that my lack of prior knowledge can serve as a reason to ignore or trivialize that history. I take this mistake very seriously and, as a descendant, offer my sincere apology. I feel even more remorseful for causing controversy due to my shortcomings in the run-up to Liberation Day.”
She pledged to take this matter deeply to heart, saying, “I will take a close look at my family’s history and that era, and I will adopt a more cautious attitude toward history in the future. Furthermore, I will study our history in depth and do my best to serve with respect those who fought for independence and all those who contributed to our nation’s liberation and peace. I will put this into practice through actions, not just words.”
He then reiterated his apology, saying, “Once again, I sincerely apologize to everyone I have caused concern.”
Recently, Ha Young appeared on the KBS2 show *The Problem Children of the Attic* and revealed that she comes from a family of doctors spanning four generations, stating, “My great-grandfather opened the first Western-style clinic in Hanyang and treated Emperor Gojong.” 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. However, as details of Ahn Sang-ho’s pro-Japanese activities came to light, criticism of Ha Young followed. According to an article published in the Maeil Shinbo in 1918, Ahn Sang-ho, upon marrying a Japanese woman, stated, “I am exactly 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 suspicions of pro-Japanese activities arose after it was revealed that he was a member of the Taisei Friendship Association.
A representative from Ha Young’s agency, Busters Entertainment, stated, “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 Daijeong Friendship Society in 1916,” adding, “Through this incident, we have deeply realized how careful verification is required when conveying historical facts and an individual’s background to the public. Actress Ha Young also deeply regrets the concern this matter has caused and will approach her work with an even more cautious and humble attitude going forward,” the representative added.

Full text of Ha Young’s statement

: This is Ha Young.
First, I bow my head in apology for causing great disappointment and hurt regarding matters related to my great-grandfather. Upon recently learning of my great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho’s past actions, I have reflected on my family’s history with a heavy heart.
Until now, I had only a fragmentary understanding of my great-grandfather’s life based on stories passed down through my family. To my shame, in that state of ignorance, I spoke of my great-grandfather on various occasions as if he were a source of family pride.
It was only after this incident, while personally researching relevant materials, that I learned of my great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese activities. I deeply regret having casually mentioned our family history without fully understanding Korea’s history during the painful period of Japanese colonial rule.
Furthermore, when the controversy first arose, I did not have an accurate grasp of the facts, which led my agency to issue a statement claiming the allegations were baseless. I acknowledge that allowing an incorrect statement to be released without sufficient verification was also a shortcoming on my part. I sincerely apologize for causing further confusion and hurt as a result.
I deeply regret that the gravity of the matter and my sense of guilt left me struggling to find the right words to express my apology, which is why my statement was delayed.
I do not believe that my lack of prior knowledge can serve as a reason to ignore or trivialize that history. I take this mistake very seriously and, as a descendant, offer my sincere apology. I feel all the more remorseful for causing controversy due to my shortcomings in the run-up to Liberation Day.
I will take this matter deeply to heart. I will thoroughly examine my family’s history and that era, and I will adopt an even more cautious attitude toward history in the future. Furthermore, I will study our history in depth and do my utmost to honor and serve with respect the independence activists and all those who worked tirelessly for our nation’s liberation and well-being. I will put this into practice through actions, not just words.
Once again, I sincerely apologize to everyone whom I have caused concern.

Sincerely, Ha Young.