[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] Risks in the entertainment industry—which used to be limited to celebrities’ “personal missteps” such as drunk driving, school violence, and personal scandals—are now expanding indefinitely into the realm of “intergenerational lineage,” including celebrities’ family backgrounds and past histories. With these risks potentially surfacing at any time and in any way, tension appears to be mounting within the production industry.

Recently, after actress Ha Young mentioned her great-grandfather on a variety show, it was revealed that her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, had been active in the Daejeong Friendship Society—a pro-Japanese organization during the Japanese colonial period—and had made pro-Japanese remarks, such as stating in an interview with the Maeil Shinbo, “I am the same as a Japanese person.” As a result, she has been engulfed in fierce criticism. In a handwritten apology, Ha Young stated, “Until now, I had only a fragmentary understanding of my great-grandfather’s life based on stories passed down through my family. I am ashamed to admit that, in my ignorance, I brought up stories about my great-grandfather on various occasions as if they were a source of family pride,” adding, “I will take this matter deeply to heart. I will take a closer look at my family’s history and the era in which it unfolded, and I will adopt a more cautious attitude toward history in the future. Furthermore, I will study our history in depth and do my utmost to honor and respect the independence activists and all those who contributed to our nation’s liberation and peace.” However, the content in which she appeared has been set to private, and there are even calls for her to withdraw from projects currently in production.
Whereas in the past, celebrities were judged primarily on their moral character and criminal history, the public’s moral standards have now become stricter, extending to “a lack of historical awareness” and “family background and past history.”
Production and broadcasting companies are growing increasingly concerned about such celebrity risks, as soaring production costs have amplified the financial stakes tied to the success or failure of a single project. The problem is that, from a production company’s perspective, this “ancestral risk” is not something that can be screened out in advance. Unlike school violence or criminal histories—which can be verified through official records—it is difficult to verify the actions of grandparents or great-grandparents from decades ago during the casting process.
An official from a production company lamented, “It’s already impossible for us to prevent an actor from committing offenses like drinking on set, so verifying family history is even more difficult,” adding, “Even if we were to check a family’s background, determining how far back to go is another issue.”
Another production company official confided, “Even if we conduct thorough vetting before casting, problems can arise from unforeseeable sources, which creates difficulties,” adding, “If an actor-related risk leads to reshoots or the cancellation of the project, the damage would be enormous.”
The production team of SBS’s *We Have a Chance*, in which Ha Young is currently filming, issued a statement: “A significant portion of filming has already been completed, and we ask for your understanding as it is difficult to disclose details regarding the amount of footage or the specific progress rate.” They added, “We are aware of the matter and are closely monitoring how the situation unfolds. We will provide an update once further details are finalized.”
Pop culture critic Kim Heon-sik pointed out that Ha Young’s controversy should be distinguished from risks involving other actors, noting, “While issues like school bullying involve individuals acknowledging their own wrongdoing, in this case, the act in question was not committed by her, and she was unaware of it.” He continued, “Since numerous actors and staff members are involved in a single production, we need to consider the production ecosystem when actor-related risks arise,” adding, “Rather than canceling the show or reshooting scenes, the production should be structured so that the audience—that is, the viewers—can watch and judge for themselves.”
He also noted that distinguishing an actor’s personal background—such as family background or educational history—during promotional and marketing efforts is a way to prevent risks, pointing out, “In Korean society, there is a particular tendency to flaunt one’s educational background or family status; we need to foster an atmosphere that discourages such behavior.”