Speculation is growing that actor Ha-young's great-grandfather was modern physician Ahn Sang-ho, prompting a reexamination of his pro-Japanese activities.
Ha-young has previously disclosed her medical family background in various broadcasts and interviews. In a January 2025 interview, she revealed that her father is a practicing doctor and her mother studied nursing, stating, "I heard that my great-grandfather was one of the first doctors to practice Western medicine in Hanyang. He reportedly treated Emperor Gojong."
In a recent broadcast, Ha-young reiterated this, saying on KBS2's 'Problematic Sons of Rooftop,' "I heard that my great-grandfather was among the first to establish a Western medicine clinic in Hanyang after studying medicine in Japan, and he treated Emperor Gojong."
Following these remarks, online speculation arose that Ha-young was referring to Ahn Sang-ho. Historical records confirm that Ahn was part of the royal medical staff. According to materials published by the Seoul History Compilation Committee, Ahn studied medicine in Japan before returning to Korea, where he served as a physician for Emperor Sunjong and established a private clinic in Jongno 3-ga. His name appears repeatedly in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty as a physician for Sunjong in the 1920s.
Ahn's name has become controversial due to his actions during the Japanese colonial period. A study published by the Korean Society for the Study of National Movement indicates that Ahn was a member of the Daejeong Friendship Association, formed in November 1916. The study describes the association as a pro-Japanese organization, noting that Ahn, a successful doctor who married a Japanese woman, was considered a model of 'Japanization' at the time. Other members of the association included Lee Wan-yong and Song Byeong-jun.
However, Ha-young's agency acknowledged that Ahn Sang-ho is indeed her great-grandfather but stated that the allegations of pro-Japanese activities are "groundless."
In response, netizens expressed their opinions, with comments such as, "Isn't it wrong to boast about being from a pro-Japanese family?" and "It seems like they kept it quiet at home... Is this a lack of family education or just excessive? It's a funny situation," and "This is a misstep; they should have educated her better about the pro-Japanese issue. This is not something that can be defended," along with remarks like, "The protagonist of the Gojong poisoning theory" and "She won't be able to do commercials in the future."
As the controversy escalates, past responses from other celebrities regarding their 'pro-Japanese descendants' are also being recalled.
Actress Lee Ji-ah, when her grandfather's pro-Japanese activities came to light, issued a statement saying, "I deeply recognize my grandfather's historical mistakes and sincerely apologize as a descendant." Lee explained that her grandfather passed away when she was two years old, and she grew up unaware of his pro-Japanese actions, only learning about them through related articles in 2011. She visited the National Institute of Korean History multiple times to verify the information and study the issue.
Lee also stated that if the family assets in question were acquired during the Japanese colonial period, they should be returned to the state.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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