Actor Ha Young Ancestor Pro Japanese Controversy: Star and Agency Issue Apology Following Historical Verification
Rising South Korean actor Ha Young has found herself at the center of severe public backlash after historical records confirmed her great-grandfather’s involvement in a pro-Japanese organization during the Japanese colonial rule (1910–1945).
The controversy surrounding the Our Sticky Love star escalated rapidly ahead of South Korea’s National Liberation Day on August 15, prompting her management agency to issue a full public apology and reverse their initial denial.
From Television Praise to Public Backlash
The issue began following Ha Young’s appearance on a KBS television broadcast, where she spoke proudly of her great-grandfather, An Sang-ho. She introduced him as the first Western medicine physician to open a private clinic in Seoul and noted that he had served as a physician for Emperor Gojong.
| Event / Timeline | Incident Details & Agency Position |
| Actor Involved | Ha Young (Our Sticky Love) |
| Ancestor | Great-grandfather An Sang-ho (Western Medicine Doctor) |
| Historical Record | Appointed councilor of Daejeong Chinmokhoe in 1916 |
| Initial Stance | Bistrus Entertainment denied claims as “groundless” |
| Reversed Position | Agency verified historical records and issued official apology |
Shortly after the broadcast, online netizens raised allegations connecting An Sang-ho to pro-Japanese collaborationist groups. Public criticism mounted quickly, with commentators expressing outrage over descendants boasting about ancestors with collaborationist histories.
Agency Reversal and Formal Public Apology
While Ha Young’s agency, Bistrus Entertainment, initially dismissed the allegations as baseless on Monday, they conducted a secondary review of historical archives and confirmed the existence of official colonial-era records on Tuesday.
“After further checking historical archives, we confirmed that records actually exist listing her great-grandfather, An Sang-ho, as a councilor of Daejeong Chinmokhoe in 1916.
We sincerely apologize for causing immense confusion by hastily responding that the claims were groundless without sufficient prior verification.”
— Bistrus Entertainment Official Statement
Daejeong Chinmokhoe (Taisho Friendship Association) was a pro-Japanese organization established in Seoul in 1916, named after the reign of the reigning Japanese Emperor Taisho.
Historical Sensitivity Ahead of Liberation Day
The timing of the Actor Ha Young Ancestor Pro Japanese Controversy has amplified public sensitivity, occurring just days before South Korea marks its 81st Liberation Day.
As public figures in South Korea face strict historical accountability, Ha Young joins a growing list of celebrities whose careers have been impacted by ancestral ties to the colonial era, underscoring the deep importance of historical awareness in the Korean entertainment industry.
