Actor Ha Young apologizes over ancestral history

Actor Ha Young, whose real name is Ahn Ha-young, has issued a public apology following controversy surrounding her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities during Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. Bistus Entertainment, her agency, released a statement on Tuesday expressing deep regret for her initial denial and on-air remarks about her family's four-generation medical lineage.

The controversy began after Ha Young appeared on a KBS talk show on August 7, where she spoke proudly about her family's medical background. She claimed that her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, studied Western medicine in Japan and opened a hospital. However, a secondary verification confirmed that Ahn Sang-ho's name indeed appears on the 1916 counselor roster of the Daejeong Friendship Association, an organization active during the Japanese colonial period.

Ha Young initially dismissed the allegations as groundless, causing confusion. She expressed deep regret for unintentionally causing controversy and apologized for dismissing the claims without a thorough investigation. The agency stated that this secondary verification confirmed their earlier statement, acknowledging the validity of the allegations against Ha Young's great-grandfather.