Actor Ha Young apologizes over controversy surrounding family's pro-Japanese past

Seoul, August 11 (Yonhap) -- Actress Ha Young issued an apology on Tuesday for sparking controversy over her great-grandfather's association with a pro-Japanese organization during Korea's 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. The statement was released by her agency, Bistus Entertainment, the same day Ha Young came under criticism for claiming her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese ties were "groundless" through her agency.

During a response to a question, Ha Young mentioned that medical practice has been a family tradition for four generations. The agency noted that the actor expressed deep regret over how the issue unintentionally led to controversy. On a KBS talk show last week, Ha Young shared that her great-grandfather studied Western medicine in Japan and established the first Western medical clinic in Korea.

While she did not disclose his name, the public soon identified him as a senior figure in a group suspected of pro-Japanese activities by historians.

The incident prompted the agency to recognize the significance of accurate historical reporting and responsible sharing of an individual's personal background. Ha Young acknowledged her mistake and committed to adopting a more cautious and humble approach. The agency also confirmed that historical records from 1916 list her great-grandfather as a member of the suspect organization.

Ha Young began her acting career with the film "Doctor Prisoner" (2019) and has since starred in popular Netflix series like "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" (2025), "Boyfriend on Demand" (2026), and "Teach You a Lesson" (2026). She also appeared in the rom-com series "Our Sticky Love," released last week.