#SHOWBIZ: Actress Ha-young under fire as family's colonial-era past sparks public outrage

Seoul - South Korean actress An Ha-young, known professionally as Ha-young, is facing backlash from the entertainment industry following revelations about her great-grandfather's historical connections to a pro-Japanese organization. The 28-year-old, who hails from a lineage of four generations of medical professionals, had previously received praise for her heritage.

However, public opinion rapidly turned against her when historical documents emerged implicating her great-grandfather, An Sang-ho, for participating in pro-Japanese activities during the colonial era. Allegations surfaced from a 1918 Maeil Shinbo newspaper article which claimed An had married a Japanese woman and embraced Japanese customs.

This controversy was further fueled by the actions of her grandfather, An Bu-ho, who worked at Sorokdo Hospital—a notorious facility during Japanese rule that subjected Hansen's disease patients to severe abuses, including forced isolation, confinement, sterilization, and assault. An Ha-young's management agency, Busters Entertainment, initially categorized the allegations as "groundless" but later retracted their stance as additional historical evidence emerged.

In a revised statement, the agency apologized for their initial dismissal of the allegations without proper verification, expressing their regret for causing confusion. The agency also acknowledged the burden placed on An Ha-young and emphasized the importance of verifying historical facts and backgrounds before presenting them to the public.

An Ha-young herself reflected on the situation, acknowledging the concerns her actions may have caused and vowed to approach things with greater caution and humility in the future.