{
  "id": 642116,
  "title": "Ha Young says 'sincerely sorry' over great-grandfather's pro-Japanese past",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/ha-young-says-sincerely-sorry-over-great-grandfathers-pro-japanese",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-12T07:37:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/shows-dramas/20260812/ha-young-says-sincerely-sorry-over-great-grandfathers-pro-japanese-past"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Actress Ha Young expressed sincere regret on Wednesday in response to allegations concerning her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea. The apology, posted on her social media account the day after her agency confirmed her great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho (1872-1927) belonged to an organization allegedly engaged in pro-Japanese actions, came as the star reflected on her family history. \"I had only partially known about my great-grandfather's life through stories told by my family,\" she explained. Ha Young acknowledged feeling ashamed for having spoken on multiple occasions about Ahn Sang-ho as a symbol of family pride despite her lack of awareness about his past. \"I believe the fact that I had not known about it cannot be an excuse for disregarding or lightly considering that history. I take that mistake heavily and as a descendant, I am sincerely sorry,\" she added. On a recent episode of the KBS talk show \"Problem Child in House,\" Ha Young disclosed how her great-grandfather pursued Western medical studies in Japan, which she connected to her broader reflection on the historical significance of the episode.",
  "summary": "Actor Ha Young apologized Wednesday over allegations surrounding her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, saying she was \"sincerely sorry\" as his descendant. The actor issued the apology in a handwritten letter posted on her social media account, a day after her agency acknowledged that her great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho (1872-1927) was a…",
  "key_points": [
    "Actress Ha Young apologizes for great-grandfather's pro-Japanese past.",
    "Acknowledges feeling ashamed for praising Ahn Sang-ho as family pride.",
    "Sincere regret expressed as descendant reflecting on family history."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Ha Young says 'sincerely sorry' over great-grandfather's pro-Japanese past",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/ha-young-says-sincerely-sorry-over-great-grandfathers-pro-japanese-643024",
        "published": "2026-08-12T07:47:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}