The controversy surrounding actress Ha-young's great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, who is accused of pro-Japanese collaboration, has brought renewed attention to a letter her father sent to her sister.
In a letter written in 2002, Ahn Byung-moon, Ha-young's father, addressed his eldest daughter, Kyung-min. He expressed gratitude for the passage of time, stating, "If you think about it, the reason I can talk to you so freely now is that time has been on our side." He also noted, "You may vaguely know, but our family is one of the few prestigious medical families."
Ahn detailed his family's medical legacy, mentioning that his great-grandfather served as a faculty member at the predecessor of Seoul National University College of Medicine, and his grandfather was the director of Seongshim Hospital. He reflected on his own career, stating, "After graduating from college in 1976, I trained at my grandfather's hospital and became the head of the training department at the age of 31."
In the letter, Ahn referred to the phrase "time is on our side," which appears to acknowledge the improved perception of disabilities over the years. However, this has sparked differing interpretations among netizens, especially in light of the pro-Japanese allegations.
Ha-young has previously shared in interviews that her family has been in the medical profession for four generations. However, the allegations regarding her great-grandfather being a pro-Japanese collaborator have led to controversy surrounding her family's background.
Ahn Sang-ho was reportedly one of the medical professionals who treated King Gojong during his illness in 1919. Articles from 1918 in the Japanese colonial government’s newspaper, Maeil Sinbo, included statements from Ahn claiming, "I am just like the Japanese people," further intensifying the pro-Japanese controversy.
Initially, Ha-young's representatives denied the allegations, stating they were "groundless." However, on August 11, they confirmed that records exist showing Ahn Sang-ho was listed as a member of the Daijeong Club in 1916, a pro-Japanese organization known to include prominent collaborators like Lee Wan-yong.
Ha-young's agency expressed that the actress is feeling very burdened by the situation and sincerely apologized for hastily responding with a denial without sufficient verification, which caused confusion.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.