As allegations of pro-Japanese sentiment surrounding actor Ha-young's great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho continue to spread, an interview with Ha-young's father, Mr. A, has sparked further controversy.
On August 11, Ilgan Sports published an interview with Mr. A regarding the 'great-grandfather pro-Japanese controversy.' In the interview, Mr. A stated, "I have never thought of my great-grandfather's marriage to a Japanese woman as being pro-Japanese." However, online commentators pointed out that the issue was not solely about the marriage itself but rather Ahn Sang-ho's actions during the Japanese colonial period.
The crux of the controversy lies in whether Ahn Sang-ho exhibited behaviors that could be deemed pro-Japanese. Therefore, merely discussing his marriage does not adequately address the central issue.
Mr. A's choice of words also drew criticism. In the interview, he referred to Japan's forced annexation of Korea as 'Japan-Korea Annexation' rather than 'Gyeongsul Gukchi.' The Ministry of Veterans Affairs defines terms like 'Japan-Korea Annexation' as language used to justify Japan's infringement on Korea's sovereignty.
Furthermore, Mr. A explained that he initially dismissed the allegations against his great-grandfather as "groundless" based on family stories about Ahn Sang-ho's relationship with Prince Uichin.
As evidence, Mr. A cited the book 'Pioneers of Korean Medicine,' claiming that the author, Jeong Gu-chung, recounted stories he heard directly from Prince Uichin, including theories surrounding the poisoning of Emperor Gojong.
However, this point has also become a subject of debate. Jeong Gu-chung is listed in the 'Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Figures' compiled by the National Institute of Korean History, raising questions about the reliability of the book as evidence against Ahn Sang-ho's pro-Japanese status.
Ultimately, Mr. A's interview has been criticized for failing to provide a clear factual explanation or specific rebuttal regarding the pro-Japanese allegations against Ahn Sang-ho. Instead, it focused on the notion that viewing his marriage to a Japanese woman as pro-Japanese is unjust, along with anecdotes passed down through the family.
Online reactions included comments such as, "This interview is worse than not doing one at all," "It completely misses the point," and "Ha-young should humbly pursue other endeavors for the sake of the independence activists who sacrificed for the country." In particular, critics noted that the issue is not about the marriage itself but rather Ahn Sang-ho's specific pro-Japanese actions, suggesting that the interview has only fueled further debate rather than quelling it.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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