Actor Ha Young released a handwritten apology three days after a controversy regarding his ancestor's pro-Japanese actions emerged. However, public reaction remains largely cold.
On the 13th, Ha Young shared a handwritten letter stating, "I sincerely apologize for the disappointment and hurt caused by matters related to my great-grandfather." He addressed the ongoing controversy in his statement.
Since the release of the apology, various online communities have criticized the timing and content of the letter, noting that some aspects of the controversy were not mentioned.
Netizens reacted with comments such as, "It seems you have no plans to take a break for a few years," "Just quietly enjoy your family's wealth," "Let’s not see you on TV anymore," "It’s surprising it took three days for this," and "If you hadn’t made a fuss, it would have been forgotten."
Particularly, netizens pointed out that the apology only mentioned the pro-Japanese actions of Ha Young's great-grandfather, An Sang-ho, while omitting references to his grandfather's connection to Sorokdo, which had been mentioned by the agency during the clarification process.
One netizen remarked, "The Sorokdo issue that the agency promoted is not mentioned. Is this issue too big to address?" Another added, "The apology only includes details about the great-grandfather, and the Sorokdo content will likely be criticized for being omitted."
Some responses compared Ha Young to descendants of independence activists, criticizing the disparity. One netizen wrote, "It’s unfortunate that those who fought for independence lost their fortunes, leaving their descendants in poverty."
In his apology, Ha Young stated that he had only a limited understanding of his great-grandfather's life through family stories.
He admitted, "Regrettably, I have spoken about my great-grandfather as a family pride without fully understanding the context. Through this incident, I learned about my great-grandfather's pro-Japanese actions while researching related materials."
He continued, "I reflect on my lack of knowledge regarding our country's painful history during the Japanese colonial period and my casual references to family history."
Ha Young also apologized for his agency's initial statement, which claimed the allegations were unfounded. He said, "I also did not know the facts, which led to the agency's statement being released without proper verification. I believe it was my shortcoming that a misleading position was communicated without sufficient confirmation."
Regarding the delay in his statement, he expressed, "The matter is so serious and regrettable that I struggled with how to convey my apology, which caused the delay in my response."
He added, "I believe that my ignorance does not excuse me from overlooking or trivializing that history. I take this mistake seriously and sincerely apologize as a descendant."
Ha Young also shared his feelings about the controversy arising just before Liberation Day, stating, "I feel even more remorseful for causing trouble due to my shortcomings at a time leading up to Liberation Day. I will take a closer look at my family's history and approach history with greater caution in the future."
He concluded, "I will strive to study our history deeply and serve with respect for the independence activists and all those who contributed to our country's liberation and well-being, committing to actions rather than just words."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.