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Ha Young (Our Sticky Love, Teach You a Lesson, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, The Good Detective Season 2) has addressed the controversy surrounding her family history.
Ha Young recently appeared on KBS2's variety program Problem Child in House, where she spoke about her family's four-generation medical lineage, including her great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and older sister. During the appearance, she described her great-grandfather as someone who studied medicine in Japan before returning to Korea, establishing a Western-style medical clinic in Hanyang (present-day Seoul), and providing medical treatment to Emperor Gojong.
After the episode aired, Korean netizens speculated that the doctor she referred to was Ahn Sang Ho, a fact that her agency, BISTUS Entertainment, later confirmed.
The revelation was followed by the discovery of historical records that showed Ahn Sang Ho on the list of council members for the Daejeong Chinmokhoe, an organization associated with pro-Japanese activities, in 1916. The record subsequently fueled controversy over his activities during the Japanese colonial period.
On August 10, BISTUS Entertainment initially dismissed the online allegations concerning Ahn Sang Ho's alleged pro-Japanese activities as "groundless". However, the agency revised its position the following day, August 11, and issued an apology, acknowledging that it had responded hastily without conducting sufficient verification and saying, "We sincerely apologize for causing confusion by hastily stating that the reports were 'groundless.'"
Here is the full statement from Ha Young's agency
Hello, this is BISTUS Entertainment.
We would like to share our agency's position regarding the recent reports concerning actor Ha Young's family history.
First, we would like to address our earlier statement that the reports were "groundless". Following additional verification, we have confirmed that an actual record exists listing Ha Young's great-grandfather, Ahn Sang Ho, as a council member of the Daejeong Chinmokhoe Association in 1916. We sincerely apologize for causing confusion by hastily stating that the allegations were "groundless" without conducting sufficient verification.
Actress Ha Young recently mentioned her family's four-generation legacy in the medical field while responding to a question during an appearance on a television program. She is very heavy-hearted about the controversy that arose unintentionally as a result.
Through this incident, our agency has come to deeply realize how careful and thorough the verification is required when conveying historical facts and an individual's background to the public.
Ha Young, too, takes to heart the concern caused by this matter and will approach her work with an even more cautious and humble attitude going forward. Thank you.
Thank you.
Source: Newsen
