Actress Ha Young is reportedly facing significant career repercussions as the controversy surrounding her great-grandfather’s alleged pro-Japanese activities continues to escalate, despite an earlier apology issued over the matter. The impact is becoming increasingly evident as major brands and organizations pull her promotional content.
Advertising Content Pulled Amidst Controversy
A recent report on August 16 KST revealed that LG Uplus has made private an advertisement featuring Ha Young, which was originally filmed when she was selected as a model for the company in 2019. While LG Uplus did not officially state the reason for their decision, the move comes amidst heightened public scrutiny regarding Ha Young’s family history.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Several other prominent organizations and brands that previously collaborated with the actress have reportedly followed suit. These include fashion brand ATT, technology giant Samsung Electronics, search engine Naver, lifestyle brand PROJECT M, and even South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare. All have reportedly privatized advertising content featuring Ha Young, signaling a broad-reaching effect on her public image.
Further illustrating the growing impact, a visible-radio video of Ha Young’s August 5 appearance on SBS PowerFM’s ‘Wendy’s Young Street’ has also been rendered unavailable.
Origin of the Controversy: Family History Under Scrutiny
The controversy initially surfaced after Ha Young shared details about her family background on television. She mentioned that her great-grandfather practiced Western medicine and had treated Emperor Gojong. This revelation led to her great-grandfather being identified as Ahn Sang Ho, a physician whose historical records have subsequently drawn intense scrutiny due to allegations of pro-Japanese activities during Korea’s colonial era.
Ha Young’s Agency Acknowledges and Apologizes
Initially, Ha Young’s agency denied these claims. However, after further verification, they acknowledged that Ahn Sang Ho was indeed her great-grandfather. The agency released a statement conveying Ha Young’s deep distress over the situation and offered an apology for causing public concern. They also pledged that the actress would approach her future activities with greater caution and humility.
As public scrutiny intensifies, the widespread removal of both recent and even years-old promotional content clearly indicates that this controversy is having a profound and tangible impact on Ha Young’s professional standing and public-facing engagements.
