Actress Ha Young’s Family History Faces New Scrutiny Over Great-Grandmother Claims
Actress Ha Young’s family background has once again become a hot topic among K-Pop fans and online communities, following fresh claims about her great-grandmother. This renewed scrutiny comes after the actress herself acknowledged the controversial pro-Japanese activities of her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang Ho.
Great-Grandmother Allegations Surface Online
On August 14 KST, Korean online communities began circulating posts alleging that Ha Young’s great-grandmother was the daughter of a high-ranking Japanese military official connected to the Japanese Government-General of Korea. This new claim cites a passage from Kim Yong Sook’s 1983 book ‘A Study of Court Customs of the Joseon Dynasty’.
The specific passage in question discusses a payroll list of royal household employees, noting Ahn Sang Ho’s inclusion on a list dating from after Japan’s annexation of Korea in 1910. The author further detailed that Ahn was a figure who drew significant public suspicion regarding the sudden death of Emperor Gojong, a suspicion that intensified because his wife – Ha Young’s great-grandmother – was purportedly the daughter of a Japanese general serving at the Government-General at the time. This historical passage has quickly gained traction online, fueling further criticism of Ha Young’s family lineage. However, it’s important to note that the precise identity and official position of the Japanese official mentioned in the decades-old publication have not yet been independently verified through the circulating material alone.
Initial Controversy: Ha Young’s Great-Grandfather
This latest development builds on a controversy that first ignited after Ha Young’s appearance on KBS2’s ‘Problem Child in House’ on August 7. During the broadcast, she shared details about her family history, proudly stating that her great-grandfather opened one of Seoul’s earliest Western-style medical clinics and even treated Emperor Gojong. She also highlighted her family’s four-generation legacy of doctors, including her great-grandfather, grandfather, parents, and older sister.
Following the program, attention quickly shifted to reports identifying her great-grandfather as Ahn Sang Ho, a figure known to have served as a council member of the Daejeong Friendship Association. Established in Seoul in 1919, this organization is widely described as having pro-Japanese affiliations.
Agency Responds to Allegations
Initially, Ha Young’s agency denied these allegations, but after further internal verification, they reversed their stance. The agency released a statement acknowledging the gravity of the matter, emphasizing that Ha Young was taking the concerns raised by the controversy seriously. They also conveyed her commitment to reflecting on the situation and approaching her future activities with heightened caution and humility.
Need for Further Verification
The recent allegation concerning her great-grandmother continues to be based solely on the historical passage circulating online. Independent verification through additional documentation would be essential to confirm the exact family connection and the official’s identity definitively.
