Actress Ha Young Issues Handwritten Apology Over Great-Grandfather’s Pro-Japanese Past

Actress Ha Young Issues Handwritten Apology Over Great-Grandfather’s Pro-Japanese Past… Sparks Industry Fallout

Actress Ha Young (real name An Ha-young, 33) has posted a handwritten letter of apology regarding her great-grandfather An Sang-ho’s pro-Japanese activities during the Japanese colonial era. What began as a boastful TV appearance about her family's four-generation medical legacy quickly turned into a major scandal as historical records surfaced. Below is a comprehensive breakdown covering the initial TV comments, agency statement reversal, and the immediate backlash across the entertainment and advertising sectors.

1. How TV Boasts About a '4th-Gen Medical Family' Ignited Pro-Japanese Allegations

The controversy started when actress Ha Young recently appeared on the KBS 2TV variety show "Problem Child in House" and shared details about her family lineage. During the broadcast, she proudly spoke of her great-grandfather, who studied Western medicine in Japan, opened a medical clinic in Hanyang (Seoul), and treated Emperor Gojong, expressing immense pride in her family’s four-generation medical background.

Following the broadcast, online communities identified her great-grandfather as An Sang-ho (1872–1927), known as the first Korean to obtain a medical license in Japan. An graduated from Tokyo Jikei University School of Medicine in 1902, established a clinic in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul, and historically served as an appointed physician for both Emperor Gojong and Emperor Sunjong.

However, further historical scrutiny revealed that An Sang-ho was listed as a councillor in 1916 for the 'Daejeong Friendship Association' (대정친목회), a notorious pro-Japanese organization. Because the organization actively supported Japanese colonial rule and promoted pro-Japanese sentiment, Ha Young’s public pride in her ancestor rapidly transformed into a fierce public backlash over glorifying a pro-Japanese figure.

From Family Pride to Pro-Japanese Controversy! Historical records showing An's 1916 role in the Daejeong Friendship Association turned her broadcast pride into severe public criticism.

2. Agency Reversal and Ha Young's August 12 Handwritten Apology

Initially, Ha Young’s agency, Bisters Entertainment, acknowledged that An Sang-ho was her great-grandfather but firmly denied the pro-Japanese allegations as "groundless." However, after netizens and reporters presented clear historical documentation, the agency issued an official statement on August 11, admitting that his name was indeed in the 1916 council list and apologizing for their hasty denial.

On August 12, Ha Young uploaded a handwritten letter to her personal Instagram account. She wrote, "I relied only on fragmentary stories passed down by my family and blindly spoke of my great-grandfather as a point of pride," adding, "I deeply reflect on my past careless remarks made without properly understanding history."

Ha Young also took personal responsibility for the agency's initial denial. She apologized for letting an unverified statement go public, expressing deep remorse for causing distress, especially right before National Liberation Day. She promised to study Korean history thoroughly and honor those who fought for national independence through concrete actions rather than mere words.

Agency Retracts Denial in 24 Hours as Actress Posts Handwritten Letter! Ha Young admitted her ignorance, expressed deep remorse ahead of Liberation Day, and promised dedicated historical education.

3. Widespread Fallout: Canceled Netflix Interviews, Ads Hidden, and VODs Removed

Despite Ha Young’s direct apology, the entertainment and retail industries acted swiftly to distance themselves from the controversy. A media round-table interview for the upcoming Netflix original series "This Rotten Love," which was scheduled to feature Ha Young alongside lead actor Jung Hae-in, was abruptly canceled.

Major corporate advertisers also moved quickly to minimize brand damage. Companies such as Samsung Electronics and the fashion brand ARTID, where Ha Young served as an endorsement model, made all promotional videos and images featuring her private or completely deleted them from their official channels.

Furthermore, television networks took down affected broadcast material. KBS 2TV’s "Problem Child in House" production team disabled VOD re-watch services for the episode in question and removed all related highlight clips from YouTube and official streaming platforms.

Immediate Industry Sanctions Across Broadcasts and Endorsements! From canceled Netflix events to removed commercial ads and blocked TV re-runs, tangible consequences have swept her career.

4. Public Sensitivity Surrounding National Liberation Day and Historical Awareness

A key factor amplifying the public outcry is the timing of the controversy. The issue erupted just days before August 15, South Korea’s National Liberation Day (광복절), a holiday celebrating freedom from Japanese colonial rule, making public sentiment around historical topics exceptionally sensitive.

The Korean public expressed frustration over the lack of historical verification and caution when public figures boast about ancestral prestige on mainstream television. Critics pointed out the stark contrast between the hardship endured by descendants of independence fighters and the unexamined glorification of privileged figures from the colonial era.

Pop culture analysts note that this case highlights the severe risks when family histories are used casually for celebrity personal branding in media. Given South Korea's strict social standards regarding historical truth, calls for thorough pre-broadcast background checks by production teams and agencies have gained renewed urgency.

heightened Sensitivity Around Aug 15 Liberation Day! The incident underscores the crucial responsibility of public figures and agencies to verify historical facts before sharing ancestral stories.

5. Impact on Ha Young's Career and Future Outlook

Ha Young made her acting debut in the 2019 KBS drama "Doctor Prisoner" and has steadily built her filmography over recent years. She was emerging as a promising rising star, securing roles in high-profile Netflix projects like "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," "Monthly Boyfriend," and "Real Education."

Now facing the biggest crisis of her career, Ha Young pledged in her apology letter that she would "demonstrate accountability through actions, not just words," promising to actively support organizations honoring independence heroes.

Because controversies related to colonial history carry long-lasting public impact in South Korea, whether Ha Young can regain public trust and rebuild her acting career will depend entirely on the sincerity and consistency of her future actions.

Rising Star Faces Career-Defining Crisis! With major upcoming releases on the line, the sincerity of her promised self-reflection and historical education remains under close watch.

Category / Timeline	Key Events and Detailed Fact Data
Trigger Event	Boasted about 4th-gen medical family & great-grandfather An Sang-ho on KBS2 TV show.
Historical Evidence	An Sang-ho (1872–1927) listed as a councillor for pro-Japanese 'Daejeong Friendship Assoc.' in 1916.
1st Response (Aug 11)	Agency initially denied as "groundless," then retracted denial within 24 hrs after verifying records.
2nd Response (Aug 12)	Ha Young posted a handwritten apology on Instagram admitting ignorance and taking responsibility.
Industry Impact	Netflix 'This Rotten Love' interview canceled; Samsung/ARTID ads hidden; KBS VOD blocked.
Actress Profile	Debuted in 2019 ('Doctor Prisoner'); cast in Netflix 'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call'.

[Summary Brief] 5 Key Points on Ha Young's Pro-Japanese Ancestor Controversy

• 1. Backfire of TV Pride: Sharing family medical history on TV exposed her great-grandfather's 1916 pro-Japanese association record.
• 2. Rapid Agency Retraction: Bisters Entertainment reversed its initial denial within 24 hours, apologizing for an unverified statement.
• 3. Personal Handwritten Apology: On August 12, Ha Young apologized on SNS for her ignorance and for bringing up the topic ahead of Liberation Day.
• 4. Immediate Commercial Consequences: Netflix canceled scheduled media interviews, while brands like Samsung and TV networks pulled her content.
• 5. Test of Future Sincerity: With her career at a critical juncture, public acceptance will depend on her promised educational and reflective actions.

Related Tags: HaYoung, AnHaYoung, AnSangho, ProJapaneseControversy, HandwrittenApology, ProblemChildInHouse, ThisRottenLove, SamsungAdHidden, LiberationDay, August_12_2026