HaYoung moves from “factually unfounded” to “an apology,” with “verification of the Daijeong Friendship Association” — historical truth reversed in a day

From “factually unfounded” to “an apology”… historical truth overturned in a day

The side of actor “HaYoung” reversed its earlier stance of fully denying suspicions over the pro-Japanese activities of his great-great-grandfather, “Ahn SangHo”, and issued an official apology just one day later. It was a disaster fueled by a hasty explanation.

On the 11th, the agency “Visters Entertainment” said in an official statement, “It has been confirmed that historical records stating that great-great-grandfather Ahn SangHo was listed on the roster of councilors of the 1916 ‘Daijeong Friendship Association’ actually exist.” It then bowed its head to the public, adding, “More careful verification is necessary when dealing with historical facts.”

The controversy stems from the KBS 2TV variety show “Problem Children from the Top Floor” broadcast on the 7th. On that program, HaYoung, who appeared as a guest, proudly said he comes from a doctor family that has continued for four generations. He also mentioned, “My great-grandfather was the first doctor who studied Western medicine in Japan and opened a clinic in Korea.” But immediately after the broadcast, online community users identified that the person in question was Ahn SangHo, who had been active during Japan’s colonial rule, sparking a fierce dispute over his past actions.

According to the records, Ahn SangHo (1872–1927) graduated in 1902 from Japan’s “Tokyo JaeHye Medical Professional School” and became a pioneering figure who obtained a Japanese medical doctor license as the first Korean. However, the Daijeong Friendship Association, where he served as a councilor, was founded in 1916, and in the 1927 records of the Government-General of Korea’s police bureau, it is described as “a naeseon-yunghwa organization aimed at affirming colonial rule and promoting the harmonization of the naeseon people.” That means it was clearly a pro-Japanese organization. However, the “Encyclopedia of Pro-Japanese Figures” published by the Institute for National Issues Research has not listed his name.

The agency said, “HaYoung himself only mentioned his background naturally while answering questions about his family business on a variety program,” adding, “He currently feels a very heavy sense of responsibility over the unintended historical controversy that has arisen.” It also added, “He realized firsthand how thorough fact-checking must be when conveying an individual’s history to the public.”

Meanwhile, after making his debut in the living-room drama scene with the 2019 drama “The Doctor Prisoner”, HaYoung has recently taken on a leading role in the Netflix original series “Such F——ing Love”. He is also preparing to return through the SBS drama “There Is a Chance”, scheduled to air next year. Observers are watching to see what kind of variable this controversy will become for his future work activities.