South Korean actress Hayoung has issued a handwritten apology after records confirmed her great-grandfather was a council member of a pro-Japanese organisation during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea .
What Happened
The controversy began after Hayoung appeared on the variety programme Problem Child in House on August 7, where she discussed her family’s medical history . She mentioned that her great-grandfather studied Western medicine in Japan and opened the first Western-style clinic in Hanyang, adding, “I heard he even treated Emperor Gojong” .
Viewers subsequently identified her great-grandfather as Ahn Sang Ho, the first Korean to obtain a Japanese medical licence in 1902 . Historical records indicated he was listed as a council member of the Daejeong Chinmokhoe in 1916, an organisation formed to promote Japan-Korea assimilation .
Official Statements
Hayoung’s agency, Bistus Entertainment, initially dismissed the allegations as groundless on August 10 but reversed its position the following day .
“Upon further verification, we have confirmed that there is indeed an existing record of her great-grandfather, doctor Ahn Sang Ho, being listed as a council member of the Daejeong Chinmokhoe in 1916,” the agency stated .
The agency added: “We sincerely apologise for causing confusion by hastily responding that the reports were groundless without sufficient verification” .
Hayoung’s Apology
Taking to Instagram on August 12, Hayoung posted a handwritten note expressing her regret . She wrote that she had previously known only fragments of her great-grandfather’s life through family stories and had spoken about him with pride without fully understanding his past .
“Taking this incident as an opportunity, I began to research relevant materials myself and discovered my great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese activities,” she wrote .
She also addressed her agency’s initial denial: “I believe it is also my fault that an incorrect statement was conveyed without sufficient verification. I sincerely apologize for causing further confusion and hurt as a result” .
Hayoung added: “The fact that I had not known about it cannot be an excuse for disregarding or lightly considering that history. I take that mistake heavily and as a descendant, I am sincerely sorry” .
Impact on Career
The controversy has affected promotions for Hayoung’s lead role in the Netflix series Our Sticky Love, which co-stars Jung Hae In. A scheduled round-table interview set for August 14, the day before National Liberation Day, was cancelled .
Netflix has also made promotional videos featuring Hayoung for the series private . Hayoung’s agency confirmed she is “feeling very heavy-hearted” over the situation .
Hayoung also has upcoming projects including There’s a Winning Chance and the second season of The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call .
Background
The Daejeong Chinmokhoe, established in 1916, was described in a 2007 research paper as “a Japan-Korea assimilation organisation aimed at endorsing the Governor-General’s politics and harmonising the Japanese and Korean ethnicities” .
The controversy has drawn attention given its timing just before National Liberation Day on August 15 . While Ahn Sang Ho’s name is not listed in the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators, his historical records have sparked debate .
What’s Next
Hayoung has pledged to study her family history and Korea’s colonial-era history more carefully, promising to put her words into practice “through actions, not just words” .
