Ha-young Agency Denies Pro-Japanese Collaborator Allegations

 Agency Refutes Heritage Controversy

Bisters Entertainment, the management agency representing actress Ha-young (born Ahn Ha-young), has officially denied allegations surrounding her great-grandfather's historical ties to Pro-Japanese collaboration during the Japanese colonial era.

Speaking in a phone interview with Dispatch on the 10th, the agency confirmed her lineage while firmly rejecting claims regarding his recorded activities. "It is true that Ha-young's great-grandfather is Ahn Sang-ho, but the allegations of Pro-Japanese activities raised online are completely unfounded," the company stated.

The controversy erupted following her appearance in a Netflix Korea video on August 6, where the actress discussed her family history. During the segment, she shared that her great-grandfather was an elite medical professional who established Hanyang's first Western medicine clinic and treated Emperor Gojong.

Historical Records Raise Questions

Ahn Sang-ho studied medicine in Japan before returning to Korea to open a clinic in Jongno, earning recognition as an elite doctor introducing Western medical practices to the Korean Empire. However, online scrutiny intensified over documented activities during the colonial period.

Historical records show Ahn served as a council member for the Taisho Chimokhoe, an organization founded in Seoul in 1916 under the guise of promoting cultural exchanges between Japanese elites and upper-class Koreans. The group actively cooperated with policies enacted by the Japanese Governor-General of Korea and was affiliated with prominent pro-Japanese figures such as Lee Wan-yong.

Furthermore, a 1918 report in the Maeil Sinbo newspaper highlighted Ahn's household—noting his marriage to a Japanese woman—as a model of "Ilseon Dongche," a propaganda concept meaning "Japan and Korea as one body." This ideology underpinned assimilation efforts, including the enforced adoption of Japanese surnames and mandatory shrine visits.

Why This Matters: In South Korea, public perception of historical collaboration during the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial rule remains an extremely sensitive issue, as lineage associated with pro-Japanese activities can severely impact a public figure's career and reputation.

Royal Death Theories and Official Records

Historical accounts also tie Ahn to the circumstances surrounding the death of Emperor Gojong in 1919. Records indicate Ahn, alongside Japanese physician Moriyasu, examined the emperor shortly before his death.

Text within the Iwanggung Bisa (Secret History of the Lee Royal Household) records widespread rumors that high-ranking officials colluded with the Governor-General to instruct Ahn to administer poison. Additionally, an entry dated October 13, 1920, in the diary of reformist intellectual Yun Chi-ho notes that former privy councillor Han Jin-chang expressed certainty regarding poisoning based on the condition of the emperor's body.

Despite these historical rumors, no definitive evidence confirms that Emperor Gojong was poisoned or that Ahn was involved. Notably, Ahn Sang-ho is not listed in the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators, compiled in 2009 by the Center for Historical Truth and Justice.

https://www.dispatch.co.kr/2346212