Actress Ha Young's Agency Confirms Great-Grandfather's Pro-Japanese Ties After Initial Denial

An agency representing actress Ha Young (real name Ahn Ha-young) has corrected its earlier statement regarding her great-grandfather's alleged ties to a pro-Japanese organization. Initially, the agency asserted that any such claims were baseless. However, following further verification, they confirmed that Ahn Sang-ho, Ha Young's great-grandfather, was indeed listed as a councilor in the Daejeong Chinmokhoe in 1916. The agency issued a sincere apology for causing confusion with their hasty "unfounded" response and pledged to approach such matters with greater caution and humility. Ahn Sang-ho is known for being the first Korean to open a Western-style hospital in Seoul after studying Western medicine in Japan. He also reportedly treated Emperor Gojong. The Daejeong Chinmokhoe, established in 1916, was a pro-Japanese organization with Yi Wan-yong, one of the architects of the Eulsa Treaty, serving as its advisor. The actress had previously introduced her great-grandfather as a pioneering physician who opened Korea's first Western-style hospital and treated the emperor, highlighting her family's four-generation history in medicine. The agency acknowledged the critical need for thorough verification when presenting historical facts to the public.

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Upon further confirmation, we have confirmed that there is indeed a record of Mr. Ahn Sang-ho, [Ha Young's] great-grandfather, being listed as a councilor of the Daejeong Chinmokhoe in 1916.