Ha Young Cancels Netflix Interview Amid Controversy Over Great-Grandfather's Pro-Japanese Ties

Actress Ha Young has canceled her scheduled interview with Netflix, originally planned to promote her new series, This Terrible Love. This decision comes amid rising scrutiny over the pro-Japanese affiliations of her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, which have sparked significant public debate.

On the 11th, Netflix confirmed the cancellation, stating, "The interview with Ha Young, set for the 14th, has been inevitably canceled." The cancellation also affects promotional activities for her co-starring drama with Jung Hae-in, whose own interview scheduled for the same day is currently under discussion.

The romantic comedy series, This Terrible Love, features Ha Young as a prosecutor suffering from amnesia, living with her self-proclaimed boyfriend, a boxing coach played by Jung Hae-in. Gaining traction, it currently holds the number one spot on Netflix's "Top 10 in South Korea."

The controversy intensified after Ha Young appeared on the KBS 2TV talk show Problematic Men on the 7th, where she spoke about her family's legacy, mentioning that her great-grandfather was the first to establish a Western-style hospital in Hanyang after studying in Japan. This revelation triggered debates regarding his past collaboration with the Japanese during their occupation of Korea.

Initially, Ha Young's representatives claimed the accusations were unfounded. However, they later issued a supplementary statement acknowledging the existence of records that place Ahn Sang-ho on a list of councilors for the pro-Japanese Daejeong Business Friendship Association in 1916. They expressed regret for their previous response, emphasizing their recognition of the need for careful verification in discussing historical figures.

The Daejeong Association was an organization comprised of the pro-Japanese elite in Korea, and it played a notable role in Germany’s campaign to assimilate Korea during the Japanese occupation. Ahn Sang-ho, a medical elite who graduated from Japan's Hongo Medical University in 1902, was the first Korean to obtain a medical license in Japan. He returned to Korea in 1904 and practiced medicine in Seoul, even treating Emperor Gojong at one point.

The discourse has also prompted comments from historian Shim Yong-hwan, who urged caution in labeling individuals as pro-Japanese when their affiliations with specific groups might not definitively indicate collaboration. Shim noted that labeling people easily as 'collaborators' risks misunderstanding historical contexts, advocating for a nuanced approach to evaluating the legacies of historical figures.

While Ha Young navigates the fallout from this issue, her agency has promised a more thoughtful engagement moving forward. The cancellation of the interview and the impact on her future projects demonstrate the delicate balance that public figures must maintain between their personal histories and their professional aspirations.