Ha-young's Family Legacy Unveiled: Medical Accomplishments of Her Grandfather Amid Ancestry Allegations

Actor Ha-young, whose real name is An Ha-young, is facing renewed scrutiny over her family's legacy after her grandfather's impressive medical background was disclosed. On August 10, her agency, Bisters Entertainment, confirmed that her grandfather, An Bu-ho, was indeed a notable figure in the field of medicine, particularly recognized for his lifelong work in treating Hansen’s disease.

An Bu-ho graduated from the Kyungsung Medical School and later served as a professor in pathology at Chonnam National University, where he laid foundational work in clinical pathology. Holding a remarkable record as the first medical doctor in Korea, he dedicated his life to the research and treatment of leprosy at the National Sorokdo Hospital starting in 1949. His profound influence is underscored by the fact that Ha-young's father, An Byeong-mun, was born there during the Korean War on June 11, 1951.

Ha-young hails from a lineage of medical practitioners, having previously stated her family's legacy as a line of physicians stretching back four generations. In her recent appearance on KBS2’s Problematic Men, she recounted that her great-grandfather was among the first to practice Western medicine in Hanyang (the former name of Seoul), treating even the last Emperor Gojong.

This revelation of her grandfather's achievements, however, has occurred alongside allegations regarding her great-grandfather, An Sang-ho, which have sparked online debate. Although her agency confirmed that An Sang-ho is indeed Ha-young’s great-grandfather, they firmly asserted that claims suggesting he engaged in collaboration with Japanese colonial officials are unfounded. Historical records indicate An Sang-ho graduated from the Tokyo Jikei University of Medicine in 1902, becoming the first Korean to earn a Japanese medical license and reportedly provided care to royal figures, including Gojong.

Nevertheless, An Sang-ho's name has surfaced in discussions of collaborationist behavior during Japan's occupation of Korea, further fueling the scrutiny surrounding the family. In 1918, he was noted publicly for adopting Japanese customs and marrying a Japanese woman, details that have led to ongoing speculation about his legacy.

Despite the controversy, the talent and contributions of Ha-young are increasingly recognized. Since her debut in KBS's Doctor Prisoner in 2019, she has steadily gained prominence, achieving notable roles in Extreme Job, Getting the Marriage License, and the hit series The Silent Sea on Netflix, where she plays a key character alongside Jung Hae-in. Her upcoming projects include the SBS drama There’s a Chance set to air in the first half of next year and the second season of Extreme Trauma Center.

The juxtaposition of Ha-young’s artistic achievements against the backdrop of her family history invites a deeper examination of how legacies of both honor and controversy shape public perception in the Korean entertainment industry.