Hayoung Admits to Great-Grandfather's Pro-Japanese Activities After Century-Old Records Surface

Activities in Pro-Japanese Organizations and Records of Japanese-Style Living
"Pro-Japanese Allegations Entirely Untrue"
Agency Issues Apology After One Day

Hayoung. Provided by Netflix

Actress Hayoung (real name An Hayoung) has often spoken proudly of her great-grandfather, An Sangho. However, it has now been confirmed that An Sangho was involved with a pro-Japanese organization during the Japanese occupation of Korea. In 1916, An Sangho was listed as a council member of the Daijeong Business Friendship Association, a pro-Japanese group. The official newspaper of the Government-General of Korea introduced his household as an example of assimilation into Japan. Although Hayoung's agency denied all allegations of collaboration on the 10th, stating they were "completely untrue," they reversed their position just one day later on the 11th, acknowledging the records and issuing an apology.

Hayoung has repeatedly mentioned her family's involvement in the medical field during television programs and interviews. In an interview ahead of the release of the Netflix series 'Severe Trauma Center' last January, she stated that her great-grandfather was the first doctor to open a Western-style clinic in Hanyang (present-day Seoul) and that he treated Emperor Gojong. She said, "I am extremely grateful. Of course, I am proud," and added, "I feel I must work hard so as not to let my family down."

Hayoung also spoke about her great-grandfather on the KBS 2TV show 'Problem Child in House' aired on the 7th. She said, "I heard that my great-grandfather studied Western medicine in Japan and became the first doctor to open a clinic in Korea," and mentioned that her grandfather, father, and older sister are also doctors. As the show introduced her great-grandfather, captions noted that he "even treated Emperor Gojong."

After the broadcast, both the fact that Hayoung's great-grandfather was An Sangho (1872–1927) and his activities during the Japanese occupation became widely known. An Sangho’s involvement with pro-Japanese organizations had already been recorded in academic research. According to "The Life and Activities of An Sangho, the First Modern Physician in Business," published in the academic journal of the Korean Society for National Movement History in 2007 by Lee Jeongeun, research fellow at the Korean Independence Movement History Research Institute, An Sangho served as a council member of the Daijeong Business Friendship Association, which was established on November 29, 1916. The paper notes that An Sangho, who married a Japanese woman, was cited as a case of "Nichisen Doka" (Japanese-Korean assimilation) at the time.

The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture by the Academy of Korean Studies also describes the Daijeong Business Friendship Association as "a pro-Japanese organization formed in Seoul in 1916." It further explains that it was created during the period of military rule when the Japanese suppressed assemblies and associations. The organization made it a research goal to study ways to encourage Koreans to comply with colonial rule.

Several prominent collaborators from the Japanese occupation period were involved in the group. Min Young-gi served as chairman, and Lee Wanyong, Min Young-hwi, and Lee Yun-yong were named as advisors. According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, the organization was used to promote the Japanese government's "Japanese-Korean Harmony" policies.

An Sangho’s activities were also noted in newspapers of the time. On December 10, 1918, Maeil Shinbo, the official newspaper of the Government-General of Korea, published an article titled "The Home of Dr. An Sangho, Wholly Assimilated to Mainland Japan."

The article described An Sangho’s family as an example of assimilation between Japan and Korea. It stated that An Sangho had married a Japanese woman and adopted Japanese-style clothing and cuisine, with Japanese customs prevailing in his household. The report also noted that Korean was not spoken at home, resulting in his children not knowing Korean and having little to no interaction with other Koreans.

Maeil Shinbo was the official organ of the Japanese Government-General of Korea, launched after Japan forcibly annexed the Korean Empire in 1910 by acquiring and renaming Daehan Maeil Shinbo. The colonial authorities used this newspaper to publicize and promote their administrative policies. Maeil Shinbo presented An Sangho's household as a textbook case of assimilation into Japan.

An Sangho also left his mark in the history of modern Korean medicine. In 1898, he went to Japan as a government-sponsored student and studied at Tokyo's Jikei Hospital Medical School. After returning, he opened a clinic in Jongno, Seoul. In her paper, researcher Lee Jeongeun assessed An Sangho as Korea’s first modern physician in private practice.

He also served as vice president of the Medical Research Society, a group created by Korean physicians to counter the Japanese-dominated Gyeongseong Medical Association. When cholera broke out in 1909, he worked on epidemic prevention alongside Kim Pilsun and others. The "Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators," published in 2009 by the Center for Historical Truth and Justice, does not include An Sangho's name.

Hayoung. Netflix YouTube screen

He also provided medical care to the royal family. The Korean Empire’s Official Gazette features a record dated August 25, 1909, appointing An Sangho as a physician at the Royal Secretariat. Subsequently, he served as a royal contract physician and private practitioner, caring for members of the royal household. The treatment of Emperor Gojong that Hayoung referenced in broadcasts and interviews is related to this period in his career.

An Sangho’s name also appears in conspiracy theories regarding the alleged poisoning of Emperor Gojong. After Gojong’s sudden death in January 1919, rumors spread that the Japanese had poisoned him, with some alleging that An Sangho was involved. Princess Yi Bangja, wife of Crown Prince Yeongchin, wrote in her memoirs that she heard allegations that the Government-General had instructed royal physician An Sangho to administer poison. Additionally, Japanese records from Kondo Shirosuke, who worked for the Office of the Yi Royal Family, mention that Min Byeong-seok and Yun Deok-young were rumored to have conspired with colonial officials to have An Sangho administer poison.

As the controversy grew, Hayoung’s side initially denied all allegations of pro-Japanese collaboration. Bisters Entertainment, her agency, said on the 10th, "It is true that her great-grandfather is Mr. An Sangho, but the pro-Japanese allegations circulating online are completely untrue."

The following day, the agency changed its stance. On the 11th, they stated, "Upon further investigation, we have confirmed the existence of records listing great-grandfather Mr. An Sangho as a council member of the Daijeong Business Friendship Association in 1916," and added, "We sincerely apologize for hastily responding that the claims were groundless without sufficient verification and causing confusion."

The agency added, "Through this incident, we have deeply realized how cautious and thorough verification must be when conveying historical facts and an individual's background to the public. Hayoung herself has also taken this matter to heart and will approach the public with greater humility and prudence going forward."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.