"My Family Roots Are Traitors": A Nurse’s Confession Brings Renewed Attention to Hayoung Controversy

Debate Erupts Online over Hayoung’s Great-Grandfather Controversy
Disputes over Descendants’ Responsibility Stir Heated Reactions

With Liberation Day approaching, ongoing controversy surrounds actor Hayoung's great-grandfather, Ahn Sangho, regarding his alleged pro-Japanese activities. Meanwhile, a post from an office worker who also revealed themselves to be a descendant of someone with a pro-Japanese past is drawing attention online. In particular, this office worker claimed that after watching the movie 'Assassination' with their family, they discovered for the first time that their own great-grandfather, much like the pro-Japanese collaborator Kang Inguk depicted in the movie, had a history involving gold mine excavation rights. On August 11, a post titled "Thoughts of a Descendant of a Pro-Japanese Collaborator on Hayoung’s Great-Grandfather’s Pro-Japanese Activities" appeared on social media platforms commonly used by office workers.

Actor Lee Kyung-young, who played the traitor Kang Il-guk in the movie 'Assassination.' Assassination still cut.

The author, referred to as A, who introduced themselves as a nurse, mentioned Choi Dong-hoon's 2015 film 'Assassination.' In the movie, the character Kang Inguk, portrayed by Lee Kyung-young, is depicted as a pro-Japanese businessman who amassed wealth and power by cooperating with the Japanese imperial government. A argued that, similar to the plot point where Kang Inguk acquires gold mine excavation rights, their own great-grandfather also possessed such rights.

According to A, they first learned about their great-grandfather’s story after watching 'Assassination' with their family and criticizing the pro-Japanese character, when their father confided that their great-grandfather too had held gold mine excavation rights. A said that this conversation was when they realized that their family's roots lay in collaboration. They also claimed that their father was initially unaware of his own grandfather’s pro-Japanese history, having only heard within the family that he earned the gold mine rights by making "great contributions to the country."

The Taegeukgi flag hanging at Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on Liberation Day in 2023. Photo by Huh Younghan

However, there is no evidence to confirm that Kang Inguk in the movie was directly modeled after A's great-grandfather. A explained that their father had later become curious about how it was possible to have acquired gold mine rights during that period in history, and upon researching, discovered the truth about their ancestor’s past. Reflecting on the recent controversy over Hayoung’s great-grandfather, A expressed the opinion that families should verify the facts before proudly sharing their family history based solely on stories handed down through generations.

A also shared the personal burden of living with the past actions of their ancestors. They explained that after their father’s business failure, he had to take on day labor work, and other relatives faced economic and family hardships as well; A said they themselves have come to accept these difficulties as a type of "ancestral karma." Additionally, even when they face challenges as a nurse, A said they try to devote themselves even more to patient care, feeling a sense of responsibility to "repay ancestral karma."

“Reflection is meaningful” vs. “No to guilt by association” — Divergent views online

Responses from netizens upon reading A’s account have been divided. Some viewed the decision to investigate one’s own family history and engage in introspection, rather than blindly excusing ancestral wrongdoing, as meaningful. Comments included praise for A’s self-reflection and personal stories shared by others who had belatedly discovered similar facts about their own family’s past.

On the other hand, many argued that while historical evaluation of pro-Japanese actions is necessary, holding descendants—who bear no direct responsibility—for their ancestors’ actions is inappropriate. One netizen pointed out that though "betrayal of the nation is hard to forgive," it is unfair to say that the "karma" should be inherited by the descendants. On Blind and other social platforms, there are also ongoing debates cautioning against the controversy over Hayoung expanding into a form of guilt by association or a "witch hunt." Beyond the question of how to assess the acts of ancestors, the matter of how much responsibility descendants should bear remains contentious.

Pro-Japanese controversy sparked by “four generations of doctors” family introduction

Previously, through TV appearances and interviews, Hayoung had introduced his family as "four generations of doctors." He explained that his great-grandfather studied Western medicine in Japan, opened a clinic in Hanyang, and even treated Emperor Gojong. As it became known that his great-grandfather was Dr. Ahn Sangho, Ahn’s activities during the Japanese colonial period have been re-examined online. According to official records, Ahn Sangho was listed as a councilor of the Daejeong Chimmokhoe, founded in 1916. The Daejeong Chimmokhoe is considered a pro-Japanese organization that cooperated with the Government-General of Korea’s colonial rule at the time.

Amid controversy, Hayoung publicly apologized with a handwritten letter, but with Liberation Day approaching, the angry public sentiment is not calming down easily. Hayoung Instagram

In 1918, an article in Maeil Shinbo, the official newspaper of the Government-General of Korea, highlighted Ahn Sangho and his family as an example of assimilation between Japan and Joseon. However, Ahn Sangho is not included in the official government list of "pro-Japanese and anti-national collaborators" or in the "Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators" published by the Institute for Research in Collaborationist Activities. Some have critically pointed out his involvement with the Daejeong Chimmokhoe, but have also argued that it is prudent to avoid conclusively labeling him as a "pro-Japanese and anti-national collaborator" in the legal or official sense without a more thorough examination of his actions.

Initially, Hayoung’s agency responded to the controversy by stating that although Ahn Sangho was indeed his great-grandfather, the allegations of pro-Japanese activity were "unfounded." However, after further investigation, they reversed their position, acknowledging that there is a record of Ahn Sangho being listed as a councilor in the Daejeong Chimmokhoe in 1916. The agency apologized for providing a hasty response without sufficient verification, which led to confusion. Amid the controversy, Hayoung issued a public apology through a handwritten letter, but with Liberation Day approaching, public outrage has yet to subside.

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