"Did They Really Have to Cast a War Criminal Descendant?" Heated Online Debate Over Japanese Actress in Hyukoh's New Music Video

‘Descendant of a Japanese Prime Minister During Colonial Rule’

“Lead Casting Should Have Been More Careful” Criticism

Counterpoint: “It’s Excessive to Condemn Collaboration Due to Ancestral History”

There is an ongoing debate online regarding actress Sakura Ando, who appears in the newly released music video by the band Hyukoh.

Japanese actor Ando Sakura. Naver Movie

On August 17, Hyukoh released the music video for their single title track "Godspeed!" (GODSPEED!).

"Godspeed" is a song that tells a story of overcoming the lethargy accumulated through repetitive daily life, and regaining the will to live through the enduring love by one's side. The music video features actress Sakura Ando in the lead role, who is well-known to Korean audiences for her appearances in films such as "Shoplifters," "Monster," and "100 Yen Love."

In the video, Sakura Ando is shown dressed as an office worker, sitting in a subway train, while scenes unfold of her running a relay with a young child beyond the window.

After the music video was released, some internet users pointed out that Sakura Ando's great-grandfather is Inukai Tsuyoshi, who served as the 29th Prime Minister of Japan from 1931 to 1932 during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Inukai Tsuyoshi is known to have expressed a perception of Korea as an object for Japan's modernization efforts. In 1896, he contributed an article to a Japanese publication titled "How to Modernize Korea."

A scene from the music video "Godspeed!" by Hyukoh, starring Sakura Ando. Duruduru Artist Company.

Critical comments such as "Was it necessary to cast an actress who is a descendant of a war criminal?" could be seen. Some also argued that, given the music video was released just after National Liberation Day, more caution was needed in selecting the lead actress.

On the other hand, there are perspectives that it is not appropriate to hold Sakura Ando accountable for the actions of her ancestors or to raise issues with the collaboration on those grounds.

Hyukoh is an indie band that debuted in 2014 and consists of Oh Hyuk, Lee Inwoo, Im Donggeon, and Lim Hyunjae. They are known for hit songs such as "Wi Ing Wi Ing," "Comes and Goes," and "Tomboy." "Godspeed!" is Hyukoh's first new release in about six years.

Meanwhile, Hyukoh has not released any official statement regarding the controversy as of now.

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