Ha Young, at the Center of "Pro-Japanese Descendant" Controversy, Voluntarily Leaves Drama

Backlash Over Great-Grandfather’s Pro-Japanese Ties
Ha Young Voluntarily Leaves Netflix’s “Trauma Center”

Actor Ha Young, who faced a fierce backlash after proudly mentioning her family's “prestigious four-generation medical legacy” on television—only for her great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese activities during the Japanese colonial period to come to light—has ultimately decided to voluntarily withdraw from the new season of the hit Netflix series “Trauma Center.”

Actor Ha Young. Ha Young Instagram

This incident began on August 7, when Ha Young appeared on a variety show. There, she introduced herself as a member of a distinguished family that has continued a medical practice for four generations, stating, “My great-grandfather was the first Korean doctor to study Western medicine in Japan and open a practice in Hanyang. He even treated Emperor Gojong.” These remarks instantly cast her as someone born into privilege.

Ha Young’s Great-Grandfather, Said to Have Treated Emperor Gojong: From Pro-Japanese Activities to Allegations of Poisoning

However, the situation reversed once it was revealed that her great-grandfather was Ahn Sang-ho, a doctor who became the first Korean to open a Western-style clinic during the Japanese colonial period. Ahn Sang-ho graduated from Tokyo Jikei Medical College in 1902, became the first Korean to receive a Japanese medical license, and went on to serve as a royal physician to Emperor Sunjong and a consultant to the Imperial Household Agency.

Controversy intensified after an article titled “The Completely Japanized Home of Doctor Ahn Sang-ho” was unearthed from the December 1918 issue of “Maeil Shinbo,” the official newspaper of the Governor-General of Korea. In the article, Ahn was quoted as saying, “I am like a Japanese; I wear Japanese clothes, my wife is Japanese, and we do not use the Korean language at home, so my children do not know Korean.”

It was also confirmed that Ahn Sang-ho’s name appeared in the 1916 roster of the “Daijeong Business Friendship Association,” an organization known for its pro-Japanese orientation. In addition, his name was repeatedly mentioned in Crown Princess Yi Bangja’s memoir and Japanese author Shirosuke Kondo’s account “Secrets of the Imperial Palace,” both of which referenced him in connection with rumors surrounding Emperor Gojong’s poisoning.

Attention also turned to Ha Young’s grandfather, Professor Ahn Bu-ho of Catholic University Medical School, who previously worked at the National Sorokdo Hospital. However, it was not confirmed whether he was directly involved in human rights abuses that occurred at Sorokdo at the time, such as forced sterilizations and abortions.

Agency Backtracks Within a Day After Denial

Ha Young’s agency, Visters Entertainment, initially denied the allegations of pro-Japanese conduct, declaring them “completely groundless.” But as public records—such as the interview in the Governor-General’s newspaper and documents related to the Daijeong Business Friendship Association—emerged, the agency reversed its stance just one day later.

Actor Ha Young. Ha Young Instagram

The agency, after further verification, acknowledged the existence of such records, retracted its earlier statement, and issued an apology. Ha Young also released an apology, reflecting on her lack of awareness and recklessness in publicly mentioning her family history without sufficient confirmation.

Controversy Spills Over to Upcoming Projects

Nevertheless, the controversy spread to her work. According to MyDaily on September 1, Ha Young has decided not to appear in the new season of the Netflix original series “Trauma Center,” which is scheduled to start filming in October.

Ha Young had garnered attention in Season 1 for her role as nurse Chun Jang-mi on the trauma team, and was expected to appear alongside established cast members like Joo Ji-hoon and Chu Young-woo in the coming season. However, it has been reported that she proactively informed the production team that she would not be able to participate in the project.

Meanwhile, her other upcoming project—the new SBS drama “Seungsan Isseumnida”—is reportedly nearing the end of filming. SBS has stated that discussions about Ha Young’s appearance and programming are ongoing, emphasizing that careful review and multifaceted coordination are underway.

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