SEOUL (TR) – Popular South Korean actress Ahn Ha-young has been forced to issue a public apology after netizens accused her great-grandfather of being a Japanese sympathizer.
According to JoongAng Ilbo, the controversy erupted after actress Ahn appeared on a television broadcast and shared her family’s medical pedigree. She revealed she was part of a fourth-generation family of doctors, noting that her great-grandfather had traveled to Japan to study medicine.
The anecdote quickly backfired. Internet users began digging into her family history, raising allegations that her great-grandfather was a collaborator during Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.
Facing fierce online backlash, Ahn took to social media to post a handwritten apology.
“I was ignorant. As his descendant, I sincerely apologize,” the actress wrote.
Witch hunt
The scandal has already taken a toll on her career, with companies abruptly making her advertising videos and promotional materials private to avoid the crossfire.
The witch hunt highlights the often contradictory nature of modern Japan-South Korea relations. Despite the fierce outrage directed at the actress, a recent survey revealed that 54.3 percent of South Koreans currently hold a favorable view of Japan — the highest level recorded since the poll began in 2013. Researchers attribute the warming sentiments to positive personal experiences through tourism and cross-border shopping.
The incident also contrasts with recent political messaging. During the August 15 Gwangbokjeol (National Liberation Day) ceremonies marking the end of Japanese colonial rule, South Korean leadership expressed a strong desire to further deepen cooperative ties with Tokyo.
Yet, as the sudden cancellation of Ha-young’s advertisements proves, even as cultural and entertainment exchanges flourish between the neighboring nations, historical grievances and deeply rooted anti-Japanese sentiment remain a highly volatile trigger in South Korean society.
