A prominent lawyer has voiced strong criticism regarding actress Ha Yeon’s recent comments about her ancestors, particularly her great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho, who is alleged to have collaborated with Japanese colonial authorities. Lawyer Lee Ji-hoon, speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Lawyer Lee Ji-hoon,’ described the notion of Ahn Sang-ho being a mere ‘pro-Japanese’ figure as a “deeply considerate expression” and asserted that it amounts to “selling out the nation.”
Criticism of Ancestor Remarks
The controversy surrounding Ha Yeon’s family history intensified after she was reported to have mentioned her family’s background, including Ahn Sang-ho’s alleged ties to the Japanese occupation era. Lawyer Lee Ji-hoon expressed his outrage, stating, “Selling out the nation. What else is there to sell if you don’t have anything left but the country?” He questioned the framing of Ahn Sang-ho’s actions, suggesting that labeling him merely ‘pro-Japanese’ downplays the severity of his alleged collaboration.
The discussion was further fueled by online comments suggesting that Ha Yeon’s age might excuse her comments. However, Lawyer Lee Ji-hoon refuted this, pointing out that at 33 years old, Ha Yeon is not too young to understand the implications of her words. “Is she still a child? At 33, you can’t say she’s young,” he argued, implying that a greater degree of awareness and responsibility is expected at her age.
The ‘Four Generations of Doctors’ Claim and Colonial Ties
Lawyer Lee Ji-hoon specifically addressed Ha Yeon’s pride in her family being “four generations of doctors.” He argued that during the Japanese colonial period, being a doctor often implied collaboration. “In the Japanese colonial era, being a doctor could have been pro-Japanese, couldn’t it? You know that if you receive regular education,” he stated. He urged for a degree of suspicion when hearing such claims, particularly mentioning “Hanyang” (referring to Hanyang University, a prominent institution) and “doctor.”
The lawyer elaborated on the historical context, questioning why Ha Yeon would boast about her ancestor being a physician to King Gojong without first addressing the potential implications of his activities during that era. “Before boasting about being King Gojong’s physician, shouldn’t there be questions?” he asked.
Ahn Sang-ho’s Alleged Japanese Collaboration
The core of the controversy lies in Ahn Sang-ho’s alleged actions during the Japanese occupation. Lawyer Lee Ji-hoon expressed profound disappointment, stating that Ahn Sang-ho, who reportedly received support from King Gojong and studied in Japan, showed a “lack of basic human decency.” He highlighted the irony of such actions during a period when the nation was struggling.
“He was given money he didn’t have and was allowed to study, but this is what he did. It’s like raising a traitor,” the lawyer lamented. He drew a parallel to his own experience as a recipient of a Korean government scholarship for postgraduate studies in China, emphasizing the honor and responsibility associated with representing one’s country abroad.
“As a government scholarship student, it’s an immense honor. Even abroad, you cannot act carelessly. You are studying representing the nation. How much pride comes with that in itself?” he questioned. He contrasted this with Ahn Sang-ho, stating, “But (Ahn Sang-ho) had not a shred of patriotism.”
Ha Yeon’s Apology
Actress Ha Yeon recently found herself at the center of public scrutiny following revelations about her great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho’s alleged pro-Japanese activities. As further details emerged and the controversy continued, Ha Yeon issued an apology on December 12th.
She stated, “Through this incident, while looking for related materials myself, I learned about my great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese activities.” Ha Yeon expressed remorse for having “casually mentioned” her family history without fully understanding the painful history of Korea during the Japanese colonial period. “I reflect on having casually mentioned my family history without properly knowing our nation’s history during the painful period of Japanese occupation,” she said, bowing her head in apology.
The actress’s statement acknowledged that her previous remarks were made without a complete grasp of the historical context and the suffering endured by the nation during that era. Her apology aimed to address the public’s concerns and demonstrate a newfound understanding of her family’s alleged past and its implications.
