Actress Ha-young returns to filming amid pro-Japanese ancestor controversy

South Korean actress Ha-young has returned to filming following a week-long hiatus caused by public backlash regarding her family's historical ties to pro-Japanese organizations during the Japanese colonial period.

The controversy began after Ha-young mentioned her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, on a variety show. Netizens subsequently identified him on a 1916 list for the Daejeong Friendship Association, a group promoting Japan-Korea harmony. Further scrutiny revealed her grandfather held a role at the National Sorokdo Rehabilitation Center, an institution associated with human rights abuses.

The scandal has had significant professional consequences, including the cancellation of press interviews, the privatization of brand promotional videos, and Netflix's decision to withhold a follow-up episode of a web variety show featuring the actress. While her agency issued an apology after initially denying the claims, public opinion remains divided. Despite the controversy, Ha-young's Instagram following reportedly increased from 1 million to approximately 1.3 million followers.