South Korea to relaunch committee to investigate pro-Japanese assets

Discussions regarding the restitution of pro-Japanese assets have resurfaced in the South Korean National Assembly following controversy surrounding the ancestry of actress Ha-young. Representative Park Eun-jung of the Rebuilding Korea Party raised concerns during a Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting, noting that Ha-young’s great-grandfather, An Sang-ho, was reportedly a large landowner during the Japanese colonial period. While An was not officially listed as a pro-Japanese collaborator by previous commissions, records indicate he held approximately 2,700 pyeong of land and was involved with organizations supporting Japanese colonial rule.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed that a task force is preparing for the launch of a new Pro-Japanese Collaborator Asset Investigation Committee in December. This follows an amendment to the Special Act on the Forfeiture of Pro-Japanese Collaborator Assets, which aims to expand the scope of investigations to include the proceeds from the disposal of such assets.

The revival of the committee faces significant legal and practical challenges. Experts have noted difficulties in tracing assets that were sold decades ago and potential conflicts regarding property rights and the legal stability of retroactive laws. Despite these hurdles, the government maintains a strong stance on investigating and recovering assets to support the welfare of independence activists and their descendants.