'Parents bear the greatest responsibility,' critic says of actor Ha-young's pro-Japanese ancestry controversy

Broadcast critic Jeong Seok-hee said parents bear the greatest responsibility for the controversy surrounding actor Ha-young's great-grandfather and his pro-Japanese colonial-era activities, arguing they failed to instill a proper sense of historical awareness in their child.

On Saturday — Liberation Day eve — Jeong addressed the issue on his YouTube channel "Jeong Seok-hee Terebi-pyeong," saying the pro-Japanese controversy had been intense ahead of the holiday. "Looking at this incident, I was once again struck by the absence of historical consciousness," he said.

Jeong acknowledged that some argue it is harsh to hold descendants accountable for the wrongs of their ancestors, or that guilt by association has no place in today's world. "The issue is not about holding someone responsible for the mistakes of a person who died 100 years ago," he said. "The problem was the boastful self-introduction made on a 2026 broadcast. What was she hoping to gain by announcing that her family has produced doctors for four generations?"

Jeong said Ha-young's great-grandfather, identified as Ahn Sang-ho, was also tripped up by his own words. "The Maeil Sinbo at the time was running a series profiling Koreans who had married Japanese nationals and were living well — and Ahn Sang-ho's family was among those featured," he said.

Jeong said Ha-young had actually performed quite well on the broadcast before bringing up the four-generation doctor lineage. "She had a good sense of when to jump in, and she showed quick thinking in accommodating the host," he said, offering measured praise for her performance on the show itself.

"That said, I think the parents bear the greatest responsibility for not properly instilling a sense of historical awareness in their child," he added. "The parents, too, have probably gone through life thinking 'aren't we something,' without giving it much thought."

Jeong said the lesson from the episode was ultimately the importance of history education. "Beyond that, it's a reminder to watch what you say at all times," he said. "The past cannot be changed, but we can choose how we face it today. I hope this controversy does not end with simply piling on one person."

Ha-young introduced herself on the Aug. 7 episode of the KBS2 variety program "Problem Child in House," saying her family has produced doctors across four generations — her great-grandfather, grandfather, father and older sister.

Shortly after the broadcast, online users flooded comment sections with posts identifying the great-grandfather as Ahn Sang-ho, who had served as a council member of the Daejeong Chinmok-hoe, "a fraternal association," a pro-Japanese organization during the Japanese colonial period.

In response, Ha-young issued a handwritten apology, saying she had known only fragments of her great-grandfather's life. "After looking into the relevant materials myself, I learned of my great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities," she wrote. "I sincerely apologize as his descendant."