Oh Ha-young apologizes for great-grandfather's pro-Japanese past

As actress Oh Ha-young issued a direct apology regarding the controversy surrounding the pro-Japanese activities of her great-grandfather, An Sang-ho, attention is being drawn to the fact that directors she has worked with have 'liked' her apology statement.

According to Oh's SNS on the 13th, directors Lee Do-yun, who directed the Netflix series "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," and Hong Jong-chan, who directed "Teach You a Lesson," 'liked' the handwritten apology she released the previous day. While they did not state a direct position on the controversy, the gesture can be interpreted as a sign of empathy toward her apology.

Lee directed the Netflix series "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" in which Oh appeared. She gained public recognition for her role as nurse Cheon Jang-mi and is scheduled to appear in Season 2.

She also has a connection with Hong. Oh made a special appearance as Choi Ga-yoon in "Teach You a Lesson," directed by Hong.

Since both directors have observed Oh's acting career through their works, these 'likes' can be viewed as quiet support for her attitude of apology and reflection, rather than a judgment on the controversy itself.

In her handwritten apology, Oh bowed her head, admitting her ignorance.

She stated, "Until now, I only knew fragments of my great-grandfather's life through stories passed down by my family," and added, "Shamefully, in such an ignorant state, I have brought up stories about my great-grandfather in various places as if they were a source of family pride."

She further expressed her intention to look more closely into her family history. Acknowledging her lack of historical awareness, she promised to study Korean history deeply and vowed to live with respect for independence activists and those who worked for the liberation and well-being of the nation.

The core of the controversy is not Oh's personal actions, but the historical actions of her great-grandfather, An Sang-ho, and Oh's past remarks surrounding them.

Previously, during the promotion of her drama, Oh introduced her family history by mentioning that she comes from a family of doctors spanning four generations. However, the controversy escalated when it was revealed that An served as a doctor during the Japanese colonial period and was listed as a council member of the Daejeong Chinmokhoe, a pro-Japanese organization.

Because she had introduced her family's historical background as a positive narrative, the discovery of An's pro-Japanese activities expanded the criticism beyond a simple introduction of family history to accusations of "family marketing."

While Oh's side initially denied the allegations, they later changed their stance and apologized, and Oh herself released a handwritten apology admitting her insufficient historical awareness.

Regardless of how much Oh personally knew about her great-grandfather's actions, the controversy highlights the need to verify the underlying facts when introducing a historical figure as a symbol of family honor. This is especially true because a celebrity's family history is consumed by the public as a narrative that constitutes their image and brand.

In that sense, the 'likes' from the two directors appear to be personal support for Oh stepping back and admitting her incorrect perceptions, rather than an absolution of the controversy itself.