Oh Ha-young faces backlash over great-grandfather's history

Controversy is mounting as actress Oh Ha-young's revelation of her family's four-generation medical lineage has sparked allegations regarding the pro-Japanese activities of her great-grandfather, An Sang-ho. As theories regarding the poisoning of Emperor Gojong are also being revisited, attention has shifted to the delay of promotional content for a Netflix series starring Oh.

Oh recently revealed on various broadcasts that she comes from a family of doctors spanning four generations. She drew significant attention by sharing that her great-grandfather was one of the early doctors to open a Western-style clinic in Hanyang and had treated Emperor Gojong.

Following these remarks, speculation arose online that the relative mentioned by Oh was indeed the modern-era physician An Sang-ho. While Oh's agency initially acknowledged that An Sang-ho was her great-grandfather, they maintained that the pro-Japanese allegations were "groundless."

However, after additional historical records surfaced, the agency revised its stance. Bisters Entertainment stated on the 11th that they confirmed records exist placing An Sang-ho on the list of councilors for the Daejeong Chinmokhoe in 1916, and apologized for previously claiming the allegations were "groundless" without sufficient verification.

The core of the controversy lies in An Sang-ho's activities during the Japanese colonial period. After studying medicine in Japan, An returned to Korea to practice, and he is known to have participated in the medical treatment of Emperor Gojong.

Notably, an article detailing An Sang-ho's domestic life was published in the Maeil Sinbo—an official organ of the Japanese Governor-General of Korea—in 1918. The article highlighted how An adopted a lifestyle indistinguishable from the Japanese, following their customs in food, clothing, shelter, and child-rearing. At the time, Maeil Sinbo presented this as an exemplary case of the "Naisen Ittai" (Japan and Korea as one) policy.

The debate over his pro-Japanese ties intensified upon confirmation of his inclusion in the Daejeong Chinmokhoe councilor list. However, historians note that being included in a specific organization's list does not necessarily define an individual's entire historical legacy. An Sang-ho is not currently listed in the Pro-Japanese Person Dictionary by the Institute for Research in Contemporary History.

The theory regarding the poisoning of Emperor Gojong has also resurfaced. An is known to have been involved in the medical care of Emperor Gojong when the monarch suddenly collapsed in 1919, leading to allegations that he may have been linked to the poisoning. However, the claim that An was directly involved in the Emperor's death has not been established as a fact by the historical community.

Ultimately, this controversy stems not from Oh's personal actions, but from the context in which she shared her family history. Because she mentioned her great-grandfather's career to explain her lineage, his historical actions have become subject to public scrutiny regardless of her intentions.

The fallout has also impacted the Netflix content featuring Oh. The follow-up episode of the Netflix Korea official YouTube variety show "I Came to Promote," which was scheduled for release on the 10th and was set to feature Oh and Jung Hae-in, failed to premiere as planned.

Netflix has not officially disclosed the reason for the delay. While it is difficult to conclude there is a direct causal link between the great-grandfather controversy and the delayed release, the overlapping timing has drawn intense interest regarding Netflix's upcoming response.

Oh made her debut in the 2019 KBS2 drama "Doctor Prisoner" and gained recognition through roles in "Trauma Center" and "The Law School." She is currently appearing in the Netflix original series "Love is for Suckers."

This incident serves as a case study beyond a mere celebrity anecdote, highlighting the complexities of evaluating historical figures from the colonial era and the importance of verifying historical facts when public figures share their family legacies.