Descendant of Kim Gu, Kim Yong-man, advises Oh Ha-young: 'Don't be intimidated, take action'

Kim Yong-man, a Democratic Party lawmaker and great-grandson of independence activist Baekbeom Kim Gu, has offered advice to actress Oh Ha-young, who has been embroiled in controversy over her great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities. He suggested that rather than the mistakes of ancestors, what matters is the attitude and actions a descendant shows after learning the truth.

Appearing on the 'Directly' segment of JTBC's 'Newsroom' broadcast on the 14th, Kim shared his thoughts on historical perception and the meaning of liberation ahead of the 81st Liberation Day.

When asked about the controversy surrounding Oh's great-grandfather's pro-Japanese actions, Kim first pointed out that a descendant has no choice in the actions of their ancestors.

"When you are born as someone's child, you cannot decide who your parents are," he said. "An ancestor's actions may be part of an independence movement or may be anti-nationalist acts, but what is more important is what kind of actions you take after learning that fact."

He continued, "Rather than being intimidated by the mistakes of ancestors, I hope you interpret and act from the perspective of historical justice regarding what kind of steps you will take moving forward."

This implies that it is not about holding descendants accountable for the sins of their ancestors simply due to blood ties, but rather how they face those mistakes and what values they live by after discovering the past.

Kim, noting that he is aware of the controversy surrounding Oh, stated, "Personally, I hope to see a truly responsible and beautiful side of her."

This is interpreted as a message that instead of stigmatizing someone solely for being a descendant of a historical perpetrator, it is more important to face historical facts and demonstrate an appropriate attitude.

Previously, Oh appeared on KBS 2TV's 'Problem Child in House' on the 7th, where she introduced her family as a "four-generation medical family." At the time, she explained that her great-grandfather studied medicine in Japan, opened a clinic in Hanyang, and even treated Emperor Gojong.

Following the broadcast, claims surfaced online that Oh's great-grandfather was the physician An Sang-ho, and controversy erupted as materials spread suggesting he served as a council member for the Daejeong Chinmokhoe, a pro-Japanese organization during the Japanese colonial period. Regarding An Sang-ho's pro-Japanese activities, Bang Hak-jin, the secretary general of the Institute for Research in Contemporary History who participated in compiling the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Figures, has expressed views that relevant records can be confirmed.

The response from Oh's side also fueled the controversy.

Her agency initially released a statement claiming the allegations were "groundless," but retracted this after further verification. Subsequently, on the 12th, Oh issued a handwritten apology, stating, "I only knew fragmentary stories about my great-grandfather's life through my family," and "In such an ignorant state, I have brought up stories about my great-grandfather in various places as if they were a family boast."

She added, "Through this incident, I learned of my great-grandfather's pro-Japanese actions while personally searching through relevant materials. I accept these mistakes heavily and sincerely apologize as a descendant." She expressed remorse for mentioning her family history as a point of pride without properly knowing the history of the Japanese colonial period, and conveyed her intention to study history more deeply and live with a responsible attitude.

Kim's remarks present another important standard for viewing this controversy. While the sins of an ancestor and the responsibility of a descendant are not the same, a descendant has a responsibility not to turn away from the history of their ancestors.

Kim's remarks carry significant symbolism, especially since he himself is a descendant of an independence activist. Kim is the grandson of former Air Force Chief of Staff Kim Shin, the second son of Kim Gu, and the son of former Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kim Yang. After serving as an Air Force officer, he was elected to the 22nd National Assembly and currently serves as the co-chairman of the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Historical Justice.

Ultimately, the message Kim delivered to Oh is closer to the question of "what will you do now?" rather than a criticism. While the past cannot be changed, the attitude in the present after learning that past and the actions to follow are choices one can make for themselves.