Oh Ha-young's grandfather's legacy spotlighted amid great-grandfather controversy

As controversy surrounding actress Oh Ha-young's family history continues, attention is shifting to the career of her grandfather, the late Professor An Bu-ho. While allegations of pro-Japanese activities by her great-grandfather have surfaced, her grandfather is recognized for treating Hansen's disease patients at Sorokdo Hospital and advancing medical education, bringing the family's diverging historical trajectories into the spotlight.

A representative from Bisters Entertainment, Oh Ha-young's agency, confirmed to News1 and other outlets on the 10th that her grandfather is indeed the late Professor An Bu-ho (1922–1979).

After graduating from Keijo Medical College, Professor An Bu-ho reportedly began working at Sorokdo Hospital in 1949. Sorokdo was a long-term facility for Hansen's disease patients, where Professor An is known to have dedicated himself to patient care and research. It is also reported that Oh Ha-young's father, Director An Byeong-mun, was born during the period Professor An was stationed at Sorokdo Hospital.

Later, Professor An Bu-ho served as a professor at Chonnam National University Medical School and held positions as the inaugural head and chief professor of the Department of Clinical Pathology at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital at the Catholic University of Korea. He is regarded as a medical scientist who left a significant mark on the medical community by laying the foundation for clinical pathology development and education in Korea.

Oh Ha-young has previously shared that she comes from a family of doctors spanning four generations.

On the KBS2 variety show "Problem Child in House" aired on the 7th, she introduced her great-grandfather, noting, "He opened the first Western-style clinic in Hanyang and treated Emperor Gojong." She also drew attention by mentioning that while playing the role of nurse Cheon Jang-mi in the Netflix series "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," she received acting advice from her family members, who are actual doctors.

However, following the broadcast, speculation spread that the great-grandfather she mentioned was An Sang-ho, and the controversy intensified as allegations regarding An Sang-ho's pro-Japanese activities surfaced.

In response, Oh Ha-young's agency acknowledged that her great-grandfather is indeed An Sang-ho, but stated that the pro-Japanese allegations circulating online are "groundless." Consequently, it remains difficult to conclude the truth of the allegations based solely on the agency's current official position.

The reason Professor An Bu-ho's career is now receiving renewed attention is that Oh Ha-young's family history can no longer be explained simply as a continuous "four-generation doctor family" lineage.

Within a single family, different generations lived through vastly different historical eras, and each individual's actions must be verified as distinct historical facts. Some observers point out the need to distinguish between holding a descendant like Oh Ha-young personally responsible for her ancestors' actions and verifying the historical accuracy of the family history she disclosed.

Ultimately, the focus of public interest is expected to shift from the controversy itself toward a calm verification of the specific careers and historical facts of each generation.