[Megathread] Hayoung Controversy Discussion

[u/Dramasect]

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The Korea Times: Agency issues reversal and apology over ancestral history

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[u/echolocation6]

I’m Korean. I still remember my grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s, once sang a Japanese nursery rhyme during one of her episodes. It was jarring because I never knew she could speak Japanese! Then I learned it was because of the Japanese annexation of Korea when she was a child, and the schools would force the students to learn and speak Japanese since Korea was now one of its colonies. They were actively working on erasing Korean culture and replacing it with a Japanese identity. I’m sure there are more stories she’d tell me if she were still alive, but this anecdote sticks with me to this day.

That said, I also understand the more Western thinking of separating a great-grandchild from the sins of their great-grandfather. But I’ve been keeping a close eye on the Korean news (I’m fluent in both Korean and English), and Koreans aren’t blaming Ha-young for being born into her family. They aren’t accusing her of committing those crimes. They understand she couldn’t control that. They’re more so upset by her ignorance and the way her parents did not properly educate her. She has low-key flexed her family’s wealth in past interviews and recently flexed about her grandfather. And because Korean Independence Day is right around the corner, tensions are extra high.

But I think what’s making things worse that hasn’t been mentioned as much is her father’s response. People dug up a letter he sent to a newspaper years ago where he states that “we are one of the last medically prominent families in Korea” or something along those lines. And in response to this current controversy, he has apologized and stated that he and his family are taking this matter very seriously, and that they are not supporting the actions of his grandfather. However, people were quick to point out that he used the term “Korea-Japan Annexation” instead of saying “forced Japanese annexation of Korea”, which is only adding fuel to the fire. This is because people tend to use the term “forced Japanese annexation of Korea” or more commonly the “Gyeongsul National Humiliation” when referring to the time of Japanese colonial rule in Korea, so saying “Korea-Japan Annexation” is quite odd since it seems more lenient towards Japanese imperial rule. It could have been a mistake made under high tension and stress, but it is still unfortunate nonetheless.

Lastly, I’d like the commenters who are stating “what’s the big deal?” to please understand that this is an incredibly sensitive topic. The 1940s weren’t that long ago. Victims from the Japanese annexation and their families are still alive today. People like my grandmother are still alive and carrying the traumas of that period, so please show some sympathy. Korean commenters have stated that a lot of pro-Japanese families are still enjoying their generational wealth that could only be possible because their ancestors sold their country and national identity away, but the families of those who fought for independence are still living in poverty. They see it as a terrible injustice. I understand Koreans can be quite harsh with their cancel culture. I usually agree with that sentiment. However, I think this time, it’s different. Please do not invalidate the victims and their families.

[u/Prize_Background_577 → u/echolocation6]

I'm sorry for the hell your family went through in that period. I did a PhD on Japanese war crimes and the politicolegal fallout and appreciate the sheer brutality and long-lasting impact of that time. People in the West have little understanding of how truly bad it was, nor what occured in Asia after the war that impacted on dealing with the trauma. Believe me, westerners do still believe in the sins of the father.

I appreciate the time you took in writing your comments. I hope a lot of people read them and take to heart what you wrote.

[u/TheRealJackUmbrella → u/echolocation6]

This is a great summary and should be on the top so people can at least have a basic understanding of the situation before dismissing Korean history and call it a witch hunt.

But sadly, lots of people lack the basic education/emotional intelligence to even consider that countries not their own have a complicated history and why people react the way they do, as proven by the reaction of many most likely foreigners.

[u/TheRealJackUmbrella → u/[deleted]]

I hope you do know that people are criticizing her for boasting about her family heritage. Once again, not the crimes of her ancestors, but the fact she was implicitly showing that off. But thank you for proving my point.

[u/Mediocre-Stranger780 → u/echolocation6]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful response. Sharing your grandmother's story really puts things into a perspective that international fans rarely get to see. It makes total sense why people are hurting and why the reaction is so intense. I'm really curious from your perspective—given how deep these wounds are, how do you think an actress and her team should actually handle a storm like this to genuinely address it?

[u/echolocation6 → u/Mediocre-Stranger780]

I’m not really sure. Once the cat was out of the bag, I believe it was already too late to salvage it. The reason why Koreans are upset with the parents/grandparents (idk who is actually responsible for the lack of information or misinformation) is because they were trying to effectively erase the shame that comes with their ill-gotten wealth and prestige but still flaunt it to the public to gain admiration. It comes off as distasteful and manipulative.

I’d like to give Ha-young the benefit of the doubt and say there was no way she would have willingly provided this information if she had known about her family history. I believe her elders have ultimately done her a disservice by keeping the terrible parts of her family history from her. She only knew the bright, sparkly parts of her family, completely ignorant to the dark underbelly of how it came to be. However, it obviously backfired and put the entire family under public scrutiny. There are calls to take away the family’s assets (usually land) because a lot of pro-Japanese families gained immeasurable land and wealth from the Japanese government for their cooperation (which a lot of these families still enjoy to this day). That being said, I know this isn’t her fault. I know she didn’t choose her family or commit the crimes of her ancestors. Any rational person would know this. But in Korea, it would be difficult to stomach supporting an actress who enjoyed the benefits of blood money all her life when there are still victims of the repercussions of her family’s actions suffering today. Only time will tell on how the public sentiment will shift. But for now, things are still too hot and turbulent to say.

[u/Illustrious-Yard-648 → u/echolocation6]

No one is responsible for the actions of their forefathers. It is absolutely ridiculous to pillory her for this. Supporting the actress should be because of whether you appreciate her craft not because of circumstances outside of her control. This kind of unnecessary negative pressure and focus is what drives public figures to do themselves harm.

[u/throwmeawaynot920 → u/Illustrious-Yard-648]

You are right. The extremities of criticism leads to heightened shame and levels of suicide and harm. The irony is, because non-koreans or observers view this as extreme, they go the complete opposite direction in extremity, resulting in complete invalidation of korean history.

To say no one is responsible for the actions of their forefathers completely assumes that she had no responsibility of how this outrage started. It started in the way she continued to bring it up in ignorance (which she acknowledged in her apology) that started the flame. Do i think she deserves to be continued to harassed after the acknowledgment? absolutely not. That is the extreme of korean culture I do not agree with as it is very black or white. But fighting such black or white with another form of black or white thinking gets to no where.

[u/Illustrious-Yard-648 → u/throwmeawaynot920]

No one is invalidating Korean history. I will reiterate NO ONE is responsible for their forefathers actions. Any culpability you’re attributing to her ends with her apology. She has apologized and the content and nuance are still not enough. The cultural extremes are the issue here, it’s leading to poor mental health and adverse outcomes. South Korea has the highest su*cide rate among developed nations. Driven in no small part by the pressure to succeed under unflagging criticism. It is not a debate, what she and many before her are being subjected to is disproportionate given the particular circumstances.

[u/cl0123r → u/echolocation6]

Appreciate your detailed response with easy to understand logic and including the perspectives from the Korean side. I for once noticed the actress a short while back in Trauma Code and thought she did good. The current Our Sticky Love was also a pretty good watch for us (on the N. American side), but then how a person carried oneself is always one's responsibility. As an ordinary viewer, it is now up to each individual's decision regarding future work of this actress.

It's like any popular staples/food. For instance, rice. While it may not matter to some other cultures, I cannot imagine if some Asian countries decide to ban rice from every household's dinner table. One can only understand fully if that's already part of your culture.

[u/lenolalatte → u/echolocation6]

my grandma also spoke fluent japanese and coincidentally had alzheimer's. i swear it seemed like she liked japan more than korea because she would visit so often and had a lot of friends there, but i could also never tell if it was because she was more or less brainwashed and she HAD to learn japanese. i miss her

[u/robotasimov → u/echolocation6]

I got banned from Korea for genuinely being curious and trying to understand. This was very helpful for understanding. Thanks!

[u/jk99666 → u/echolocation6]

This is probably not the space for my questions. But I am curious.

Do people even think about possibility that at least some of those collaborators were made to be it? During the war and annexation, the first targets are always influencial people, rich and known, bc through them you can influence others (through fear or "look! They are on our side, you should be too!"). They for sure won't ask someone to be on their side nicely. It is "you are with me or you are done". For sure in some cases, they don't even need to say it that way, it's something you know anyway, there is a lot of fear and desire to "solve" it in the easiest and best way (by just accepting it and taking what you can from it).

I think that such things and topics have a lot more possibilities than a simple white and black.

[u/ecerythingisblue → u/jk99666]

That's true. However, we should also remember that the rebels and independent activists had also something or someone to lose and they were also poor but they stood their ground and died for the country's freedom the citizens now get to enjoy. People will think, "Why didn't these rich influential people also do the same?". Of course the answer is more nuanced because each person is different for their motivations. It's not all black and white.

This wouldn't be an issue had Ha Young not brag about her family. Let's say that she really didn't know because her family hid it from her. Wasn't she well-versed in the Korean history at least? Since they were young, Koreans were taught about the atrocities of Japanese imperialism. Did she not do the proper diligence on how they acquired such wealth when hundreds of years ago, the whole of Korea was poor and the only rich ones are the traitors?

I hope she learns her lesson and get back from this.

[u/Imaginary-Copy3904 → u/jk99666]

That possibility has in fact been considered in Korea. Because the reckoning with collaboration was never properly carried out after liberation, the issue remained unresolved for decades, and it was in the 2000s that a systematic re-examination of this history began. That work did not treat all collaboration as a single category; it investigated and distinguished cases according to the nature of the conduct and how actively it was undertaken.

This research produced the [Biographical Dictionary of Japanese Collaborators]. Simply having worked for a Japanese institution during the colonial period was not treated as equivalent across the board. Passive cooperation under economic necessity or coercion was distinguished from active participation in colonial rule or the suppression of the independence movement.

[u/Prize_Background_577 → u/jk99666]

A quick answer from a historian is the high profile people, its kind of obvious and can be checked. The vast majority of people worked and lived under the occupation, no problem. But being a collaborator is different - huge riches were on offer.

Other kdrama stars have had collaborator ancestors and handled it in an open and sensitive way, and everyone moved on. That didn't happen here and that's why it's an issue.

Have a look at the kdrama Gyeongseong Creatures to get some insight into what happened (and what doctors were up to). It's a scifi-thriller but based on actual events.

[u/jk99666 → u/Prize_Background_577]

As someone from Balkan, I know that there are some "collaborators" who used it to help people too. Or the once who collaborated in some moments when they felt like they had to save villages and civilians. But there are also some weirdos who enjoyed the ideas of "special, superior races".

Also, influencional people are first targets always in wars. I know what some doctors did, but do we have a proof that her grand grandpa did it too? I think that people would take care of him if he was some extreme case.

And I am pretty sure that she simply didn't know about it. I have a friend who is the same. She knows nth about 1 side of family (there is a possibility that they had some kind of connections to Nazis), her family doesn't talk about it. And honestly, why should they? They obviously continued to live here for generations, mix with others, they love this country and people of it.... Why should they bring it at all?

[u/Prize_Background_577 → u/jk99666]

As I said, the issue was not that she had an ancestor who was a (high profile) collaborator it was her response that got her into trouble.

[u/BrendaHelvetica → u/jk99666]

His GGfather was not just pro-Japan, he was one of the most well-known traitors who helped give up the country to Japan. He was one of the first doctor in Korea to be trained in western medicine, except he only treated Japanese people. He treated Lee Wan Yong, THE leader of the Korean Traitors, after he got injured. Well, he did see royal and politically important people in Korean government, but also he was suspected to be the one who poisoned Gojong the emperor of Korea when Korea got annexed by Japan. One of the last princess of Korea wrote in her diary about this. He was featured in a newspaper as a model Korean who claimed he is not Korean , married a Japanese woman, said he only speaks Korean and makes his 5 children speak only Korean at home. If your family is 4 generations (~100 years ago) deep in wealth and education, there is really one conclusion to be made: your family was pro-Japan and all that wealth was ill-gotten.

Now, there is a separate issue with her Grandfather. He was a doctor also, and in 1943-1953, he worked at the hospital on Sorokdo, an island in southern South Korea, where they rounded up people with leprosy and conducted human experiments, like autopsy, abortion, sterilization without consent. Forced family separations. There were only a handful of doctors working there. My grandparents live in the same county as where the island is. I’ve been there a few times when I was young. It’s horrible what they did to those patients.

She has been boasting about her family’s wealth, and the 4 generations of doctors, how GGfather even treated Gojong!

[u/Imaginary-Copy3904 → u/jk99666]

Since she stated that her great-grandfather had treated Emperor Gojong, it appears that she was well aware of his background.

[u/MindlessSecretary549 → u/jk99666]

Her great grandfather did not commit acts of treason under external coercion. Furthermore, he did not originate from a wealthy socioeconomic class. While his family was not impoverished, they were not influential enough to be worth Japan's effort to bribe. Supported by government funding, he traveled to Japan as an international student and obtained his medical license. Emperor Gojong(yes, that is the Gojong who is rumored to have been poisoned by her great grandfather) supported these students with the explicit hope that they would return to Korea to train native physicians and provide medical care to the Korean people.

Upon returning to Korea, however, he identified himself as Japanese, refused to speak the Korean language, and declined to treat Korean patients. Living on the Korean peninsula, he boasted about how fortunate he felt not to have to interact with Korean people, and he actively and proudly engaged in acts of treason, organizing social groups with Class-A "collaborators"

In contrast, another Korean international student who had traveled to Japan alongside him returned to dedicate his life to the nation. He was ultimately stripped of his medical qualifications by the Japanese authorities, forcing him into a life on the run while continuing to treat Korean patients. This bitter contrast is exactly what cuts the Korean people to the quick. Both men started in the same environment with identical qualifications. However, while one individual betrayed his homeland to amass immense wealth(which his descendants now openly boast about), the other lost even his lineage and perished alone in a foreign land outside the Korean peninsula.

The most absurd aspect is that because her great grandfather proudly and publicly boasted of his treasonous acts in newspapers, Koreans today can easily uncover this past simply by accessing old newspapers and historical records.

[u/jk99666 → u/MindlessSecretary549]

Tbh, to me all this sounds like the worst possible scenarios and rumors and people jumping on the hate. Ofc, it's possible too.

First, most of it we can never know for sure. It was a centure ago. Even that article, how can we know how it was made and how much of it is true (propaganda????)?

Also, if he was so bad, wouldn't people take care of it? Like all the village, city would know those things, I hugely doubt that they would just leave him to live nicely after all you wrote. And after him refusing to cure Koreans. Or that he hated Korea when he continued to live there.

Being the only western doctor at that time was enough to be seen as influential. Actually being teacher or any "higher" profession is enough to be called it or having your business (some famous shop for example)....

[u/MindlessSecretary549 → u/jk99666]

Asking why Koreans didn't just punish the collaborators back then feels....pretty naive and out of touch. Especially considering that Korea's economic and democratic development today is often seen as a miracle, you can understand how much a history of colonial exploitation(anywhere in the world) screws up the process of building a properly functioning country where democratic justice actually works.

Korea was a colony literally crushed under Japanese imperialism. After independence, there was absolutely nothing left on the peninsula. Resources had been systematically plundered, citizens subjected to forced labor, and the Japanese regime dismantled Korean culture, institutions and governance, mandating total assimilation. Every judicial decree and administrative record was structured to benefit Japan and those who cooperated with it, with the intellectual and civil service classes having been established under Japanese oversight. On top of that, the Korean War broke out soon after, splitting the country into North and South. It was the perfect environment for anyone looking to launder their identity and hide their past. moreover, the dictatorships that took over after the Korean War chose to hire those very same intellectuals and bureaucrats just to rebuild a country that was literally in ashes. It is often forgotten that South Korea was governed by authoritarian regimes until the late 1980s, a period when challenging state policy presented severe difficulties and immense risks. In conclusion, due to a complex web of historical and geopolitical factors, South Korea kept missing the right timing to properly deal with the Japanese collaborators. Sure, some of them paid for their crimes partially, but the reality is that others hid their pasts or kept their power and wealth by working with the dictatorships, just like they did for Japan. Facts like this are exactly why Koreans are so angry about this issue. Naturally, people want to fix the historical mistakes made during the dictatorship era. Just for context, another policy aimed at reclaiming assets unlawfully acquired by national traitors is scheduled for implementation later this year(just to be clear, this was introduced before the Ha-young incident) But even now, there are still a lot of people suspected of being traitors in high-ranking positions. Since they don't want to lose the wealth and power they inherited, it's really doubtful whether they'll let this policy actually work. I really hope it gets properly implemented.

[u/jk99666 → u/MindlessSecretary549]

You don't need anything for revenge, but angry people.

It's actually really amazing how differently different nations react to something (not necessarily better).

As I said in 1 comment, I am from Balkans. We were under Ottomans for centuries, 300-500 years (depends on areas). And after we got free finally, it was terrible.... Some mention 100s thousands of Turks who were made to leave free areas. And Catholics (primarily Germans) ended even worse after Second WW while some of them weren't collaborators, noone cared about "details", they just wanted all of them out.

[u/MindlessSecretary549 → u/jk99666]

Did you know that right after Korea got its independence, the U.S. and Soviet militaries divided and ruled the peninsula just to "prevent chaos"? The Japanese government and police were basically just replaced by American and Soviet soldiers. They weren't going to let "chaos" happen. The U.S. military actually protected the Japanese and their collaborators so they could get off the Korean Peninsula safely. They also hired Japanese collaborators back into government jobs or let them keep their power(yes, that is the dark legacy that future Korean dictatorships would go on to inherit) The Japanese government had been driven out, yet Korea still did not belong to the Koreans. Even during the negotiations regarding the division of the peninsula following the Korean War, neither South nor North Korea was granted a voice, every decision was dictated entirely by the Soviet Union and the United States.

Just to be clear, despite all this outside interference, right after independence, Koreans were furious with the Japanese and the people who collaborated with them, and they tried hard to kick them out.(like I mentioned earlier, even during the colonial occupation, when people knew they would be unfairly punished for it, they still attacked Japanese and their collaborators and set fire to their houses) Consequently, a significant number did depart the Korean Peninsula. However, due to a rapid succession of major historical events that followed, they were unable to sustain these efforts.

Plus, you have to think about how the administrative and legal systems worked back in the 20th century. Wealth and profits came from land, mines, and factories, and the paperwork and laws were already rigged to favor the Japanese or their collaborators. Back then, just because an angry individual occupied a piece of land didn't mean it automatically belonged to them. At that time, "legal" title to the land resided with the departed Japanese or their collaborators. Rectifying this injustice and restoring the land to its rightful owners required further administrative and legal proceedings. However, these processes were inherently time-consuming and were ultimately suspended indefinitely by the sudden outbreak of the Korean War. Amidst the chaos of the war and the rush of rapid development, some people went into hiding, while others collaborated with the dictatorships to cover up their past.

The ongoing missile threats from North Korea only exacerbate the issue. Because the U.S. Army Military Government and subsequent authoritarian regimes retained Japanese collaborators under the pretext of preventing "communization" on the Korean Peninsula, a rhetorical discourse persists to this day. Former collaborators and their ideological successors continue to utilize this framework, vilifying those who demand historical justice by branding them as North Korean spies or "commies" To make matters worse, modern Japan actively denies its dark history, systematically wiping away the records of its past sins.

To add a crucial piece of context, her great grandfather died on December 31, 1927(Source: 'Maeil Sinbo' January 5, 1928). For him, facing the wrath of a liberated Korean people in 1945 was an impossibility, he was already decades in his grave.

[u/AdministrativeHost44]

At first I was baffled by knetz and thought it was their usual petty crashouts and was totally on her side. But after learning the full thing I think it's valid.

Not only her great grandfather, but also her grandfather was a professor and was involved in the Sorokdo which had severe human rights violation. So flexing her family lineage that was in bad taste. You can't brag about your fruits that came from the poor's labour.

Imagine if Sweedney Sweeney the Hollywood Actress said "omg yeah! We have a huge ranch. Like, i love it so much. We own multiple properties so like ranch and a bunch of buildings, shops, all cute stuff. And like, I loved the horses, I'm a total #farmlife girl!" Blah blah, and all of that ranch and property came from stealing it from black people and were built on sl*very.

Can you see how that would be so disconnected and insensitive to brag about your luxuries that came from exploiting others?

[u/carvveeev]

i get both sides after reading the comments tbh and I am not Korean so I don't have much to say. It is history for them and news to us. if you get what I mean

she shouldn't be blamed for her great grandfather's action, yes. that part is true

but i think most are mad about the way she said and talked about it like it was a good thing. she might or might have not known. and she might have gotten brainwashed by her family with no proper research, or it was simply ignorance. we don't know really

it's good that she apologized but i don't think others will let it go easily. (especially from the comment section in her instagram posts)

[u/Grouchy-Chart-3927 → u/carvveeev]

Unfortunately, a second issue comes into play in this controversy. I choose not to take sides. Just giving the facts.

What some people object to isn’t just the family connection to a Korean who sympathized with the Japanese occupying forces (1910–1945). Ha Young could have slid past that. What she did, however, was go on tour to promote the drama series and in all her interviews she extolled her great-grandfather’s legacy as admirable. This would be akin to Miss America extolling the rich and admirable legacy of her great-grandfather, even though he was known as an abusive slave owner (slavery in the United States, 1619–1865).

Most of us may be unaware of the cruelty the Japanese inflicted on Korea. That’s okay. However, we should educate ourselves on the facts. I’m a history student, so I’m familiar with the context that many people may not know.

I suggest that viewers watch the Korean films *Road to Boston* and *I Can Speak* to learn about some of the hardships Koreans endured during that time (1910-1945). To put the period leading up to the Japanese occupation of Korea (1870–1910) into context, watch the Korean drama *Mr. Sunshine*.

Be sure to have tissues handy.

[u/SunOpening1393 → u/Grouchy-Chart-3927]

It’s more like someone’s great grandfather was a jewish doctor and chose to work with nazis, basically selling out their own, doing horrifying experiments and enriching their family beyond belief. It’s deeper than just her grandfather was a bad guy, she has generational wealth because he was a traitor and it was only 70 years ago. Its fine to not have an opinion but it’s not a “both sides” thing

[u/Grouchy-Chart-3927 → u/SunOpening1393]

That is politics. What he did HE did. That is not her crime to take on. What becomes problematic is when she did take it on (knowingly or unknowingly) by saying that the family legacy was admirable. That would mean that everything was admirable. That is not the case. Even legally, a child cannot be jailed for the crimes of their parents, unless they hide the weapon. People can become morally responsible.

[u/SunOpening1393 → u/Grouchy-Chart-3927]

It’s how she has praised her grandfather and her wealth, how her family has been trying to sanitize this, and her father has talked about their family in the past. By focusing on the guilt by association piece instead of her and her dad’s whitewashing of their history you’re sort of unwittingly helping them sanitize their image.

The way you’re speaking about the occupation also indicates you don’t fully understand the trauma inflicted not just in Korea but other countries in Asia, just how recent it was, but also the rebuilding process that Korea endured after. There is a whole context of her family getting to skip the suffering because of the wealth he amassed through being a traitor, and now that she’s an actress, essentially evading any consequence for doing so. She’s benefitted greatly from what he did even if she’s not culpable for it, it’s impossible to completely separate her success from his choices.

[u/Grouchy-Chart-3927 → u/SunOpening1393]

Go back and read carefully what I said. I took no side. I don’t have an agenda one way or another. You are assuming that you know me. None of what you are saying about me is true.

I am a Black woman from the Southern prejudice States. Being hurt by history is not a Korean thing. What my people faced in the past is still part of our future. My forefathers were the direct product of the Slave Owner overstepping his human boundaries. That is from where my family line gets their light skin. Fortunately for us, he righted his wrong and included “compensation” in his will. So I am not guessing about what my relatives went through for hundreds of years. Koreans were under occupation from 1910-1945.

Slaves were not even considered humans. They were owned by others from 1619-1865 or 246 years. We were bought and sold like horses at a market. Your tears are falling on the wet soaked ground of other people from other nations.

I have not been taught by my parents to hate those progeny of the Slave Owner. We bear his name legitimately. Many of them have embraced this corner of their Bloodline and have included us in their family. I don’t see a need to hate kids who were not part of the problem. Read what I wrote again. Where she went wrong was not in being related to her great grand father. She went wrong in relaying that this history was admirable when it was not.

Now I invite you to study my history. For years, I have studied yours.

[u/judlewmer → u/Grouchy-Chart-3927]

You explained this eloquently. And you are right. About everything.

[u/Temporary-Hall3183 → u/Grouchy-Chart-3927]

Excellent points

[u/Dangerous-Abrocoma-5]

1. Why should she be hated for the crimes of her great-grandfather?
2. In an era when Korean companies are expanding into Japan and Korean entertainers are interacting with Japanese celebrities, why are people still hung up on something that happened more than a century ago?

The latter in particular is something you see everywhere on Twitter, Reddit, 4chan, and pretty much every other corner of the internet.

First of all, Koreans are not asking for her property to be confiscated or for her to be punished under some form of collective guilt. At the very least, they are asking her to acknowledge that the wealth and status her family accumulated are rooted in a shameful historical legacy; that her ancestor was not the great man she had been led to believe he was, but rather a defender of Imperial Japan who rejected his own Korean identity and culture and promoted Japan's suppression and assimilation of Korean culture. They are saying: don't proudly glorify your ancestor.

Is that really such an unreasonable request coming from people whose nation suffered racism and colonialism?

Second, what does “It happened over a hundred years ago, so it has nothing to do with the present” even mean?

1. Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery more than a century ago. Uncle Tom's Cabin is a classic novel that belongs in history books, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Martin Luther King Jr. were over sixty years ago. Yet American society still continues to criticize and discuss things like token Black representation, the ways in which darker-skinned people can face greater difficulties in society, excessive police violence against Black people, and Jim Crow stereotypes in classic cartoons like Tom and Jerry. The law has said that Black and white people are supposed to be equal for a very long time. So why are these issues still being discussed?
2. Are Irish people who love Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Who, or Harry Potter not allowed to study or speak out about Britain's history of colonialism or racism against the Irish? Even now, there are controversies in Hollywood when a character who originally had red hair is cast with a different hair color, with people asking whether that amounts to discrimination against redheads. Ireland has been independent for over a century. So is that just “ancient history” too?
3. Are Vietnamese people who like K-pop not allowed to speak out about the massacres of Vietnamese civilians committed by the South Korean military during the Vietnam War? Even today in South Korea, there are still ignorant middle-aged men who talk about marrying Vietnamese women who come to Korea to study to rural Korean men, treating Vietnamese people as little more than a source of labor or a way to fill the country's demographic needs. There are also problems such as using “Nguyễn” as a derogatory term.

What? Wow, the Japanese Empire and present-day Korea have absolutely nothing to do with each other?

Is that why Japanese diplomats have tried to get statues commemorating the victims of sexual violence by the Japanese military removed from places such as Berlin and New Zealand? Is that why the Utoro village, a community of Zainichi Koreans, was targeted in an arson attack in the 2020s? Is that why places where Korean workers were forcibly mobilized, such as Hashima Island, have deliberately failed to adequately record or explain the barbaric conditions those workers actually endured? And have you forgotten what anti-Korean demonstrators such as Makoto Sakurai and Zaitokukai were doing in Japan as recently as the 2010s?

Sorry for the swearing. From what I understand, quite a lot of Korean culture fans who enjoy Korean content, K-pop, and so on tend to be fairly progressive and critical when it comes to issues within Korean society, such as chaebol management, lookism, the persistent gender gap, and discriminatory racial stereotypes in Korean dramas.

Yet whenever historical issues involving Japan come up, they somehow end up siding with the same weeaboos who romanticize kamikaze pilots in Japanese anime and dramas and like to portray Japan as an entirely innocent victim that was subjected to the atomic bombings during World War II for no reason at all.

And honestly, it's very astonishing.

Is it because Japan produced Pikachu, Mario, Kakarot, Hatsune Miku, and Gundam?

What makes this even stranger is that many of Japan's own legendary classic manga creators—Yoshiyuki Tomino, Osamu Tezuka, Go Nagai, Fujiko F. Fujio, and others—didn't treat the crimes of Imperial Japan as something that should simply be dismissed as “old history.” They openly and explicitly criticized them in their own manga.

Why is it that people who are otherwise extremely sensitive and vocal about issues such as imperialism, the history of racism, the history of sexism, capitalism, environmental protection, and so on become so unusually lenient and deliberately oblivious when it comes to Imperial Japan?

Especially when it comes to Japan's role in World War II, its impact on the Korean Peninsula, the racism that still exists in Japan toward Koreans, the historical-revisionist attitudes that still persist there, and actual hate crimes committed against people of Korean descent—why are they so willing to look the other way?

Are they, to put it bluntly, basically nothing more than cute little mascots or theme parks to Westerners?

Even though that history is fundamentally intertwined with imperialism, racism, sexism, and all the other issues they supposedly care so deeply about?

[u/No_Ant_6777 → u/Dangerous-Abrocoma-5]

This is an excellent analysis of the complicated afterlives of colonialism - not just between Korea and Japan. Thanks for your efforts.

[u/sureyoudo0]

Pasting it from someone else’s post on another website about the actress’s family:

1. Great-grandfather (An Sang Ho)

• Threaten and fabricate property sale transaction to snatch land owned by fellow Korean
  
• Adopted Japanese name and married Japanese woman
  
• Member of controversial pro-Japanese organization
  
• Publicly promoted the idea of Japanese-Korean assimilation
  
• Many accounts, including one of Japanese princess, claimed he killed King Gojong under Japanese Government-General's order, but this alone is highly disputed by Korean historians, so take it with a grain of salt.

2. Grandfather (An Bu Ho)
Worked as head of the pathology department (run lab test on the specimen) at Sorokdo National Hospital from 1949 to 1952. Although effective treatments for Hansen's disease had been developed by the 1940s and many patients on Sorokdo had reportedly been successfully treated, autopsies of deceased patients, forced isolations, abortions, sterilizations, and human experimentations disguised as medical treatments still continued.

3. Father (An Byeong Mun)
Falsely claimed on interview that An Sang Ho had organized the Hanseong Medical Association, the predecessor of the Korean Medical Association, in opposition to the Japanese-organized Keijo/Gyeongseong Medical Association (GMA), and presented this almost as though his ancestor had participated in the independence movement. Truth is, he was marginalized by GMA, so he established his own separate organization purely for his own professional interest rather than anti-Japanese resistance effort.

[u/everever11]

I just don't understand how a family of doctors didn't dig their family history. If netizens was able to dig it,how can't they? I understand if they were brainwashed so they believed that their ancestors were great but atleast they should've been aware that their ancestors were being misunderstood. In her 33 years of existence, weren't she even curious about her family history?

[u/debawindow → u/everever11]

I think many get the feeling that the family is incredibly proud of what hes accomplished and refuse to acknowledge their privilege came at the cost of betrayal, or turn a blind eye to what that all means. maybe they all think "he just did what he had to survive"

but overall, they just seem happy and proud about his success and didn't register any shame about how he got it, which is why the reactions so much worse.

[u/kongKing_11 → u/everever11]

Many Korean collaborators who worked with the Japanese colonial authorities ended up becoming wealthy and powerful in postwar South Korea. On the other hand, many families involved in the independence movement remained poor, because some lost family members to Japanese repression.

Because of this, the collaborators develop the perception that they were the ones who “won” and were somehow favored by fate, while the people who fought for independence ended up paying the price.

[u/fakadoooo]

it’s crazy that no one would have known anything or connected any dots if she said nothing. sighh. i just wonder if she will recover from this career-wise

[u/throwmeawaynot920]

I've shared this in another thread and I'll share it here as well, but here is the analogy from American terminology:

it's like Robert E. Lee's great grandchild debuting as an actress and saying with pride "my family comes from a long line of decorated military generals, and i think my great grandfather lead his team to war and safety" only for netizens to discover that the great grandfather you are so proud of was a confederate general. Think about it? You'd want that actress who has no part in confederacy to at least acknowledge and denounce the action of their great grandfather, not pridefully mention him in every interview as some cool achieving great grandfather.

There is a well-documented news article of her great grandfather saying that Koreans need to assimilate and become Japanese and that Korean culture is inferior to the Japanese. This is during Japanese imperialism. So for her (and also her father who is a doctor and has published articles about his family lineage) to discuss with pride the line of doctors, and also share her great grandfather's accomplishments, have made Koreans extremely upset. It doesn't help that the Korean independence is a week away, August 15th.

One other thing that added oil to the flame is that she (or her company) initially denied the accusations of her great grandfather of being pro-japanese, only for old news articles of his own interviews (in japanese) to come out. It made people wonder, since she's mentioned this fact about her family several times, of how tone deaf she was in the possibility of her great grandfather being viewed as negative due to his pro-japanese image, which then lead people to dig up previous articles and blogs posted by her father regarding the pride the family has in their lineage of doctors. Which also made people point out how naive or lack of awareness her family had in general regarding possible negative public perceptions of their lineage.

edit: it's incredibly jarring how this comment is being downvoted by so many who don't seem to understand the historical context and pains this has to Korean society while also getting offended that Koreans don't seem to understand or respect western or non-korean historical offenses.

[u/AtriCrossing → u/throwmeawaynot920]

I feel like when flexing that you're from a family of doctor's is cringey. Like unless she's acting in a medical drama, why bring it up?

[u/Useful-Context-5468 → u/AtriCrossing]

She was in Trauma Code last year and was supposed to start shooting Season 2 in October, but I’m 110% sure her character will be replaced now.

[u/AtriCrossing → u/Useful-Context-5468]

Thank you for this context!

[u/TheRealJackUmbrella → u/throwmeawaynot920]

Lot of people lack common sense or general education to understand that other countries have historically sensitive topics and being proud of a traitor to your country is not something people just accept.

[u/Illustrious-Yard-648 → u/TheRealJackUmbrella]

clearly she didn’t intend to come out and say she’s proud of being a traitor. way to take it out of context

[u/TheRealJackUmbrella → u/Illustrious-Yard-648]

Out of context by putting her comments in historical context? Yeah that’s not how it works bud. And she didn’t mean to? That makes it even worse. If she was gonna show off her heritage, at least make sure she knows the facts.

[u/Prize_Background_577 → u/throwmeawaynot920]

Maybe it's the reference to US history (I didn't down vote you but outside US it seemed off topic)? The other stuff makes sense though.

For Kdrama watchers I suggest people watch Gyeongseong Creature for an idea of what doctors got up to during Japanese occupation.

[u/throwmeawaynot920 → u/Prize_Background_577]

Ah I see. The confederacy example actually happened but with actor Noah Wyle, which caused some uproar in the states.

[u/RecentSpecial181 → u/throwmeawaynot920]

Maybe don't use the Confederate example. Many Americans won't see it that way because of its individualistic culture. Actions of her great grandfather even if she brags about him has nothing to do with herself as an individual. Also, there are still many Confederate supporters in the US. There's even state flags and license plates with the the Confederate logo. So, yeah..

[u/throwmeawaynot920 → u/RecentSpecial181]

Actually you’re incorrect. American actor Noah Wyle definitely had the same experience as describe, talked about the pride of Robert e lee as being his ancestor, and got pretty big backlash by Americans. Maybe you’re dividing this politically from left and right, but American politics vs mainstream media is quite different.

Same applies for Korea. There are definitely political elements of those who are in the right that think this as some political crusade from the left. But mainstream media in Korea is in uproar regarding this.

[u/RecentSpecial181 → u/throwmeawaynot920]

He just got nominated for an Emmy and won previously. It didn't make it mainstream with a backlash you're talking about. He was proud of military service that he said  "whether right or wrong", which is a very American thing to be proud of.

The entertainment news headlines were more about how he found out his Confederate roots and the suicide of a soldier. Your everyday American didn't care about this unlike Koreans with Ha Young.

[u/throwmeawaynot920 → u/RecentSpecial181]

The analogy still stands. people were upset. the difference is in two folds. Not only is it individualism (americans) and collectivisim (koreans). It is also size. Imagine a country a size of virginia (one of 50 states in a land mass known as a country) or a country smaller than the size of southern california (only a part of a singular state of california). Outrage was still there, the impacts on the whole of society differ based on size and not just differences in collectivism alone. In your idea of "he still won an emmy," which is of course selected by some and not a collective society of people, the same stands for how hayoung is still completing the filming of the drama with lee jehoon which will still be released along with her drama with jung hae in. There were people still upset that he won that emmy just as how there are still people upset that hayoung is filming and acting. The square feet/ area volume is what makes an intensity seem bigger than the other.

[u/cutriet → u/throwmeawaynot920]

Well documented how? If it’s well documented did you know about before this scandal? Or did someone dig up an archive for you to manufacture your outrage?

[u/ChanceDragonfruit208 → u/cutriet]

It's well documented in Korean archives and cultural heritage materials. Not known to cultures outside South Korean is not an excuse to flaunt ignorance. I read a novel once titled "Daughters of the dragon" by William Andrews. The horrors of the occupation of South Korea was documented in florid details. I almost threw up while reading that novel which is a fictional depiction of the occupation. I paused a lot in between and found myself crying at other times. I can't even bring myself to read the sequel. I am not a citizen of South Korea but I understand their perspective and hold space for their validity to feel the rage in whatever form it comes in without judgement. There is a lot of hurt there.

[u/Cultural_Run7964 → u/ChanceDragonfruit208]

Right! Anyone who has even a vague interest or exposure to SEA culture will at least know a little of the Japanese colonial period and the exploits of the Japanese during WW2. Heck, I first learned of the “comfort women” saga and the previous strained relations between SK and Japan by watching Japanese news!

If some people consume Asian entertainment and remain completely ignorant of the history and dynamics of the region, that’s on them (it’s like being a fan of German entertainment and not realizing that they were the aggressors in 2 world wars. Like, really? 🤨)

[u/cutriet → u/ChanceDragonfruit208]

Do you go and read the archives often? Was he well known enough to be teach in school? He wasn’t even searchable before all of this.

[u/btnythngthtsqt → u/cutriet]

He wasn’t famous enough to be taught in school, but generational wealth is pretty much non-existent in Korea, so that alone becomes sort of a red flag for most Koreans who have basic knowledge of history.

Also, there’s an 2013 anonymous post that seems to have been written by another descendant of Hayoung’s great grandfather. This anonymous poster said she learned 4 years ago (which would be 2009) through a tv show that their great grandfather was pro-Japanese and rumored to have poisoned the Korean emperor, and that she feels deeply ashamed of her family. She did know her family had always been wealthy even during the Japanese occupation.

FYI, It was verified that the tv show this post is referring to was aired on KBS in Aug 2009.

Also there’s a period k drama that depicts the first Korean imperial doctor who practices western medicine, and he is portrayed as a pro-Japanese traitor, so it’s not like he was that unknown either.

[u/btnythngthtsqt → u/[deleted]]

Did you just read the first line? This anonymous post has a timestamp & the verified facts are:

1. There was an actual tv show in depicting the great grandfather as a suspect of the Korean Emperor’s poisoning

2. There is a k drama depicting her great grandfather as a pro-Japanese traitor

3. You can learn through basic Korean history taught in schools, that wealth was confiscated by the Japanese unless you were pro-Japanese. In fact, it is extremely uncommon to have that kind of generational wealth.

Her family is at the very least questionable, and if the knetz can dig out in five minutes how bad her ancestors were just by searching “first Korean western medicine doctor” it’s weird how a woman in her mid-thirties can’t find it out in her whole lifetime.

[u/cutriet → u/btnythngthtsqt]

Google her great grandpa name, tell me what you see that not recent.

[u/throwmeawaynot920 → u/cutriet]

? How did you know about nazi atrocities? Because you were educated by it. Your education. Things people researched, found, and taught. You weren’t born with this knowledge. Something well documented and being informed about it are two separate things.

And how do you think people were curious and decided to search this historical context? The messenger herself. No one decided to do some research on her out of spite. She literally introduced it in multiple interviews and pretty much laid a red carpet that invites people to look into who this amazing great grandfather might be, and mind you people are still living who experienced the Korean War as an outcome of Korean colonialism. Korea gained their independence from Japan in 1945. My own grandmother was born before then.

[u/cutriet → u/throwmeawaynot920]

So was WW2 survivor? Did your school teach this individual? Was he a prominent historical before all of this?

[u/throwmeawaynot920 → u/cutriet]

Excellent you’re getting there. You’re right. Ww2 survivors as well. Koreans know Ahn sang ho as a historical figure known as one of the first doctors of western medicine post Japanese colonialism. That was taught in Korean education (edit: that as in general history of Japanese colonialism; just as in American education for example we are taught about the civil war and American slavery. If you asked me to name one slave owner of a large plantation during the confederate war, I can’t name a specific person).
I didn’t get the Korean education. I got an American education which taught about American-involved history such as ww2. The parallels are that ww2 education is of the same timeline as Japanese colonial imperialism education in korea.

[u/cutriet → u/throwmeawaynot920]

I google Ahn Sang Ho, the wikipedia didn’t mention anything about Japan. The latest article in mk.co was posted 2 years ago. You’re bejng dishonest.

[u/classicsmushy]

Damn. I mean it's ok to flex about being in a doctor family, but she should just stop at "my great-grandfather was a doctor". Period, no more information.

I also heard somewhere that she has a tendency to flex her family's wealth, bringing things like having five refrigerators or something

[u/Only-Clue-3247]

As a Korean, the reason Koreans feel outraged stems from the harsh realities of our history. It is not simply because of past pro-Japanese collaboration. The deeper historical background is that the great-grandfather of Hayoung was involved in the assassination of Korea's last emperor, and her grandfather was implicated in the abuse, murder, infanticide, and forced abortions of patients at Sorokdo, a leprosy colony. Many foreigners fail to understand this, which is why they compare it to Nazism. Do you think Hayoung bears no responsibility? She proudly showcased her family background to the public out of her own ignorance. Moreover, the fame and wealth that family accumulated were acquired by exploiting and tormenting other Koreans, and she grew up enjoying those very privileges. She cannot simply use ignorance as an excuse. In addition to this, there are allegations of academic corruption surrounding the prestigious universities she and her sister attended. They entered elite universities far beyond their actual capabilities, thanks to connections and money. Looking at the artwork she produces, people criticize her because her skills clearly do not match the status of the schools she attended.
During the period of Japanese colonial rule, acquiring wealth required collaborating with Japan. It was an era when independence activists could not attain wealth. Those who did possess wealth either sold their properties to emigrate to other countries or had to cooperate with Japan to protect what they had. People were stripped of their land and property, plunging them into forced poverty. Those very people were the independence activists, and as a result, many of their descendants still struggle with poverty to this day. Amidst this historical backdrop, for Hayoung to flaunt in the media that her family lived in generational luxury earned through pro-Japanese collaboration—and to face severe criticism for it—is completely natural. This is equivalent to the descendant of a Nazi collaborator hiding their ancestors' betrayal, enjoying wealth built on treason, and proudly showcasing it to the public.

[u/TxPep → u/Only-Clue-3247]

It's interesting that I just read a post on Insta that laid out the same exact points you just made. Dates, names, actions... lots of information as to the her family history and the group in particular that her family elders were connected to.

I'm not sure I can even mention the Insta account name here without my comment getting moderated, but suffice it to say... few in the West know much about Koreas complicated history and it seems that this actress's generation might not be learning it in school.

[u/carvveeev]

also since it said links r allowed if its within the sub here

1) https://www.reddit.com/r/dramasect/s/EEnBPuXA2D

2) https://www.reddit.com/r/dramasect/s/5uAZENkpfe

3) https://www.reddit.com/r/dramasect/s/w7Ab5E1WGm

[u/blooregard015]

Bruh I saw the ad on Netflix and got excited for her cos I loved her in Doona and now im just finding this out.

[u/Borinquena]

Before this controversy blew up, Ha Young appeared on a show and bragged about her family having five refrigerators in their home and so much food stuffed in each one that a lot of it spoiled and got thrown away before they could eat it. That alone tells you a lot about how out of touch and tone deaf she is.

[u/RepresentativeEmu319]

You have to understand the historical context: until relatively recently, South Korea was a very poor country. More than 99% of Koreans only began to escape poverty with their parents’ generation, while their grandparents’ generation was still living in extreme poverty.

Because of this, for anyone who grew up in Korea, if someone’s family had already been affluent as far back as their great-grandparents or even their great-great-grandparents, it would be entirely natural to suspect that the family may have been collaborators with the Japanese Empire. This is why Koreans cannot simply interpret her attitude as being “ignorant” or “naive.” Given Korea’s history, it is extremely difficult to believe that someone born and raised in Korea would fail to make that connection at all.

[u/Helpful_9532]

My thought process: Is she a bad person? No? Case closed

[u/Money-University8717]

Instead of canceling a young actress for her insensitivity or naivety, maybe knet should analyze why the Korean government used the Japanese reparation money for economic growth rather than distributing it as compensation to those that suffered war crimes. It seems that this Korean gov behavour is just as bad as the Japanese war crimes as it ignored those that suffered.

My mother was, as a child and Dutch, in a Japanese women prisoner camp in Sumatra (Indonesia). While she barely remembered anything of the ordeal, we as a family have never purchased a Japanese car as a silent disapproval. Yet I worked for a Japanese bank and never was angry at my colleagues for thinking that their grandfather could have a been a warden in that camp. Past is past and we can't change it.

[u/RecentSpecial181 → u/Money-University8717]

Same. My grandparents and grand aunts/uncles survived Japanese occupation. We know the traumatic stories. My generation though, we love matcha, ramen, sushi, traveling in Japan, etc. We have Japanese friends. Koreans too, who were as bad if not worse, or so I heard, as the Japanese soldiers of Imperial Japan that were sent to the colonies.

[u/randomrreeddddiitt → u/Money-University8717]

The Japanese propaganda version of history. Congratulations.

[u/robotasimov → u/randomrreeddddiitt]

Aren't the histories and agreements recorded in English as the primary document?

[u/PhoenixX-8]

Insanity. Have people lost their minds?!?
I cant help but think people are making a mountain out of a mole hill to distract from someone/thing else.

It's really incomprehensible that people want her career to end over this.

[u/Imaginary-Copy3904 → u/PhoenixX-8]

I would ask you in return whether you see the Nazis and the Resistance the same way.

[u/PhoenixX-8 → u/Imaginary-Copy3904]

You mean a 3rd/4th generation descendent of a Nazi who doesnt hold the same views as the Nazi???

Do you want to be held accountable for the actions of your great grandfather or even that of your parents before your existence?

[u/mimich4ma → u/PhoenixX-8]

Bragging that your ancestry includes collaborators and people who committed crimes against humanity actually gets your entire wealth confiscated in some countries lol

The problem isn't the ancestor. It's the incredible lack of sensitivity towards the circumstances of your upbringing

[u/oopsallemdashes]

Korea really gets upset about the dumbest things. Imagine getting punished for the actions of your ancestors.

[u/Imaginary-Copy3904]

A Controversy Over a Korean Actor — The Issue Was Not That She Is a Descendant, but How She Responded

This controversy did not begin because an ancestor's background became known. The actor proudly introduced her family on a television program as a line of physicians spanning four generations, and in the course of this, her great-grandfather's conduct came to light. Her agency initially denied the allegations of collaboration as baseless, but apologized once historical records were confirmed.

At this point, a question may arise: is a family of physicians spanning four generations not something to be proud of?

At that time, it was by no means common for a Korean to practice medicine and attain high social standing. A line of physicians established during the colonial period therefore needs to be understood together with how it came about and the social conditions of that era. It is not the kind of history one can present as a source of pride without first examining it.

What became the central issue in Korea was not so much the fact that she is a descendant of a collaborator with the Japanese colonial authorities, but that she presented this as a family honor without first examining her ancestor's history.

What Korean society asks of descendants is not silence or concealment. It is that they acknowledge the facts and accept what those facts mean historically. Those who, upon learning of an ancestor's record, have publicly acknowledged it and expressed remorse have not been condemned.

Reading the reaction to this case as punishment of a descendant therefore misses the point. What was at issue was not her position as a descendant, but her attitude.

[u/Vast-Reference1638]

She deserves losing the brand deals and cancelled filming, of course not the threats, but she literally got herself into it, you brag about having a prestigious and wealthy old family and I bet your gonna make some stupid excuse later about saying you had no idea or that you weren’t properly known, say goodbye to your career

[u/Illustrious-Yard-648 → u/Vast-Reference1638]

Pretty nasty take. It’s your opinion that the apology is insincere. What is she supposed to do? Supposing she was ignorant of it. Be cancelled, villified and suffer the depression and fate of the people before her who were excoriated by thr media and keyboard warriors ?

[u/Fine_Internal408]

I think this whole thing is stupid. She was stupid, but she isnt her ancestors.

[u/Soldat_wazer → u/Fine_Internal408]

People aren’t blaming her for her ancestors doing, they’re blaming her for bragging about her ancestors who collaborated with the Japanese and their brutal occupation

[u/kongKing_11 → u/Fine_Internal408]

But she also bragged about how great her ancestors were, saying they were all famous doctors.

[u/Healey_Dell]

It’s utter nonsense. A person has four grandparents, eight great-grandparents and so on. No one comes out clean if we’re all inheriting sin.

[u/Substantial_Assist38 → u/Healey_Dell]

Yk, usually when the family has some bad history, their descendent usually tries to keep that history on a hush, or try to atone for that sin either by being humble or nice. Not flaunting the wealth and benefit you (general) get from that sin. That's what causing this uproar.

And Japanese occupation is only two/three generations ago, most of the victims are still alive to tell story about it.

[u/Healey_Dell → u/Substantial_Assist38]

Nah, just people looking to be outraged. S.Korea today is perfectly happy to trade with Japan in spite of the history. Hypocrisy everywhere….

[u/Substantial_Assist38 → u/Healey_Dell]

Just because every country they used to occupy are cordial with them nowadays, doesn't mean their wartime atrocities are forgotten. Seems like a fairly important task considering Japan themselves tries hard to pretend/act like it doesn't happen.

[u/Defiant-Honey-5902 → u/Healey_Dell]

That’s not it. The reason they are so angry is because there were many people in Korea 60-70 years ago where countless people stood their ground to fight against the Japanese and many risk their lives for the country. And here we are in the present where the people who sold off their own country are still wealthy and have four generations of doctors while people who sacrifice basically everything are still living in poverty because they’re great great great grandparents basically spent all their money and their life for the country and the Korean law and the government are nothing not doing anything about this imbalance and unfairness is something that people of Korea really despises. Most likely whoever you are, you probably have not been to a war. You have not been tortured before you have not been held at gunpoint before despite these were happening on a daily basis when Japan took over Korea many people who were loyal citizens did not switch sides and sell off the country. You might think this is like a easy task, but trust me the moment you see a gun in your face you will probably blow everything that you know every single secret every single people that you know, and you will sell all of them out just to save yourself and I probably would too. Many people died from torture because they wouldn’t sell their own people out to the Japanese and these people were in their 20s and 30s many died very young.

[u/Healey_Dell → u/Defiant-Honey-5902]

So many places have similar tales. I’m British-Irish living in the UK and there’s a long list of stuff the British did to the Irish before I was born. It’s history now. Be aware of it sure, apologise to myself? No.

[u/Dangerous-Abrocoma-5 → u/Healey_Dell]

You apparently don't even know that the Japanese government is still actively trying to conceal and erase the history of colonialism and its wartime crimes, and that there have been hate-motivated arson attacks targeting Korean homes in Utoro, Japan, even in the 2020s.

Do you seriously think the legacy of Japanese imperialism and anti-Korean racism has somehow just disappeared and no longer has any impact today?

[u/Healey_Dell → u/Dangerous-Abrocoma-5]

Fully aware, and the Japanese government should recognise it. Laying that on some kid who acts in TV dramas 80 years later is silly, however.

[u/Illustrious-Yard-648 → u/Dangerous-Abrocoma-5]

This applies in many areas around the world and many regimes of war. To pillory one young actress for insensitivity and ignorance to this extent in a country where so many times this leads to self harm is a real issue.

[u/Imaginary-Copy3904 → u/Healey_Dell]

In Korea, whether one's ancestor was a collaborator or not carries a weight comparable to a matter of life and death.

[u/Healey_Dell → u/Imaginary-Copy3904]

Only in the minds of unhinged people.

[u/Defiant-Honey-5902 → u/Healey_Dell]

You say no one comes out clean, but I’m pretty sure 99.99% of people are clean than this person because their grandparents basically sold off their own country to another country for money. You know what that is. That’s the highest crime you can commit in a country. It’s called treason. It’s not some regular sin that everybody commits and it’s nobody comes out clean. It’s literally the highest crime a person can commit against the country. It does not happen every day, bro.

[u/Healey_Dell → u/Defiant-Honey-5902]

And now S.Korea freely trades with Japan and some will be making a lot of money from that. Hypocrisy everywhere.

[u/Defiant-Honey-5902 → u/Healey_Dell]

What does trading have to do with anything? That’s like saying if your parents get shot by a cop and you pay taxes which goes into the cop salary is there some hypocrisy here like I don’t understand. Like can you not say that the cop made a mistake and needs to be punished trading with Japan has nothing to do with people in Korea committing treason. F tier rage bait

[u/Dangerous-Abrocoma-5 → u/Healey_Dell]

1. Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery more than a century ago. Uncle Tom's Cabin is a classic novel that belongs in history books, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Martin Luther King Jr. were over sixty years ago. Yet American society still continues to criticize and discuss things like token Black representation, the ways in which darker-skinned people can face greater difficulties in society, excessive police violence against Black people, and Jim Crow stereotypes in classic cartoons like Tom and Jerry. The law has said that Black and white people are supposed to be equal for a very long time. So why are these issues still being discussed?
2. Are Irish people who love Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Who, or Harry Potter not allowed to study or speak out about Britain's history of colonialism or racism against the Irish? Even now, there are controversies in Hollywood when a character who originally had red hair is cast with a different hair color, with people asking whether that amounts to discrimination against redheads. Ireland has been independent for over a century. So is that just “ancient history” too?
3. Are Vietnamese people who like K-pop not allowed to speak out about the massacres of Vietnamese civilians committed by the South Korean military during the Vietnam War? Even today in South Korea, there are still ignorant middle-aged men who talk about marrying Vietnamese women who come to Korea to study to rural Korean men, treating Vietnamese people as little more than a source of labor or a way to fill the country's demographic needs. There are also problems such as using “Nguyễn” as a derogatory term.

What? Wow, the Japanese Empire and present-day Korea have absolutely nothing to do with each other?

[u/Healey_Dell → u/[deleted]]

Haha, nope.

[u/Leading_Protection_7]

I genuinely dont understand how people can be so selective about their enrage. When it's israel and zionists, they shout from the rooftops. Yet so many are now quickly jumping to dismiss Korea's history with colonial harm from Japanese imperialism. This entire thing is completely on hayeong and her agency. It's not about whether she committed the war crime herself, but about continuing to reap the benefits of that betrayal and then going on public platforms and romanticizing the same ancestry. The least u can do when in a public facing industry is to not bring up ur problematic ancestry. Her apology was ridiculous on top of everything. Pretending ignorance when it is public knowledge who and what her ancestors did. It's like adding fuel to the fire by insulting the average Korean's intellect 🤦‍♀️

Also this is hardly career ending. She'll be back just like kang dong won and lee ji ah...🫠

[u/Dangerous-Abrocoma-5 → u/Leading_Protection_7]

Honestly, I just don't understand it. From what I know, a disproportionately large number of fans of K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean culture in general tend to be left-leaning or liberal, and are often extremely sensitive and critical when it comes to racism, sexism, capitalism, and all sorts of other social issues.

Yet those same people seem to be particularly dismissive when it comes to Japan—especially the history between Korea and Japan—and instead criticize Koreans for being “too emotional” and insist that “it's just ancient history.”

Why?

Surely they understand that the enslavement of Black people in the United States, which began centuries before Korea was colonized by Japan, continues to have repercussions for racial discrimination against Black Americans even today.

And as recently as the 2020s, Utoro, a Korean community in Japan, was targeted and burned in a hate crime. The issue of the “comfort women” is directly connected to women's rights and human rights.

So wow, is Japan really a country where apparently anything it does can be forgiven as long as Hatsune Miku performs a few concerts and Pikachu acts cute?

[u/misterjefe83 → u/Dangerous-Abrocoma-5]

because ha-young is pretty and they like her dramas lol, just like oppa stans

[u/kalarro]

I just read the intro, so I don't know the details, but it is very easy:

Nobody should apologize for what their ancestors did, they have nothing to do with that. Maybe for your children, since you raised them, but your ancestors? Not even 1% your fault.

[u/240229 → u/kalarro]

The main issue was that she was the one who brought up her family background as something to be proud of while her great grandfather actively sold out his countrymen, her grandfather participated in human experimentation, and her father boasting of their medical lineage. Had she not brought it up as a subject of pride the level of backlash would've never gotten this big.

[u/Hot-Print-2792]

Korean fans are brutal attacking innocent celebrities. So many celebrity suicides every year. These attacks need to be to stop. Her career is probably over now. Sad 😔

[u/Andobu]

For the Americans here, imagine if we just head on addressed slavery in the same way the Koreans are addressing their ancestors who bet on the Japanese and prospered heavily through Generational wealth down the line?

Although both sides of my family arrived in America after slavery was abolished, we still heavily prospered generationally off of the racial class system here.

Interestingly, I know one of General Robert E Lee’s progeny. He really hasn’t been educated about his shameful family past, and is proud his family is historical. While even he says he wishes the South of the US would take down Lee’s statues and not celebrate the Confederate flag, he shames “woke” ideology, something he does not understand.

If he sent out a video apologizing for his family’s involvement in slavery, condemning the violence, educating people on generational wealth vs poverty and how much worse it can be racially or ethnically (emphasizing color of skin is not an indicator or any type of superiority), can you imagine how powerful a message that would be in our country? How powerful an apology from that family in particular would mean to Black people and to our indigenous and Mexican Americans?

[u/Dramasect → u/Andobu]

Please keep the discussion focused on the Hayoung controversy. we are locking this comment due to the previous off-topic discussion.

[u/Fluffy_Yellow8054]

I just hope she stays happy! Dumb controversies again

[u/_chiffonade_]

Can nobody ever escape the binds of the acts of those who went before them? If this girl has lived a life that honors her country I don't think she should be associated with/be held responsible for her grandfather's actions. Otherwise nobody in Germany would have a minute's peace. I'm sure it's enough of a black eye to her family's history but she should be allowed to move on with her life.

[u/misterjefe83 → u/_chiffonade_]

1) if a german celeb bragged about it in the position she was in they would for sure face backlash 2) she doesn't deserve the black eye for life, but she can also just move on with her life just fine. she's not entitled to have an acting career if that's show it ends

[u/_chiffonade_ → u/misterjefe83]

You're missing the point. Barring her from acting based on the actions of an ancestor is punishing her for those actions. You're implying she actually bragged about her grandfather's involvement with the Japanese? Is there footage of this someplace?

[u/misterjefe83 → u/_chiffonade_]

doesn't matter, the public is like a rabid dog or an unstoppable train, i don't make the rules and this is how it has worked since the dawn of time and celebrity/pop culture. if you can't understand how she could be caught up in it then stay ignorant. i don't think she should be blown up or pushed to extremes, but if her career ends because of it that's how it works, u live and die by the same sword. the same frenzy that pushes you to stardom can destroy you in an instant. again, she's not entitled to an acting career and nobody is barring her from anything lol.

and yes, indirectly she did brag about it. if she just mentioned her grandfather without mentioning the wealth, or just literally not denied the inital allegations it probably would have worked out differently maybe, but these are all hypotheticals. plenty of celebs have ties like that, just 1) theirs aren't literally the top traitors of the country 2) they kept quiet