Ha Young Breaks Her Silence: A Handwritten Apology Over Her Great-Grandfather’s Past

Not every controversy a celebrity faces is about their own choices — sometimes, it's about a history they never knew existed. That's the situation Ha Young found herself in this…

By Reetam Bodhak

August 12, 2026

2 min read

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Not every controversy a celebrity faces is about their own choices — sometimes, it’s about a history they never knew existed. That’s the situation Ha Young found herself in this week. On August 12, the star took to her personal Instagram to share a handwritten letter, personally apologizing for the controversy surrounding her great-grandfather’s past.

What Sparked The Controversy

Ha Young became embroiled in backlash after it was confirmed that her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang Ho, was listed as a council member of a pro-Japanese organization back in 1916 — a period tied to Korea’s painful history under Japanese colonial rule.

Key Points From Ha Young’s Apology

Point	What She Said
Prior knowledge	She only knew fragments of her great-grandfather’s story through family accounts
Past comments	She admitted to speaking of him with pride, unaware of his actual history
Agency’s statement	Her agency initially called the reports “groundless” before facts were verified
Responsibility	She took ownership for the confusion caused by the premature denial
Going forward	She pledged to study the era deeply and act, not just apologize, in future

In her letter, Ha Young explained that once the controversy broke, she personally looked into her great-grandfather’s history and confirmed his pro-Japanese activities. She admitted that her own lack of awareness led her agency to release an inaccurate statement early on, which she said only added to public confusion

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A post shared by Hayoung Ahn (@havv_y)

She also expressed added remorse over the timing, noting the controversy surfaced close to National Liberation Day — a date of deep significance in Korea’s history. Her letter closed with a promise to reflect deeply, study the era with care, and honor those who fought for the country’s independence, not just through words but through future actions.

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