The recent controversy surrounding Our Sticky Love star Ha Young’s family history has disrupted several of her upcoming professional engagements, including endorsement deals and press events.
The backlash traces back to her great-grandfather, Doctor Ahn Sang Ho, whose documented ties to Japanese colonial rule were recently acknowledged by Ha Young’s management agency. Following these revelations, major brands have distanced themselves from the actress. Samsung Electronics set six promotional videos featuring Ha Young for its “Samsung Art TV” line to private on its official YouTube channel, though other non-featured clips remain available. Fashion brand Artid similarly pulled her campaign videos offline.
Media interviews scheduled for August 14th to promote her upcoming debut lead role in the Netflix series Our Sticky Love were canceled. Episode 323 of Problem Child in House, featuring Ha Young, has also been removed from Wavve, while its YouTube and Naver TV clips have also been made private. The network did not give a reason, but the move came amid controversy over Ha Young’s great-grandfather.
Despite these cancellations, her core production commitments remain intact, as she was spotted filming her scenes for the SBS broadcast drama The Long Shot Trial as scheduled.
The fallout comes alongside heightened legal scrutiny of assets linked to historical pro-Japanese collaborators in South Korea. South Korea will revive its official investigation committee under a newly promulgated law on the confiscation of property linked to pro-Japanese collaborators. The law will take effect this December and allows authorities to identify and reclaim assets—including proceeds from sales or inheritances—acquired through collaboration with Japan between 1904 and 1945.
If investigators officially categorize Doctor Ahn Sang Ho as a collaborator and trace any remaining real estate or wealth derived from that period to his direct descendants, those assets could be vulnerable to government seizure. For now, authorities have not confirmed whether Ha Young or her immediate family currently hold any such property, leaving it up to the upcoming investigative committee to determine whether to open a formal inquiry into the family’s assets.
>> Ha Young Apologizes After Agency Confirms Record Linking Family History to Pro-Japanese Group
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
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