Ha Young is facing further fallout following the controversy surrounding her family history, with a Japanese electronics company reportedly making advertisements featuring her private.
OSEN reported on September 16th that Panasonic had made its advertisements featuring Ha Young, who modeled for the brand in 2020, private. The company has not released an official statement explaining the decision, and it has not been confirmed that the move was related to the recent controversy.
This is not the first time advertisements featuring Ha Young have been removed. On August 12th, Samsung Electronics removed videos featuring the actress from its official channels for its Samsung Art TV campaign. Clothing brand Artid also reportedly took similar action.
Ha Young has also stepped away from the second season of Netflix’s The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, in which she played Cheon Jang Mi. On September 1st, her agency announced that she would not return for Season 2. Netflix later confirmed that it respected the actress’s decision and would not include her in the upcoming season.
The controversy began after Ha Young discussed her family background during an August 7th episode of KBS2’s Problem Child in House. She said that doctors had run in her family for four generations and that she had received advice from her family while preparing for her role in The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call.
Online discussions later focused on her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang Ho, who was identified in historical records as having been associated with Daejeong Chinmokhoe, a pro-Japanese organization that operated during the Japanese colonial period and was recognized by the Japanese Government-General of Korea.
Ha Young’s agency initially acknowledged that Ahn Sang Ho was her great-grandfather but described claims about his history as “groundless.” However, the agency reversed its position on August 11th after reviewing historical records.
“We have confirmed that records indeed exist showing that our great-grandfather, Ahn Sang Ho, was listed as a standing member of the Daejeong Chinmokhoe in 1916,” the agency said. “We sincerely apologize for causing confusion by hastily responding with ‘groundless’ without sufficient verification.”
On August 12th, Ha Young shared a handwritten apology on social media. “I have been reflecting on my family’s history with a heavy heart upon learning about my great-grandfather Ahn Sang Ho’s past actions,” she wrote. “It is particularly regrettable that I have caused distress with my shortcomings at a time just before Liberation Day.”
Ha Young first gained attention with her role in ENA’s Extraordinary Attorney Woo in 2022. She later appeared in Netflix’s Boyfriend on Demand and Teach You a Lesson.
She also recently starred alongside Jung Hae In in Our Sticky Love, which premiered on August 7th.
Meanwhile, Ha Young is set to appear in the upcoming SBS drama The Long Shot Trial, scheduled to premiere in 2027. The production team said it is currently “in discussions” regarding her appearance.
>> Netflix Japan’s Ha Young Video Raises Eyebrows in South Korea
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