Actor Ha Young speaks at a press conference for the new Netflix series "This Messy Thing Called Love" held at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. [Yonhap/Netflix]
Actor Ha Young speaks at a press conference for the new Netflix series "This Messy Thing Called Love" held at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. [Yonhap/Netflix]

As allegations of pro-Japanese collaboration against Ahn Sang-ho, the great-grandfather of actor Ha Young, have come to light, a lawsuit he faced during the Japanese colonial era over land ownership has also drawn public attention.

A newspaper article dated Dec. 28, 1923, has been circulating on online communities and social media Thursday, showing that Ahn was sued by a resident of Paju demanding cancellation of a land ownership transfer in the county.

The Dong-a Ilbo, which ran the story under the headline "Ahn Sang-ho sued over ownership transfer cancellation," reported that Park Seung-hak, a resident of Icheon-ri in Papyeong-myeon, Paju County, filed a lawsuit with the civil division of the Gyeongseong District Court against Ahn, who lived in Jongno, central Seoul.

The newspaper explained that the land in Naemun-ri, Cheonhyeon-myeon, Paju County — with an asking price of around 1,200 won — originally belonged to the plaintiff, but that Ahn had intimidated the plaintiff's mother with unreasonable words while the plaintiff was away. She was unaware of the situation, and Ahn then arranged documentation at the local county office as if he had purchased the land.

The plaintiff had repeatedly asked for the registration to be canceled after learning of the matter, but Ahn refused, prompting the lawsuit, the paper added.

The article reported the filing of the suit and an upcoming hearing, but the final ruling has not been confirmed. The Chosun Ilbo also covered the story at the time, noting that "what truly lies behind this cannot be known until the trial is held and both sides present their oral arguments."

Ahn gained public attention after Ha Young mentioned him on a recent entertainment program, describing him as the first Korean to obtain a Japanese medical license. Ha Young said at the time that her great-grandfather had studied medicine in Japan, opened the first Western-style clinic in Hanyang and treated Emperor Gojong.

Following the broadcast, online communities identified Ha Young's great-grandfather as the physician Ahn Sang-ho and revealed that he appeared on the council member roster of Daejeong Chinmok-hoe, a pro-Japanese organization. Records also reportedly show that he married a Japanese woman, promoted a Japanese lifestyle and advocated for the "Naeseon ilche" policy of assimilation between Korea and Japan.


bbo@heraldcorp.com