Actors Kim Sung-ryung, Kim Sung-kyung revealed as descendants of independence activist

[Captured from YouTube channel 'Seonggyeong Goes to a Temple']

Amid controversy over actor Ha Young's great-grandfather's alleged pro-Japanese collaboration, it has emerged that actor Kim Sung-ryung and broadcaster Kim Sung-kyung are descendants of an independence activist. Kim Sung-kyung said she was recently designated an official descendant of independence patriot Lee Chang-un.

A video titled "Why did Kim Sung-kyung shed tears at the most auspicious temple in Korea? From history to temple food — a place more special than you'd think" was posted Thursday on the YouTube channel "Seonggyeong Goes to a Temple."

In the video, Kim Sung-kyung visited Jingwansa temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, with physiognomist Park Sung-jun.

Park described the temple's origins, saying it was a thousand-year-old site. "When King Hyeonjong was fleeing political trouble before ascending to the throne, the monk Jingwan sheltered him," Park said. "To repay that kindness, a temple was built and named Jingwansa after the monk."

Park added that when the Chilseonggak shrine was renovated in 2009, a Taegukgi — the Korean national flag — and materials related to the independence movement were discovered there, noting the temple was known for supporting the activities of independence fighters.

Head monk Boneom of Jingwansa said that during restoration work on a leaning building, workers found a bundle of hanji, traditional Korean paper. "When we opened it, it was a Taegukgi — and not only that, 19 issues of newspapers published between June and December 1919 were found inside," she said.

"It is believed that the monk Baekcho, who was involved in the independence movement, hid the Taegukgi — which had been used during the March 1st Movement — just before he was arrested by police," she added.

Upon seeing the Taegukgi, Kim Sung-kyung said, "I have goosebumps. Am I overreacting? I feel like I'm going to cry," and broke into tears.

"My maternal grandfather was a military doctor during the Korean War, and my great-grandfather on my mother's side was an independence activist," she said.

Kim said it had been confirmed that she is a descendant of independence patriot Lee Chang-un, and that she was recently designated an official independence patriot descendant through the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' 60th Independence Patriot Descendants Committee.

Kim Sung-kyung made her debut as an SBS staff announcer in 1993 and has worked as a freelancer since leaving the network in 2002. She is the younger sister of actor Kim Sung-ryung.

Meanwhile, Ha Young appeared on the KBS 2TV entertainment program "Okdabang's Problem Children" on Aug. 7, revealing that her family has produced doctors across four generations — her great-grandfather, grandfather, father and older sister. She said her great-grandfather opened the first Western-style medical clinic in Hanyang and treated Emperor Gojong.

After those remarks, it emerged that her great-grandfather was Ahn Sang-ho (1872–1927), a doctor who practiced during the Japanese colonial period, sparking controversy over alleged pro-Japanese collaboration.

It was subsequently revealed that Ahn had been listed as a council member of the Daejeong Chinmok-hoe, a "fraternal society" formed in Seoul in 1916 with ties to the Japanese colonial government. The group included businesspeople, government officials, journalists, educators, lawyers and medical professionals, with Yi Wan-yong — one of the five ministers who signed the Eulsa Treaty — serving as a central figure.

yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com