Amid ongoing controversies regarding actor Ha-young's great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho and his pro-Japanese history, renewed attention on Ahn's network during his stay in Japan has sparked mounting criticism among netizens.
Media reports revealed that Gu Yeon-su, designated as a "pro-Japanese anti-nationalist," acted as the matchmaker for the marriage between Ahn Sang-ho and his Japanese wife, Kawaguchi Isoko.
Gu Yeon-su is recorded as a Korean individual who entered the royal palace alongside Japanese nationals and was involved in the assassination of Empress Myeongseong during the Eulmi Incident in 1895.
At the time, he guided Japanese ruffians to the bedchamber of Empress Myeongseong in Gyeongbokgung Palace and oversaw the atrocity of pouring kerosene on her body and burning it.
Historical accounts indicate that he subsequently fled to Japan for a life of exile, and after returning to Korea, served as a council member of the Iljinhoe and held government posts.
According to a 2007 paper published in the Journal of the Korean Independence Movement History, Ahn Sang-ho met Kawaguchi Isoko, who worked as an administrative assistant at the residence of Prince Imperial Yi Kang in Tokyo, Japan.
Records show that Gu Yeon-su, who was then in exile in Japan, introduced the two, leading to their eventual marriage.
Gu Yeon-su's name surfaces once again in the process of Ahn Sang-ho and Kawaguchi's return to Korea.
A medical literature publication from 1985 contains details that Kawaguchi entered Korea ahead of Ahn Sang-ho in 1907 and stayed at Gu Yeon-su's residence at the time.
Previously, Ha-young's father addressed the background of Ahn Sang-ho's marriage to the Japanese woman, stating, "As I understand it, Prince Imperial Yi Kang introduced a woman who was working there while staying in Tokyo, Japan, leading to their marriage," and explained that he had never associated the marriage to a Japanese woman with pro-Japanese activities.
However, regarding records indicating that Gu Yeon-su, rather than Prince Imperial Yi Kang, was involved in the couple's marriage process, Ha-young's side stated, "It is difficult to verify at the moment."
Netizens who encountered the reports reacted with fierce criticism, leaving comments such as "This is being dug up like crazy" and "At this level, it's grounds for expulsion from the entertainment industry."
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Kim Hye-ju | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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