Uncertainty Surrounds Recovery of Pro-Japanese Ancestor's Assets Linked to Actor Hayoung

Amid growing controversy over the past pro-Japanese activities of actor Hayoung's great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, attention is focused on whether he will be included as a subject of investigation by the "Second Pro-Japanese Property Investigation Committee," which is set to launch this December.

Recently, Hayoung introduced her family on a broadcast as a "medical family spanning four generations." However, controversy arose after records surfaced showing that her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, served as a council member of the Daejeong Chinmokhoe, a pro-Japanese organization during the Japanese colonial period.

However, Ahn Sang-ho is not an individual whose name is listed among the 1,006 pro-Japanese anti-national actors officially recognized by the past government, nor is he in the Biographical Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators compiled by the Center for Historical Truth and Justice.

Because of this, Lee Jun-sik, a former standing committee member of the first Pro-Japanese Property Investigation Committee and former president of the Independence Hall of Korea, expressed his view in a radio interview, stating, "It remains uncertain for now whether Ahn Sang-ho will actually become a subject of investigation by the second committee."

Under current laws, pro-Japanese anti-national activities are divided into 20 categories, including acts related to suppressing the independence movement, participating in the conclusion of treaties of national subjugation, or cooperating with colonial rule. Furthermore, in order to designate assets as subject to the confiscation of pro-Japanese property, it must be recognized that the degree of pro-Japanese activity, such as suppressing independence activists or cooperating with colonial rule, was extremely grave.

The former director Lee also pointed out the realistic limitations surrounding the confiscation of pro-Japanese property.

While not only real estate but also cash, gold bars, and ancient books and paintings are subject to confiscation, he explained that tracking them is virtually impossible if descendants conceal them, as the committee lacks investigative powers.

He added that the committee also had to face great difficulties in the process of responding to massive lawsuits filed by descendants.

However, former director Lee stated, "With the exception of the assets related to Lee Hae-seung, which are the largest in scale, the state has won almost all of the lawsuits."

The second committee, which is relaunching after 16 years, has supplemented its legal grounds through legal amendments so that it can track and recover unjust enrichment even from pro-Japanese assets that have already been sold or converted into cash.

Minister of Justice Jung Sungho predicted that upon the launch of the second committee, at least 32.5 billion won or more could be additionally recovered.

Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Hong Jin-young | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.