Why Recovering Pro-Japanese Ancestor's Assets Remains Uncertain for Actor Ha-young

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

Recently, Ha-young introduced her family on a broadcast as a "four-generation medical family." 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 was listed among the 1,006 pro-Japanese anti-national actors officially recognized by the past government or in the Biographical Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators compiled by the Center for Historical Truth and Justice.

For this reason, Lee Jun-sik, a former standing commissioner of the first-term Pro-Japanese Property Investigation Committee, stated in a radio interview, "It remains uncertain for now whether Ahn Sang-ho will become an actual subject of investigation by the second-term committee."

Under current laws, pro-Japanese anti-national acts are divided into 20 categories, including suppressing the independence movement, involvement in the conclusion of treaties infringing upon national sovereignty, or cooperating with colonial rule. Furthermore, in order to designate property for recovery as pro-Japanese property, the degree of pro-Japanese activities, such as suppressing independence activists or cooperating with colonial rule, must be recognized as extremely significant.

Former Commissioner Lee also pointed out the realistic limitations surrounding the recovery of pro-Japanese property.

He explained that although real estate as well as cash, gold bars, and ancient paintings and calligraphy are included as targets for recovery, tracking them is practically impossible if descendants conceal them, as the committee lacks investigative authority.

He added that the committee also faced immense difficulties in responding to a flood of lawsuits filed by descendants.

However, former Commissioner Lee stated, "With the exception of the assets related to Yi Hae-seung, which are by far the largest, the state has won nearly all of the lawsuits."

The second-term committee, relaunching after 16 years, has supplemented its legal basis through legislative amendments to trace and recover unjust enrichment even from pro-Japanese property that has already been sold or monetized.

Minister of Justice Chung Sung-ho projected that at least 32.5 billion won or more can be additionally recovered upon the launch of the second-term committee.

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