South Koreans dig into family roots amid K-actress Ahn Ha-young’s ancestry controversy
South Korean actress Ahn Ha-young is facing public backlash after her ancestor was accused of pro-Japanese collaboration during the colonial era. The controversy has driven a surge in traffic to genealogy websites as citizens investigate their own family histories ahead of Liberation Day.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the enduring sensitivity of historical collaboration and national identity in South Korea, especially during commemorative periods.
SEOUL: A website that helps South Koreans trace their family origins and learn about historical figures and genealogies has experienced a boost in traffic, after actress Ahn Ha-young came under public scrutiny over her ancestor’s alleged pro-Japanese activities during Japan’s 1910 to 1945 colonial rule of Korea.
As interest in the website – whose South Korean name translates as “in search of roots” – surged over the past few days, its server was overloaded for several hours on the evening of Aug 12 and continued to crash for several minutes at a time on Aug 13.
The site provides information on 287 types of family lineages in South Korea, including their origins and population sizes.
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