Actor Lee Ji-ah has addressed the controversy surrounding her grandfather's purported pro-Japanese activities. According to Soompi, her agency, BH Entertainment, issued a statement following reports that her father was involved in a legal conflict with his siblings regarding a land inheritance valued at 35 billion won (approximately USD 24.4 million), which was allegedly bequeathed by her grandfather.

Lee Ji-ah issues statement over family row

Ji-ah's grandfather was reportedly identified as a pro-Japanese figure. In her statement, she said, "Greetings, I am Lee Ji-ah. I wish to clarify my position concerning the recent allegations. After careful consideration and reflection, I feel it is my duty to correct the narrative and muster the courage to voice my thoughts. I genuinely apologize for the delay in responding to this issue."

Lee Ji-ah on her family dispute

She elaborated, "1. Information Concerning My Family Conflict: Since attaining independence at 18, I have not received any financial assistance from my parents. It is quite difficult to admit, but due to complex family dynamics, I have not communicated with them for more than a decade. I was entirely unaware of the contested inheritance or the current legal disputes concerning the property in question, and I have no participation in these issues."

Lee Ji-ah on her grandfather

She further stated, "2. My Position Regarding My Grandfather’s Alleged Pro-Japanese Activities—My grandfather passed away when I was just two years old, leaving me without any personal recollections of him. Additionally, I grew up unaware of any claims regarding his supposed pro-Japanese affiliations. It was not until 2011 that I became aware of this matter through various news articles. Since that time, I have made several visits to the Center for Historical Truth and Justice to examine historical documents in order to ascertain the facts."

The actor also remarked, "During this investigation, I was able to verify my grandfather’s donation records. Regardless of the historical circumstances of that era, I maintain that such actions cannot be excused under any justification. Moreover, if the land in Anyang, which is currently at the heart of the ongoing dispute, was indeed acquired during the period of Japanese occupation, I strongly believe it should be returned to the state."

More about Lee Ji-ah's statement

Concluding Remarks—At no point in the past have I made any comments regarding my grandfather, nor have I leveraged my family history for any promotional endeavours. Unfortunately, there has been a proliferation of misinformation online, inaccurately asserting that I stated, ‘I respect my grandfather.’ This assertion is entirely false, and I wish to rectify this misconception. Furthermore, I fully recognize the historical injustices associated with my grandfather. As his descendant, I offer my heartfelt apologies. In the future, I will strive to confront historical realities with humility and uphold a sense of accountability. Thank you, she concluded her statement.

About Lee Ji-ah

Ji-ah gained recognition for her performance in the television drama The Legend (2007). Following this breakthrough, she appeared in several notable series, including Beethoven Virus (2008), Athena: Goddess of War (2010), Me Too Flower (2011), Thrice Married Woman (2013), My Mister (2018), The Penthouse: War in Life (2020–2021), and Queen of Divorce (2024).

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