Actress Lee Ji-ah (46, birth name Kim Ji-ah) has publicly addressed her family’s disputes and the controversy surrounding her grandfather, Kim Soon-heung (1910–1981), who was identified as a pro-Japanese collaborator.
On February 21, through her agency BH Entertainment, Lee Ji-ah stated, “I have been deeply contemplating this for a long time and was cautious about speaking out. However, I believe it is my responsibility to correct the facts, even though it is difficult. I sincerely apologize for the delay in expressing my position.”
She continued, “Since becoming independent at the age of 18, I have never received any financial support from my parents. Due to a complicated family history, I have been estranged from them for over ten years. I have no knowledge of or involvement in the family property disputes or lawsuits, including the current land ownership conflict.”
Lee Ji-ah clarified that she has no personal memories of her grandfather, saying, “He passed away when I was two years old, so I have no recollection of him. I grew up completely unaware of his pro-Japanese actions. It wasn’t until I read an article in 2011 that I first learned about it. Since then, I have visited the Center for Historical Truth and Justice multiple times to review documents and educate myself.”
She confirmed that she found records of her grandfather’s contributions to the Japanese colonial regime, adding, “Even considering the historical context, such actions cannot be justified under any circumstances. If the land in Anyang, which is central to this controversy, was acquired during the Japanese colonial period, it should rightfully be returned to the state.”
Lee Ji-ah also addressed misinformation circulating online, saying, “I have never made any public statements about my grandfather, nor have I used my family background for promotional purposes. There have been false claims online that I said I ‘respect’ him. This is entirely untrue, and I want to correct this misinformation.” She concluded, “I deeply acknowledge my grandfather’s historical wrongdoings and sincerely apologize as his descendant. I will continue to face historical truths with humility and live my life with a sense of responsibility.”
Family Dispute Over Land and Legal Battles
The controversy intensified due to allegations against Lee Ji-ah’s father (referred to as A) for forging documents during the repurchase process of land in Seoksu-dong, Anyang City, valued at approximately 35 billion KRW (~$26 million USD). This land was previously a military site. In 2013, after the military base relocated to Ansan, the Ministry of National Defense granted priority repurchase rights to the legal heirs of Kim Soon-heung under the Special Act on the Disposal of Requisitioned Properties.
Kim Soon-heung’s children aimed to transfer land ownership and pursue development projects. However, a conflict arose when a contract was discovered with a 16.9 billion KRW (~$12.5 million USD) mortgage linked to an unknown company. Lee Ji-ah’s father’s stamp appeared on the contract as the “landowner’s representative,” leading one of his nephews (referred to as B) to accuse him of forgery.
While B filed a lawsuit accusing A of forgery of private documents and other charges, the police dismissed the case twice. The prosecution later ordered additional investigations, but the case was ultimately dropped on February 7. Believing that the case was dismissed due to the approaching statute of limitations, B has filed a judicial review.
Further complicating matters, it was revealed that Lee Ji-ah’s father has a criminal record, having been sentenced to prison three times since 1998 for forgery and fraud.