"Japanese Female Pro Wrestler Who Said 'There Are No Ambulances in Korea' Eventually Apologizes"

"Received word from organizers that 'there is no ambulance'"
Representative Yoon: "Do not block Korea-Japan exchange with false information"

A Japanese female professional wrestler who showed concussion symptoms after a pro wrestling match held in Korea claimed that she heard "there are no ambulances in Korea," but after the organizer's rebuttal exposed it as a lie, she apologized.

Japanese female pro wrestler Kobashi Marika (21) stated on her X (formerly Twitter) on the 3rd, "I apologize for saying that there are no ambulances in Korea based on incorrect information." This came just one day after a rebuttal from Yoon Gang-cheol, the representative of Shin Korea Pro Wrestling.

Japanese female professional wrestler Kobashi Marika. The photo on the right shows her recovering immediately after a concussion.
[Photo by Kobashi Marika X Galmuri]

Kobashi wrote on her X, "I apologize for causing concern due to my injury and the response to it," adding, "The statement that there are no ambulances in Korea was a story I heard from someone else, and I believe it was not from Representative Yoon or related personnel. I apologize for making a statement based on incorrect information and will correct my statement."

Regarding the reason she took a selfie inside the ambulance, she explained, "Because I was in an unfamiliar country and prepared for the worst, I thought I should leave evidence of the final situation, so I took it." She also said, "Although it took some time for the ambulance to arrive, after hearing the details of the incident, I am grateful for their best efforts."

Kobashi also explained that there were some misunderstandings about her claims. She said, "I do not think both sides are spreading false information. I think there are some discrepancies," and added, "I hope this raises awareness about emergency response in pro wrestling organizations so that a safer environment for enjoying matches can be created."

Seemingly aware of some 'anti-Korean' reactions, she added, "I have never spoken about Korea-Japan relations or raised issues about the entire Korean pro wrestling scene," emphasizing, "This is solely about Shin Korea Pro Wrestling and my personal issue."

"No ambulances in Korea? Accompanied and immediately moved to 119"

In a Shin Korea Pro Wrestling match, Marika Kobashi faced off against the wrestler Seraphim.
[Photo by Kangcheol Yoon, CEO of Shin Korea Pro Wrestling, Instagram]

Earlier, Japanese female pro wrestler Kobashi Marika participated in the final main event title match at the ‘34th Shin Korea Pro Wrestling’ held in Gimpo City last month on the 31st and won. Kobashi, who showed concussion symptoms due to an accident during the match, sat down after briefly saying, "It’s very hard," as a short victory comment.

Kobashi claimed that the organizer's response was inadequate during this process. On the 1st, she posted on her X, "When I requested an ambulance, I heard someone say 'there are no ambulances in Korea,'" and "When I asked to be taken to the hospital by the organization's vehicle, they said 'We have to see off the guests, so we can't.'"

She added, "I will never participate in Shin Korea Pro Wrestling events again. I will also return the championship belt."

Kobashi's claims led Japanese local media and netizens to criticize "Korea's safety management system." However, Yoon Gang-cheol, the representative of Shin Korea Pro Wrestling, rebutted Kobashi's claims on his SNS on the 2nd, stating they were not true.

He said, "It is regrettable that inaccurate facts were reported in Japan," and rebutted, "No one said 'there are no ambulances in Korea,' and I myself have never said such a thing."

He further explained the situation, saying, "Thanks to the quick response of Kuroobi, a Japanese player qualified in sports injuries, Kobashi was kept still and stabilized beside the ring. It was judged that moving her recklessly could be more dangerous, so 119 was called quickly."

Representative Yoon also revealed that Akari, who is fluent in Korean, and an HC player from Shin Korea Pro Wrestling accompanied the ambulance. He added, "While moving in the vehicle, Kobashi took self-camera videos and posted them on social media (SNS), which was an incomprehensible action."