"I Want to Beat Him Up"…Japanese Actor Visiting Seodaemun Prison 'Anger'

Uehara Ai Visits Seodaemun Prison History Museum
"It's Cruel and Heartbreaking... I Want to Defeat the Japanese"
"I Am Very Grateful to the Independence Activists"

Retired Japanese AV actress Uehara Ai.

Ai Uehara, a famous former Japanese AV actress, has attracted attention by visiting the Seodaemun Prison History Hall.

On the 18th, a video titled "Japanese Actress's Reaction Shocked After Visiting Korea" was uploaded on Ai Uehara's personal YouTube channel, "Praise Ai Uehara."

The video shows Ai Uehara touring the Seodaemun Prison History Hall. The Seodaemun Prison History Hall is a historical museum related to the independence movement and democratization movement, created by remodeling the former Seoul Detention Center to restore the old Gyeongseong Prison and Seodaemun Prison.

Ai Uehara explained her reason for visiting, saying, "My Japanese friends and Japanese TV shows told me to visit this place when I come to Korea. Since it is a place with history, I wanted to see it myself, so I came as a tourist."

While touring the history hall, Ai Uehara faced the situation Korea was in during the Japanese colonial period. She was deeply saddened as she listened to the hardships endured by Koreans and independence activists at that time. She was especially shocked when she saw the execution chamber, where execution tools and methods were recreated.

Uehara Ai is saying, "I want to punch a Japanese person once," after touring the Seodaemun Prison History Hall.
[Photo by YouTube channel 'Chanyanghara Uehara' video capture]

After finishing her tour of the history hall, Ai Uehara said, "It is cruel and my heart hurts." She attracted attention by adding, "I somehow want to punch a Japanese person."

She also expressed gratitude to the independence activists. Ai Uehara said, "Because of the independence activists, Korea looks like it does today, so I am very thankful." She continued, "I thought Japanese people were cruel. But now that I have come to Korea, I am grateful that I could come here thanks to the many efforts of the independence activists."

Finally, she concluded the video by saying, "Because of these circumstances, the negative image of Japan may still remain among Koreans, but now is a peaceful era, so I hope our relationship improves. After coming here, I thought we should cherish the present times."

Netizens who saw the video responded warmly with comments such as "It's admirable that she does not try to ignore the shameful history," "Subscribed immediately," "A meaningful video. I hope many Japanese people watch it," "Only through reflection and apology can a history of reconciliation be made," "So there are Japanese people like this," and "The courage to face the truth. I support you."

Ai Uehara is a former AV actress who is well-known even in Korea. After announcing her retirement in 2015, she has continuously communicated with fans through various social media platforms and YouTube. She shows great interest in Korea by reviewing Buldak Bokkeum Myun and participating in Zico's "Any Song Challenge," among other activities.