Posted a Visit to Seodaemun Prison on YouTube
Video Deleted Amid Intense Criticism from Japan
Netizens: "It's Not Even Wrong, So Why?"
Famous Japanese AV actress Uehara Ai visited Seodaemun Prison. [Source=YouTube channel 'Chanyanghara Uehara']
A Japanese woman who announced her visit to Seodaemun Prison on YouTube took down the video after receiving fierce criticism from netizens.
According to Japanese local media on the 31st, it was confirmed that the video of Ai Uehara, a famous former AV actress, visiting Seodaemun Prison in Korea was deleted. Last month on the 18th, she uploaded a video titled "Japanese Actress Shocked by Visiting Korea" on her YouTube channel 'Chanyanghara Uehara'. However, as the content became controversial and faced backlash, it is understood that she removed the video.
The problematic video showed Uehara touring Seodaemun Prison and sharing her impressions. She said, "My Japanese friends and Japanese broadcasts told me to visit this place when I go to Korea," and "Since it is a historic site, I wanted to see it, so I came as a tourist." The Seodaemun Prison History Hall is a historical museum related to the independence movement, created by remodeling the former Seoul Detention Center facilities to restore Gyeongseong Prison and Seodaemun Prison. While touring the museum, Uehara confronted the hardships endured by Koreans and independence activists during the Japanese colonial period. She was particularly shocked when she saw the execution chamber, where execution tools were reproduced. After the tour, she said, "It is cruel and my heart hurts," and "I want to punch a Japanese person," which sparked controversy in Korea.
Additionally, she expressed gratitude to the independence activists. She mentioned, "Thanks to those people, Korea looks like it does now, so I am very grateful," and "I think Japanese people are cruel. Still, I feel thankful that I can come to Korea because of the great efforts of the independence activists." Finally, Uehara added, "Because of these circumstances, there may still be a negative image of Japan," but also said, "Now is a peaceful era, so I hope relations improve. After coming here, I felt that we should cherish the current times."
Netizens who heard the news responded with comments such as, "I wish many Japanese people had seen this video, it's unfortunate," "Visiting Seodaemun Prison is not a wrong thing, so why the fuss?" "I hope they stop hiding history and face it with reflection," and "I hope they understand that even if she is criticized in Japan, she is supported in Korea."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
