10만 컷에 ‘한국의 얼굴’ 담은 일본인 사진가…“마지막 소원은 통일”

Japanese photographer Koba Ra Sei has spent his career diligently recording the faces of Koreans. The man who first set foot on Korean soil in 1964 for a Japanese magazine has traveled to North Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Soviet Union, and beyond, but it's his work in Korea that has left the most indelible mark. Over 100 trips and 100,000 frames later, his documentary "Faces of Korea" (directed by Go Hye-young) opens on February 2nd.

Sei, who met with Korean officials last month, lamented that it is now "difficult to decide which aspect of Korea's development to capture" due to the rapid changes he has witnessed. After graduating from a agricultural university, Sei began his career as a photographer in 1962, covering the people of Minamata, Japan. He went on to document the people of North Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Soviet Union, but Korea remains his most prolific subject.

Sei first encountered Korea in 1965 at Gimpo Airport, where he was struck by the desolate landscape and vivid memories of that trip. His camera soon ventured into the heart of Korean modern history, from pro-democracy protests to the bustling streets of Seoul and Busan. However, Sei knew that documenting these moments would come with challenges, including discrimination from fellow Koreans.

Despite facing insults such as "crazy foreigner," Sei's work in Korea garnered appreciation from even his Korean peers, who expressed gratitude for the powerful images he captured. Among the many places that Sei grew to love, Chaegyeongcheon Stream stood out as a place where he could see the resilience of the Korean people. However, 1980's Gwangju remains a bittersweet reminder of the barriers he faced.

Sei was denied entry to South Korea during the anti-Cold War protests, but after his wife learned of his plight in a local news report, she flew to Japan to plead his case. By the time Sei arrived in Gwangju, the city was already under martial law, leaving him with a deep sense of regret. The second major regret for Sei is his unfulfilled dream of documenting the unification of North and South Korea.

He expressed a mix of sadness and humor, lamenting that he may never capture the moment when the two Koreas finally unite.