Korean Actor Returns To Acting After Rape Conviction And Prison Sentence
Actor Hirofumi Arai, also known as Park Kyung Bae, recently returned to acting.
Hirofumi Arai is a Zainichi South Korean, meaning his family migrated to Japan before 1945, and he held a specific type of citizenship in the country until 2005, when he became a South Korean citizen. He began his career in 2001 and remained active until his arrest in 2019.
Arai was arrested in February 2019 on charges of “forcible intercourse” or rape after assaulting a female masseuse who was sent on an outcall to his residence in July 2024. He was officially indicted later that month and then sentenced to five years in prison, which was later reduced to four years after a settlement was paid to the victim.
It was recently reported that he returned to acting, performing in a one-man theatre show written by Masaaki Akahori.
赤堀雅秋一人芝居「日本対俺２」
2日目本日23日の日替わりゲストは#田中哲司 さん
19時開演です。
当日券キャンセル待ちは18時から販売になります。
皆さまのご来場お待ちしております🙇#日本対俺2 pic.twitter.com/PRUI1ZuRB1
— 赤堀雅秋一人芝居「日本対俺2」 (@akahorihitori) December 22, 2025
Due to adverse reactions while he was greeting fans, which included photos being taken, Arai issued a notice hoping that media would not include images of non-celebrities he interacted with. He also stated that he would work if he had opportunities and would not if he did not, adding an image of himself and two others to the post.
謝罪｜新井浩文 https://t.co/YJSW8LBqKM
無料です。
誤字、脱字があったら教えて下さいm(._.)m— 新井浩文 (@arai19790118) December 29, 2025
He also claimed that he had received many offers, despite his criminal past.
