Seodaemun Prison History Hall is a museum and former prison in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was constructed beginning in 1907. The prison was opened on October 21, 1908, under the name Gyeongseong Gamok. During the early part of the Japanese colonial period it was known as Keijo Prison (Keijō Kangoku, the Japanese pronunciation of Gyeongseong Gamok). Its name was changed to Seodaemun Prison in 1923, and it later had several other names.
The prison was used during the Japanese colonial period to imprison Korean liberation activists, and could originally hold around 500 inmates. It had a separate facility for women and young girls. In 1911, Kim Koo was imprisoned. He was one of the more important figures in the Korean liberation movement. In 1919, shortly after the March 1st Movement, the number of imprisoned increased drastically. About three thousand liberation activists were imprisoned, and shortly before the colonization ended in 1945, the number of prisoners was at 2980. Among imprisoned after the March 1st Movement was Ryu Gwansun, who died from the torture inflicted on her.
Monday | Closed |
Tuesday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
Thursday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
Friday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
Saturday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
Sunday | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
Brendan Masterson | Mar 29, 2018
Right off the MRT, interesting history, old prison surrounded my modern residential hi rises
Matthew Steele | Oct 25, 2017
This is a somber place to visit but is also very important for Korean history. Being built by the Japanese it was used for confinement and torture of those Koreans who wanted freedom from Japan. Many people were also executed here as well and the execution building is especially emotional.
Roberto Amatuzzi | Aug 8, 2017
This should be among the top tourist attractions of Korea. A very well set museum that depicts not only the buildings, facilities and atrocities perpetrated by Japanese during their ruling of Korea (1910-1945) but also tells us the history very well. It easily accessible by subway (Dongnimmun station) and the visit will take an hour or so.
양원석 | Jan 7, 2018
very educational place to learn about Korean History during the times when it was under control of Japan.
KJ Duka | Sep 28, 2017
Well organised and exhibited but actually not too big a place. Sad history behind these walls. Friendly staff and locals who were visiting the place as a history lesson.
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