Seodaemun Prison

Seodaemun Prison History Hall

View of Seodaemun Prison History Hall from the Seodaemun Independence Park
Established	1908 (as prison) 1992 (as museum)
Type	Memorial museum

Seodaemun Prison
Hangul	서대문형무소역사관
Hanja	西大門刑務所歷史觀
Revised Romanization	Seodaemun Hyeongmuso Yeoksagwan
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏdaemun Hyŏngmuso Yŏksakwan
Original name
Hangul	경성감옥
Hanja	京城監獄
Revised Romanization	Gyeongsong Gamok
McCune–Reischauer	Kyŏngsŏng Kamok
Other names
Hangul	서울형무소 서울교도소 서울구치소
Hanja	서울刑務所 서울矯導所 서울拘置所
Revised Romanization	Seoul Hyeongmuso Seoul Gyodoso Seoul Kuchiso
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏul Hyŏngmuso Sŏul Kyodoso Sŏul Kuchiso
Literal translations: Seoul Prison Seoul Correctional Institute Seoul Detention Center

One building of Seodaemun prison hall

Seodaemun Prison History Hall (Korean: 서대문형무소역사관) is a museum and former prison in Seodaemun District, 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). Its name was changed to Seodaemun Prison in 1923, and it later had several other names.

History

The prison was used during the Japanese colonial period to imprison Korean independence activists. It could originally hold around 500 inmates. It had a separate facility for women and young girls. In 1911, notable activist Kim Ku was imprisoned here. In 1919, shortly after the March First Movement, the number of imprisoned increased drastically. About three thousand activists were held here. Among the imprisoned after the March 1 Movement was Ryu Gwansun, who died from the torture inflicted on her.

Shortly before the end of the colonial period in 1945, the number of prisoners was 2980. After liberation, the prison was used by the South Korean government, and was known by various official names, including Seoul Prison until 1961, Seoul Correctional Institute until 1967 and Seoul Detention Center until its closure in 1987. It was replaced by a facility in Uiwang City, Gyeonggi Province.

In 1992, the site was dedicated as the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, part of Seodaemun Independence Park. Seven of the prison complex's original fifteen buildings are preserved as historical monuments. The History Hall covers topics related to the prison during the Japanese colonial period and continues to serve as a memorial hall.

During a visit to Seodaemun in August 2015, former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama knelt in front of a memorial stone as an expression of apology for Japanese war crimes in World War II.

Location

Barracks interior

Seodaemun Independence Park, including Seodaemun Prison, is closely located to exits 4 or 5 of the Dongnimmun Station on Seoul Subway Line 3.

See also

• Korea under Japanese rule
• Gyeonggyojang
• Museum of Japanese Colonial History in Korea
• Independence Gate

External links

• Seodaemun Prison History Hall
• Lifeinkorea profile
• Seoul City Parks profile