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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 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

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

References

1. Annual Report on Reforms and Progress in Chosen. Government-General of Korea. 1923.
2. Lee, Hyun Kyung (April 23, 2019). 'Difficult Heritage' in Nation Building: South Korea. ISBN 9783319663388.
3. ^ Joel Lee (August 2, 2018). "Former prison lives with vestiges of Korea's patriotic past". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
4. Chang, Dae-oup (January 13, 2009). Capitalist Development in Korea. ISBN 9781134046454.
5. For reconciliation: Textbook, Comfort women, Yasukuni shrine and Liancourt Rocks (in Japanese). Heibonsha. 2006. p. 53. ISBN 9784582702651.
6. "인왕산 도성탐방기<2>서대문형무소역사관, 국사당, 선바위". The Hankyoreh. May 9, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
7. "Korea". 2013.
8. Hongo, Jun (August 13, 2015). "Former Prime Minister Hatoyama Kneels at Wartime Prison in Seoul". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 20, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

External links

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

37°34′28″N 126°57′24″E / 37.57442°N 126.95663°E / 37.57442; 126.95663

• Seodaemun District
• Prison museums in Asia
• Prisons in South Korea
• Museums in Seoul
• Buildings and structures of Korea under Japanese rule
• Historic Sites of South Korea
• Government buildings completed in 1908
• History museums in South Korea
• 1908 establishments in Korea
• Japanese prisoner of war and internment camps
• Historic buildings and structures in Seoul
• Keijō
• Buildings and structures in the Korean Empire