Seodaemun Prison, Prison museum in Seodaemun District, Seoul, South Korea
Seodaemun Prison is a preserved prison site in Seodaemun District in Seoul, South Korea, now serving as a memorial and museum. The compound includes several buildings with cells, watchtowers, and an execution room within high stone walls.
The facility was built in 1908 during Japanese colonial rule and served as a prison until 1987. After the March First Independence Movement, many activists who fought for Korean freedom were imprisoned here.
The preserved cells show the simple wooden bunks and narrow spaces where political prisoners were held during the occupation. Visitors can walk through the corridors and understand the conditions under which resistance fighters lived for decades.
Dongnimmun Station on Subway Line 3 is nearby and offers easy access to the memorial. Visitors should plan around two hours to walk through the buildings and grounds thoroughly.
An underground solitary cell in the basement of the prison commemorates activist Yu Gwansun, who was held there as a teenager. The small chamber shows the harsh conditions faced by young prisoners who protested against the occupation.
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