【Dark History】Seodaemon Prison History Museum

Seodaemon Prison, located in Seodaemon District, Seoul, is a prison built by the Japanese colonial government. It is the first modern prison on the Korean Peninsula. This historic building has witnessed a tragic history. During the Japanese imperial dictatorship, the area was used as a prison to imprison Korean national democratization activists. At that time, the Japanese imperial regime implemented inhumane torture on prisoners in Seodaemon Prison in order to suppress the democratization movement. Many prisoners were tortured and died in Seodaemun Prison, including the famous democratization activist Ryu Kwan-soon. Today, Seodaemon Prison is no longer used as a prison, but instead serves as a history museum to showcase this painful history to citizens and tourists. Visitors entering Seodaemun Prison can clearly see the former prison cells and execution sites. The museum displays models that vividly show how high-ranking officials of the Japanese Empire tortured prisoners at the time. Overall, the Seodaemon Prison History Museum is a worthy attraction to visit. If you are interested in Korean history, I recommend you to go to the Seodaemon Prison History Museum during your visit to Korea. I believe I will have a deeper understanding of Korean history after the visit. #Japanese and Korean urban attractions