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Situated near Dongnimmun (Independence Gate), Seodaemun Prison, Seoul was compulsorily
built during the Japanese occupation (1910-45). Japanese occupied Korea forcibly
and started to construct the prison in 1907. On October 21, 1908, the prison was
opened, and known as Gyeongseong Gamok. The Japanese rulers used this prison to
locked up around 500 anti-colonial activists. In 1923, its name was changed to
Seodaemun Prison. Until the Liberation of Korea on August 15, 1945, Seodaemun
Prison, Seoul acted as a surreptitious Mecca of the anti-Japanese Independence
Movement for countless patriotic fighters, because in this prison they were locked
up, tortured and executed.
After the Korean Liberation in 1945, the South Korean government used the prison
until 1987 and after that, Seodaemun Prison or Seoul Guchiso (a detention camp)
was moved to Uiwang City, Gyeonggi Province, and the area where the prison was
situated became known as Seodaemun Independence Park. On 15th August 1992, on
the occasion of celebrating the 47th Independence Day of Korea, the Seodaemun
Prison, Seoul was dedicated as the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, part of Seodaemun
Independence Park. In considering of their historical significance and value,
the park preserves 7 prison buildings. On February 20, 1988, the prison buildings
(numbers 10, 11, and 12) and the Execution Building were jointly nominated as
National Historical Site #324. The Seodaemun Prison History Hall was built up
to honor and pay tribute to the spirit of freedom fighters of Korea, who courageously
committed their lives to resisting the Japanese rule, in spite of imprisonment,
insensitive torture, and threat of death.
The Seodaemun Prison, Seoul has stood for more or less 80 years as a living
historical reminder of the torments, anguish, and turbulent events of modern
Korean history. Therefore, it is a must-visit site for locals and visitors.
The opening hours of the Seodaemun Prison, Seoul, is as follows -
Mar. - Oct. ' 09:30 -- 18:00
Nov. -- Feb. ' 09:30 -- 17:00
Closed: 1st January, Lunar New Year, Harvest Moon Festival (Chuseok),
Mondays (If a holiday falls on a Monday, closed the next day.)
Seodaemun Prison, Seoul Transportation:
Bus: 74, 146, 147, 150, 152, 152-1, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 158-2, 158-3,
159, 161, 205; 72, 72-2, 158, 158-4, 757, 907, 912, 922
Subways: Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace) - Seoul Line 3 (orange)
Place to stay near Seodaemun Prison, Seoul:
Hilton Grand Hotel
Class: Super Deluxe
201-1, Hongeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu
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