Seodaemun Prison, Korea
Seodaemun Prison, Korea
Seodaemun Prison was established in October 1908 by the Japanese in Seodaemun, South Korea. It was used as a prison for 80 years until it was closed in November 1987. The prison is made of a panopticon structure, a circular prison to most effectively monitor prisoners. Inside of Seodaemun Prison, there are workshops, exhibition halls, and prisons that were built during the Japanese colonial period. There is a library on the first floor which contains information about the Seodaemun Prison. On the second floor, there is information about how Seodaemun Prison was built and how the prison looked in the past, as well as models and records of the prison that were used during the Japanese colonial period. The main floor of this prison is the basement which had a torture room, and the tools used for torture are currently being displayed.
At the time, Japan created laws in order to control the Korean people and society, which led to many people being imprisoned for minor infractions. The ultimate reason that the Japanese created this prison was to maintain control over the Korean people, who were seeking independence from colonialism. More than 3,000 people were imprisoned due to the Independence Movement.
A large number of independence activists were imprisoned at Seodaemun Prison, where they were tortured and killed. Yu Gwan-Sun, one of the most famous female independence activists who fought against Japan, was tortured and killed in Seodaemun Prison when she was 19 years old. Before Korean Independence, pro-democracy activists who resisted against the military regime were also imprisoned.
Seodaemun Prison’s history, record, and remaining traces shows the pain and suffering of those who fought for Korean Independence. By showcasing the history of Seodaemun Prison, it informs not only the world of this tragic history in Korea, but also future generations, so that they do not forget the sacrifices of the independence activists.
