Seodaemon Prison History Hall

Seodaemon Prison is not a historical building but it operated as a prison for eight decades from 1908 to 1987 and when through several name changes. It was built during the Japanese occupation to hold Korean patriots and activists. Many prisoners were tortured and died within these halls.

There was a self guided tour route throughout the prison grounds. The first building had three exhibitions. First, we walked through two exhibition halls detailing the history of events throughout Korea’s struggle to become independent.

The prison was first built to be 1600 metres squared with a capacity of 500 people. However, the March 1st independence movement had more than 3000 people arrested and imprisoned here in 1919. In the 1930s, the prison was expanded 30 times it’s original size in the due to the increase in Korean independence activists.



There were 16 Japanese imperialist established prisons throughout Korea in 1908. After the forced annexation in 1910, the Japanese built more prisons, averaging 30 in Korea, making the country like a huge prison.


Dangerously hidden dagger.


Handcuffs.


Shackles.


The following three photos are the prison documentation for one individual prisoner. Not only his fingerprints were taken he also had to undress and have notes made on his body for proper identification.



A tribute to the Korean independence activists that died. 5000 prison records are available to the public. There was a touch screen display to search for independence activists.


We climbed the stairs to the basement exhibition hall. Here it was much colder and the lighting was harsh. We had entered what used to be known as the “underground torture chamber”. This was where patriots were interrogated and tortured.


It also held a room to temporarily detain prisoners to inflict psychological damage as they listened to other prisoners being tortured in the next room.


There were some records regarding different torture methods used. A short documentary of three survivors and what they experience was broadcasted on a loop (only in Korean). It really showed how much Koreans had to go through to gain independence.

Prisoners were put inside a box with sharp nails facing inward. The box could be shook to inflict pain.


These were narrow rooms in which a person could not stand up or sit down properly.


We exited the exhibition building and walked to the central prison building. An ideological conversion education program was individually custom created and implemented for each prisoner. Those that behaved better were given better sentences and luxuries like more food. From the centre, the guards could monitor and control the entire facility.


A 10 metre high watch tower was built beside the external court for more surveillance.


This is a photo of outside a solitary cell. I couldn’t take a photo of the inside because it was too cramped. The cells were always dark and had no toilets.


Prison buildings No. 12 and 11.


This is called a PAE TONG.


This is for prisoners to inform guards in emergencies.


This tree was planted in 1923 when the execution building was being constructed. It was said that the patriots being dragged to the execution hall would grab this tree.


Prisoners were forced to work. Seodaemun Prison was famous for the production of textiles and clothes. Gyeongseong Prison inmates worked to produce bricks. Some of these bricks were used to build Seodaemun prison. The walls and paved brick roads of the prison bear the imprint of Gyeongseong Prison.