Seodaemun Prison History Hall
서대문형무소역사관
The former prison, built in 1908, where many independence activists, including Yu Gwan-sun, were held during the Japanese occupation period. It is an important memorial for understanding modern Korean history.
Seodaemun Prison was built in 1908 by the Japanese Residency-General. During the Japanese occupation period, many independence activists were imprisoned, interrogated, and executed here, including Yu Gwan-sun, a figure of the March First Movement. After liberation, the prison continued to operate until 1987. It opened as a history hall in 1998. The grounds preserve red-brick cell blocks, an underground interrogation room, solitary cells, the execution ground, and the passage used to transport bodies. The exhibits are stark and sobering, and some content may not be suitable for young children. Admission is about 3,000 won. Opening hours are roughly 9:30 to 18:00, or until 17:00 in winter. Closed on Mondays. Getting there: about a 5-minute walk from Exit 5 of Dongnimmun Station on Line 3. Independence Gate stands in the nearby Independence Park, so the two can be visited together.
Opening hours
Closed Mondays; Mar–Oct 09:30–18:00, Nov–Feb 09:30–17:00
Nearby sights
- Inwangsan & Seoul City Wall
- Seochon & Tongin Market
- Ewha Womans University & Sinchon
- Deoksugung Palace & Stonewall Road
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Gwanghwamun Square & Cheonggyecheon
- Sungnyemun (Namdaemun)
- MMCA Seoul