How To Visit Seodaemun Prison In Seoul, South Korea

The Seodaemun Prison Record Corridor is an attention-grabbing museum situated in western Seoul within just Independence Park. This prison has a darkish heritage and it showcases Japanese cruelty more than Korea which transpired all through the occupation from 1910-1945 with various reveals, audio and movie footage.

In this guide, we’re heading to demonstrate you anything you require to know about viewing Seodaemun Prison together with guidelines for your excursion and how to make the most of your time.

Our Seoul Encounter

Kristen reading through a pamphlet although exploring the jail in Seoul

We used 14 days exploring Seoul in March 2023 and throughout our excursion, we personally visited Seodaemun Prison. Though this jail could not be at the top rated of everyone’s Seoul Bucket list, there is so a lot to see and learn inside of this distinctive museum.

It is pretty simple to check out the prison due to the fact you can use an informational brochure to follow a typical going for walks route all-around the intricate. The majority of the information and facts is shown in Korean, but we thought there was sufficient English translation to make it truly worth going to. Read more about us.

What Is Seodaemun Prison?

Substantial brick buildings and prison blocks are the to start with issue you see as you stroll into the grounds

Opened in 1908 by Japanese imperialists, Seodaemun Jail was at first identified as Gyeongseong Prison. It was constructed to imprison independence activists right until the liberation of Korea in 1956. Sadly, the facility was at first utilised as a location of punishment for anti-Japanese activists who spoke out throughout the Japanese colonial interval.

Right after Korea’s liberation from Japan, it grew to become the Seoul Detention Centre to jail activists who tried using to struggle from Korea’s military rulers and dictators. In 1987, the Seoul Detention Middle was ultimately moved to Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do Province.

At the time, no a person understood what to do with the empty grounds, but descendants of the activists opposed the demolition of the complex. So it was reopened on November 5th in 1998 as Seodaemun Prison History Corridor to teach people about Korea’s turbulent past.

Seodaemun Jail Tickets

Our two admission tickets

If you program to go to, Seodaemun Jail Record Hall is positioned on the western side of Seoul. The most effective subway station for checking out is Dongnimmun Station alongside Line 3 and then take exit 5 for the most immediate route.

It’s open up each and every day of the 7 days besides Monday from 9:30am to 18:00 March to Oct and 9:30am to 17:00 November to February. You can take a look at the official web page here to validate information and facts before traveling to.

Admission tickets for the Seodaemun Jail cost:

3,000 KRW (US$ 2.26) for older people ages 19-64

1,500 KRW (US$ 1.13) for adolescents ages 13-18

1,000 KRW (US$ .75) for youths ages 7-12

Team tickets are also accessible for 20 or additional visitors. We obtained our tickets onsite, but you can e book training systems and exhibition commentary on the formal web-site here.

If you do not indication up for a software, the only way to stop by the prison is with a self guided tour. You’ll see the administration constructing, interrogation rooms, prisoner playground and execution constructing.

Journey Suggestion: The last admission to the jail is 30 minutes before closing.

What To See At Seodaemun Prison

When you go to the jail, you will be specified an informational brochure to tour the overall advanced with a advised route exhibited by arrows on the ground or nearby properties. There are four key sections which include the exhibition hall, prison exhibition, out of doors exhibition and independent activists show.

We liked that site visitors can freely walk throughout the grounds simply because you can go at your very own pace dependent on what interests you. Here’s what you really should glance for through your stop by:

1. Administration And Stability Workplace

Kristen examining the exhibits within the outdated Administration Setting up

The initial constructing you’ll come upon is the Administration and Stability Business office. Developed in 1923, this is the key developing of the complicated showcasing two flooring and a basement. The Administration Developing is the very best location to start off your tour.

Originally made use of as an business office, the initial ground is now dwelling to the Jail Historical past Home. It showcases facts about the judicial system and the expansions of prisons in Korea. We also liked the documentary video clip found in this part.

Following likely by way of the very first flooring, you should stop by the second flooring up coming. This room was made use of as a assembly home and director’s place of work. These days, the next ground displays several National Resistance Rooms. You are going to see property relics and prisoner cards from the independant activists as well as products of the execution room and morgue.

However, the basement in this creating is the hardest space to visit because it is key reason was to apprehend suspects. You’ll see equally the investigation and interrogation rooms. We identified it really hard to examine the recommendations of torture.

2. Central Jail Buildings

Cell block perspective of the central jail properties

Just after earning your way by way of the Administration Creating, you’ll go on on to the prison blocks. This is the place you can see the true jail cells that the moment housed prisoners. Here you can go through exhibits about the prison life which includes organizational composition, checking resources and day by day routines of inmates.

Though most of the stories had been heartbreaking, we appreciated remaining equipped to study stories about the individual prisoners for the reason that we learned about the worries they faced on a every day basis.

Travel Idea: A panopticon was designed to connect jail buildings 11 and 12 which allow the guards to oversee both buildings at the similar time.

3. Labor Building

Instance of an exhibit you can be expecting to see inside of

Constructed in 1923, this is just one of the factory properties made use of for compelled labor which normally consisted of woodworking and producing outfits. Inside of the setting up, you can check out genuine footage of prisoners getting designed to manufacture goods. Additional reveals also display screen documents and relics illustrating the forced labor inmates confronted.

4. Leper’s Setting up

The Leper’s Constructing along facet a watchtower

Situated away from the principal structures on a small hill within the complicated, the Leper’s Developing was utilized to isolate prisoners who ended up struggling from leprosy. You can not go inside of this building, but you can study a modest informational board close by.

5. Reverence Space

A attractive show to memorialize these who endured

The Reverence Room is an art exhibit dedicated to the memory of anti-colonial independence activists who lost their life. You will uncover it just past the Leper’s Setting up.

6. Execution Creating

Kristen strolling to the execution developing

A person of the most shocking buildings inside of Seodaemun Jail is the execution residence. Made in 1910, this modest property was utilised to carry out the demise sentence in the course of the Japanese colonial period right until 1987.

This Japanese-type picket building is made up of 1 flooring higher than and one particular flooring underneath floor. We did not include a picture of the real developing to regard people who lost their life in this article, but you can even now see inside this unsettling construction these days.

There is a small lever which was employed to open up the flooring boards during a hanging when acceptable. After the execution, the ground boards would shut and bodies could be recovered in the cellar. At the back of the execution making, you’ll see the back entrance from the basement.

7. Corpse Removing Exit

The grotesque corpse removing exit primary to a passageway

Just guiding the execution grounds, you’ll come across the corpse removing exit. This top secret doorway and passage was utilized to take away a corse soon after execution. In 1992, aspect of this passage collapsed when Independence Park was established, but about 40m of the tunnel has been restored. The authentic passage was claimed to be about 200m when it was employed.

8. Gyeokbyeokjang

Exterior view of Gyeokbyeokjang with Inwansang Peak in the distance

Gyeokbyeokjang is situated in the center of Seodaemun Prison and it was applied a playground for the inmates so they could get some work out. Partitions or bulkheads were being utilized as a means of control to individual and monitor prisoners to prevent them from talking or escaping.

This stone facility was demolished in 2011, but it was restored to its original overall look about 20m from the very first location which is the 1 we can see nowadays.

9. Women’s Prison Setting up

An astounding exhibit inside the Women’s Prison Setting up

Also known as Yeooksa Temple, the women’s jail constructing was manufactured about 1916 as a detention heart for female prisoners. You can go inside this building and we stimulate you to read through the harrowing tales about the courageous women of all ages who discovered them selves imprisoned in this article.

10. Watchtower

A brick watchtower at Seodaemun Jail

Final but not least, get observe of the two watchtowers you’ll uncover on the grounds all through your tour. At first, this advanced had six watchtowers, but there are only two remaining.

These watchtowers ended up developed to help watch prisoner movements to avert them from escaping. Just about every watchtower is 10m superior and the best one to stop by is suitable close to the primary entrance gate.

The Morgan Conclusion

Seodaemun Jail Record Hall is a distinctive museum that now serves as a tribute to impartial activists and can help to showcase the road to liberty in Korea. If you are fascinated in heritage, traveling to this prison is a excellent way to understand about the problems Koreans confronted below the Japanese profession.

Is Seodaemun Prison well worth it?

Yes, Seodaemun Prison is worth visiting mainly because it memorializes several Koreans who dropped their life fighting for peace. We believed this museum was exceptionally nicely put with each other and good for people who want to study about the record of South Korea. Prior to browsing, we did not know what took place less than the 1910-1945 Japanese profession of Korea.

When not all displays are displayed in English, you can however locate sufficient facts to fully grasp what is likely on. If you program to discover all of the buildings and outdoor reveals, you must plan about 1-2 several hours to stop by the Seodaemun Jail.

Our Seodaemun Prison Pictures

We enjoyed our go to to this prison and took a lot of pics. Here are a number of to assistance you have an understanding of more about what you can see at the elaborate:

Keeping cells found in the basement of the aged Administration Making

Website visitors can discover maps and informational boards all through the complete grounds

An illustration of the interrogation room with torture gadgets

Kristen standing below a single of the archways in the jail

Extra mobile blocks and structures inside of the grounds with a huge South Korean flag

Kristen using a photograph at the gate within Independence Park

A compact museum shop is available for people who want to order merchandise

A person of the most one of a kind reveals showcases prisoner ID cards

Inwangsan Peak can be viewed from within the prison grounds

Our Well-liked Seoul Guides

Want a lot more Seoul written content? Head about to our South Korea Vacation Guides to investigate the extremely very best of Seoul and outside of.

We hope this guide featuring the greatest factors to do at Seodaemun Jail Museum helps with planning your stop by to Seoul!

Remember to let us know if you have any questions about visiting this jail or South Korea in the remarks beneath.

Satisfied Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, mountaineering and pictures specialists. Over the very last 6 years traveling total time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
The place Are Those Morgans has been featured in Usa Right now, Gestalten, Get Your Guideline, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with numerous other publications. Go through a lot more about us.

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