Seodaemun Prison

Seodaemun Prison
Hangul	서대문 형무소
Hanja	西大門刑務所
Revised Romanization	Seodaemun Hyeongmuso
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏdaemun Hyŏngmuso

Seodaemun Prison is a museum and former prison in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was constructed beginning in 1907 while Korea was considered a protectorate of Japan. The prison was opened on October 21, 1908, under the name Gyeongseong Gamok. Its name was changed to Seodaemun Prison in 1923.

The prison was used during the Japanese rule of Korea to house anti-colonial activists, and could accommodate around 500 people. After the Japanese occupation ended in 1945, the prison was used by the South Korean government until 1987, when it was replaced by a facility in Uiwang City, Gyeonggi Province. In 1992, the site was dedicated as the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, part of Independence Park. Seven of the prison complex's original fifteen buildings are preserved as historical monuments.

See also

• Korea under Japanese rule
• List of Korea-related topics
• Independence Gate

External links

• Review of Seodaemun Prison
• Lifeinkorea profile
• Seodaemun-gu profile
• Seoul City Parks profile