Exploring Seodaemun Prison: A Journey Through Korea's Dark History

We Koreans Must Always Remember the Reasons We Became Gyopo.

Statue outside Seodaemun represents the March 1st Movement (Samil Undong) of 1919, a massive, peaceful protest led by civilians—including many students and young women—against Japanese colonial rule.

A Visit on Korean Liberation Day: Remembering History at Seodaemun Prison

A couple of months ago—on August 15th, Korean Liberation Day—we had the honor of visiting two deeply significant sites: the Seodaemun Prison History Hall and the Museum of Japanese Colonial History in Korea.

When we arrived, we were struck by the sight of people from all walks of life—families with young children, students, tourists, and elders—making their way toward the museum, many waving Korean flags (태극기, Taegukgi). At a small desk near the entrance, we picked up flags ourselves before joining the slow-moving line. The sun was strong that day, but the atmosphere was reverent, even solemn. Small groups were allowed in at a time, which added to the sense that we were entering a space meant for reflection.

Seodaemun Prison is not a comfortable place to visit. It isn't meant to be. It's a sobering reminder of the suffering endured by millions of Koreans during the Japanese occupation. Among those who resisted—and who were imprisoned, tortured, or executed here—were the grandparents and great-grandparents of today's generation. The weight of that history is palpable in every corridor, every preserved cell, every name etched into memory.

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