Jongno History Tour (Seodaemun Prison History Center , Lee Hoi-young)

If you’ve visited Korea, you’ve probably already been to, are currently visiting, or are planning to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) in Jongno (종로). If you’re looking to extend your time in Jongno after exploring the palace, I highly recommend the Seodaemun Prison History Center (서대문형무소역사관). 

It’s located at 251 Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서대문구 통일로 251), just a 2-minute subway ride from Gyeongbokgung Station and you can easily get there by taking Line 3 to Dongnimmun Station (3호선 독립문역). The Seodaemun Prison History Center opens from Tuesday through Sunday 9:30 ~ 18:00. If you are interested in listening to the commentary, you can reserve a guide 15 days before your trip but they also provide some QR videos in Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, and German. In addition, the entrance fee is 3000 won for adults and 1000 won for children. 

The link to the reservation for your tour is : https://sphh.sscmc.or.kr/reservation/docent.php 

The Seodaemun Prison was built by the Japanese Government in 1907 with a scale of 1,600㎡ and opened in 1908 to imprison Korean activists who resisted colonial rule. The Prison was demolished in 1987 and was then rebuilt in 1998 on November 5th with a scale of 51,200㎡ which is approximately 7 times the acreage of a soccer field.

Seodaemun Prison History Center , 2025 Feb 8th 

Korea was suffering under Japanese control for 35 years. During this time, Japan controlled Korea, taking away its freedom and trying to erase Korean culture. Many Koreans fought back through peaceful protests, but they faced harsh punishment and torture in various places including the Seodaemun Prison. 

At the Seodaemun Prison History Museum, you can see the brutal torture methods used during the Japanese colonial period. They used a thin wooden stick wrapped with thread and soaked in water to beat the prisoners and they also used thick sticks with glass embedded in them. In addition, there is a "Wall Coffin," a thin box where prisoners were forced to stand for 2–3 days without food or water. Another torture equipment was called "Box Torture," the Japanese guards locked people in a box with nails stuck on the sides while they shook it. Not only that, they tied the prisoners to chairs, and pins were pushed under their fingernails or they were tortured with electric shocks, and had red pepper water poured into their mouths, eyes, noses, and ears while they were hanging upside down. The Seodaemun Prison History Museum reenacted these forms of torture.

Forms of torture methods portrayed in the Seodaemun Prison History Center

The Seodaemun Prison History Center honors the courage of these independence fighters who sacrificed their lives for Korea’s freedom.

Pictures of Known Independence Fighters in Seodaemun Prison History Center

Samiljeol (March First Independence Movement)

Samiljeol is a national holiday in Korea that marks the day the Korean people stood against Japanese colonial rule and proclaimed the Declaration of Independence, declaring to the world their desire for freedom.

On the occasion of Samiljeol, I would like to mention this independent activist.

Lee Hoi-young was born in 1867 into a prestigious family, established the Shin Hung Military Academy, and is an Independence activist who fought against Japanese imperialism.

 Picture of Lee Hoi-young by 공훈전자사료관

After Japan took control of Korea in 1910, Lee Hoi-young and his family, along with over 50 relatives, left for Manju. He used all his money, 400,000 won, for the independent movement. The money is equivalent to 2 trillion won today.

With the funds, Lee Hoi-young started a school in Manju to train soldiers for Korea’s independence. This school, which later became the Shin Heung Military Academy, trained 3,500 officers for the Independence Army until it closed in 1920 and the school offered free tuition and food.

After 8 years of the independence movement, he ran out of money and Lee Hoi-young and his family lived in extreme poverty. Under Japan’s harsh repression, Lee Hoi-young was arrested by the Japanese police in 1932. During the severe torture, he passed away. 

The Lee Hoi-young Memorial Hall, built in 2021, honors his sacrifices for the country.

Lee Hoi-young Memorial Hall Picture by 박민우 from 동아일보

If you want to know more about him, I recommend going to the Lee Hoi-young Memorial Hall. 

Address : 15 Sajik-ro 6-gil, Jongno District, Seoul

Works Cited

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박민우. “우당 이회영 선생 기념관 개관…오세훈 “남산 르네상스” 결실.” 동아일보, 9 June 2021, www.donga.com/news/Society/article/all/20210610/107358828/1. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.

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네이버 지식백과. “3·1절.” Naver.com, 2025, terms.naver.com/entry.naver?docId=1109386&cid=40942&categoryId=32179. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.

서대문혁무소역사관. “서대문혁무소역사관.” 서대문혁무소역사관, sphh.sscmc.or.kr/. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.

“서대문형무소역사관.” 나무위키, 9 Feb. 2025, namu.wiki/w/%EC%84%9C%EB%8C%80%EB%AC%B8%ED%98%95%EB%AC%B4%EC%86%8C%EC%97%AD%EC%82%AC%EA%B4%80. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.