Seodaemun Prison History Hall

Built in 1908 during the Japanese colonial period, Seodaemun Prison held and, in many cases, took the lives of countless Korean independence activists — including Yu Gwan-sun, one of Korea's most famous independence martyrs. It kept operating as a prison until 1987, before reopening as a history museum in 1998.

The original cell blocks, execution building, and underground torture chambers are preserved close to their original state, making for a heavy but important visit — if you're bringing children, it helps to explain the historical background beforehand. It pairs well with the nearby Dongnimmun (Independence Gate) and Seodaemun Independence Park.

Closed Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a holiday), January 1st, and the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays.