Seodaemun Independence Park Explained

Seodaemun Independence Park
Native Name:	서대문독립공원
Native Name Lang:	ko
Type:	Municipal Park
Location:	Seodaemun District, Seoul
Coordinates:	37.5753°N 126.955°W
Mapframe-Zoom:	14
Operator:	Seodaemun District
Status:	open

Seodaemun Independence Park (Korean: 서대문독립공원) is an educational and cultural park located in Hyeonjeo-dong, Seodaemun District, Seoul, South Korea. The park contains various monuments and buildings, most notably the Seodaemun Prison Museum. The park receives nearly half a million visitors annually.^[1]

Overview

The name Seodaemun means literally "West Great Gate." This is a colloquial name of Donuimun, one of the former Eight Gates of Seoul, which was torn down in 1915. Even though the gate no longer survives, this area of Seoul still carries the name Seodaemun.

Seodaemun Independence Park contains:

1. Seodaemun Prison, originally built in 1907, currently a museum
2. Independence Gate (Dongnimmun, 독립문), completed in 1897, modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
3. Plinths of Yeongeunmun Gate, which is remnants of intentionally destroyed Yeongeunmun in 1895
4. Patriotic Martyr Monument
5. Independence Hall (Dongnipgwan,독립관), rebuilding of a structure originally built in 1407
6. Statue of Seo Jae-pil, Korean independence activist
7. Declaration of Independence Monument
8. Independence Square (the southwest entrance to the park)
9. Visitor Center

Location

Seodaemun Independence Park is easily accessed from exits 4 or 5 of the Dongnimmun Station on .

External links

• Official Seoul City Tourism Independence Park site

Notes and References

1. Web site: Historical Sites: Seodaemun Independence Park. Visit Seoul. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150618093436/http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&m=0004003002002&p=03&art_id=265&lang=en. 2015-06-18.