Seodaemun Independence Park

Coordinates: 37°34′25.11″N 126°57′28.50″E / 37.5736417°N 126.9579167°E

Independence Park's Information board

Seodaemun Independence Park (서대문독립공원) is an educational and cultural park located in Hyunjeo-dong, Seodaemun-gu, 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 refers to 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 (독립문), completed in 1897, modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

3. Remnants of Yeongeunmun Gate, mostly demolished in 1896

4. Patriotic Martyr Monument

5. Independence Hall (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 .

References

1. "Historical Sites: Seodaemun Independence Park". Visit Seoul.

External links

• Official Seoul City Tourism Independence Park site