Talking About the Past, Present, and Future of the Seodaemun Prison Area

Seodaemun-gu Holds Academic Symposium on the 2nd to Explore 'Historical Significance and Development Plans for the Former Seodaemun Prison Area'

Seodaemun-gu (District Mayor Lee Seongheon) held an academic symposium on the 2nd at the Uijeongwon Hall of the Provisional Government Memorial Hall in Hyeonjeo-dong, with an audience of about 300 people, under the theme of "The Historic Significance and Development Plans of the Former Seodaemun Prison Area."

The district organized this event to explore the development direction of the historical and cultural belt connecting Independence Gate, Seodaemun Prison History Hall, and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Memorial Hall.

In his welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony, Seodaemun District Mayor Lee Seongheon said, "Through this academic symposium, I hope the value of the historical and cultural belt around Independence Park, a precious asset to be passed on to future generations, will be more widely recognized."

Kim Hyeongseok, a 104-year-old philosopher and professor emeritus at Yonsei University, vividly shared his experiences during the Japanese colonial period and the moment of liberation in his keynote speech, expressing, "I hope the current generation, which bears great responsibility for the future, will build a model Republic of Korea filled with justice, freedom, and happiness."

Professor Park Kyungmok of the Department of Korean History at Chungnam National University emphasized in his first thematic presentation titled "From Gyeongseong Prison to Seodaemun Prison History Hall, Reflecting Modern Korean History," that "to restore Seodaemun Prison as a space reflecting modern Korean history, the original spatial form must be revived."

Following this, Professor Hwang Seonik of the Department of Korean History at Kookmin University presented a thematic lecture titled "The National Provisional Government Memorial Hall Facing Independence Park," proposing a vision of the site as "Seoul's representative space encompassing the independence movement and modern history" and "a linked space capable of integratively interpreting the entire history of the independence movement."

Professor Emeritus Yoon Inseok of Sungkyunkwan University, in his thematic presentation titled "Designing the Future of Seodaemun Prison History Hall and Independence Park," suggested managing the space organically connecting Independence Gate, Independence Hall, the Tower of the Patriotic Martyrs, the detention center, Seodaemun Prison, and the Provisional Government Memorial Hall.

Following the thematic presentations, a comprehensive discussion was held chaired by Kim Jeongdong, director of the Modern Architecture Research Institute, with participants including Yang Seongsuk, director of the National Police Museum; Lee Honggu, curator at the National Provisional Government Memorial Hall; Min Hyunseok, senior research fellow at the Seoul Institute; and Kim Hyeongsu, special professor at the Defense Industry Complex of Kwangwoon University.

During the comprehensive discussion, a proposal attracted significant attention, suggesting that "with the disbandment of the 1st Security Unit of the Army's Capital Defense Command responsible for Blue House security, this unit adjacent to Seodaemun Prison History Hall should be relocated to the outskirts of the metropolitan area, and the site should be developed into a special tourism zone utilizing advanced research complexes such as bio and semiconductors, as well as historical and cultural resources."