One Extra Day of Leave for Soldiers Visiting Seodaemun Prison History Hall

Seodaemun District Launches Memorial Facility Tour Reward Program with Ministry of National Defense
Free Admission for Military Personnel... Ordinance Amended for Greater Benefits

From now on, military personnel visiting the Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seoul (251 Tongil-ro) will be eligible to receive a special one-day leave. Seodaemun District (District Mayor Lee Sungheon) announced on July 31 that the Ministry of National Defense's "Memorial Facility Tour Reward Program" will be officially implemented starting August 1.

Exterior view of Seodaemun Prison History Hall. Provided by Seodaemun-gu.

Under this program, if a soldier in uniform visits the Seodaemun Prison History Hall and completes all three designated authentication steps, then submits the certification documents to their unit, they will be granted one day of leave.

The reward program applies to Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps soldiers at the rank of sergeant or below, as well as soldiers in units directly under the Ministry of National Defense. The authentication process consists of three steps: Step 1, issuing a "military-only ticket" at the manned ticket booth; Step 2, completing a "quiz mission" using a QR code during the tour; and Step 3, taking a certified photo with the "Timestamp App" to verify a minimum one-hour stay.

Additionally, from the same date, Seodaemun District will amend local ordinances to fully exempt the admission fee to the Seodaemun Prison History Hall for soldiers at the rank of sergeant or below wearing military uniforms. Previously, a 50% discount was offered, but from now on, admission will be free at all times.

The Seodaemun Prison History Hall is a site where numerous independence activists, including Yu Gwansun, were imprisoned and endured hardship. Every year, various events such as "Seodaemun, 1919 The Cry of That Day" and the "Seodaemun Independence Festival" are held on March 1 (Independence Movement Day) and August 15 (National Liberation Day). In celebration of the 80th anniversary of liberation, the district will host the "2025 Seodaemun Independence Festival" from August 14 to 16 next month.

Lee Sungheon, Mayor of Seodaemun District, stated, "We expect this program to greatly contribute to fostering security awareness among soldiers," and added, "We will continue to strengthen the public role of the Seodaemun Prison History Hall as a memorial facility."