Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Seodaemun Prison History Hall

Seoul - As I had time on my hand - one of my customer and YJ decided to bring me to 2 interesting places that is a must for travellers to Seoul.  Surprise after 80+ trips, I have not been to neither of them.

Seodaeman Prison is a grim reminder of a time of sadness and sacrifices of which the modern Koreans benefit today.  It was also a reflection of how the extend of cruelty to another human being and we should never cross this path in the future again.   This prison was built during the Japanese occupation of Korea and it stood for 80 years as a living monument of grief for all Koreans.

A volunteer guide of elderly age took us around the Prison but she can only speak Korea which was translated for me via YJ.   Her patience was commendable in spite of the rain which we had to 'cuddle' at times under a small umbrella.

There were school children all around as it was an educational tour for them.  I think in Singapore we should bring our children to places to show how many people in Singapore sacrificed their lives during World War II and also the 3 years of Japanese occupation.    There are places that depict the scenes but unfortunately are not part of school's educational curriculum.  They go to  nice places like zoo, bird park, Malay village, Snow city, new water , etc but never to places that remind us who we were and the people that sacrificed for us.  Hopefully, someday it will change.




Huge rice cooker for inmates


This prison room are meant for 30 inmates


The small door to push food to the inmates


Rice scoop for inmates - the wood
 will be place in the rice scoop if the
inmates are being punished


At the end of the tour, this kind Korean lady gave me a booklet in English - there is a cost but it's free for me.

No comments: