I’m still thinking about the events one hundred years ago in 1919: the March 1 movement for independence and its aftermath. I am lucky to live close to many places of historical interest, like Seodaemun prison and Severance hospital, which are full of history right on my doorstep. (It was a bad air day - sometimes it happens. I keep my mask ready just in case.) Seodaemun prison - view from the north side In 1992 the Seodaemun prison was turned into a museum, the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, to preserve the history of what took place there during the Japanese occupation and beyond. I have walked by it often, but I never really thought much about what took place there, so I decided it was time to stop in and take a look. tower on the west wall Soedaemun prison was built in 1908 as Gyeongseong prison (which was the Japanese name for Seoul). It was built by colonial Japanese authorities for the purpose of controlling the local population. Originally designed to h...
John in Korea; The United Church of Canada and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, in partnership with each other: for justice, peace, and reconciliation -- sharing in God's work of transformation -- in Korea, in Canada, and beyond . . .