Meheartseoul | ~sweet memories~: February 2015

Saturday 28 February 2015

Seodaemun Prison History Museum (서대문형무소역사관)

Came back from Suwon, we directly took Seoul Subway Line 3 to Dongnimmun Station.

Seodaemun Independence Park is outside Dongnimmun Station.

Then we followed the crowd to Seodaemun Prison History Hall.

I got this Korean Flag Taedukgi from Suwon Hwaseong Museum.

Seodaemun prison was built in 1908, is a symbol of Japanese cruelty and oppression

during their colonial rule of Korea from 1910 until 1945.

In 1992, the site was dedicated as the Seodaemun Prison History Hall,

part of Independence Park. Seven of the prison complex's original

fifteen buildings are preserved as historical monuments.

Seodaemun Prison History Hall was built in remembrance of Seodaemun Prison,

and to salute the Korean patriots.

The main hall has three floors of exhibitions:

~ 1st floor - “A Place of Reverence,”

you can learn about Seodaemun Prison via the graphic systems.

Video footage about Seodaemun and the transition periods in its history.

~ 2nd floor - “A Place of History,”

to view the “National Resistance Room,” “Prison History Room” and the “In Prison Life Room.”

This floor shows examples how the people fought through this dark chapter in history continuing

to hold on to their hope and resolve for freedom.

~ 3rd floor - “A Place of Experience”

the most horrifying and dreadful place in the prison. In the “Temporary Detention Room” and

“Torture Room” you will see recreated torture scenes that are frighteningly realistic.

Me inside one of the empty cells.

Visitors can look around and go inside the original prison cell blocks where the independence fighters were held. Built to house 500 prisoners, up to 3500 were packed inside during the height of the anti-Japanese protests in 1919. (source)

The place was crowded that we need to queue to go in

and couldn't stop to long in order for people to walk.

Therefore, we didn't take a lot of photos. It's also sad and disturbing

to see re-creations of bloody mannequins and brutal torture scenes.

One of the martyrs on memorial board inside the prison wall.

Stopped by here to offer flower and pay respect to all the patriots.

We didn't enter to another building because of the long queue.

People can write a note or wish on white paper and hang it on these ropes.

Gyeokbyeokjang - some sort of Exercise Facilities with several partition walls

to prevent prisoners having conversations with each others. It's built in 1920

and dismantled after liberation and restored to its original shape in 2011.

The Square Pond - originally inside a lacquer ware factory where prisoners worked here

during Japanese colonial. After liberation, the pond was used for laundry.

Do you know what are those holes for?

They're Excrement holes in Solitary Confinement. These hole were at the corner of the floor where urine and stool were discharged. A drainage outlet of feces still remains at the outer side of jails.

Two jumbo size Taegukgi were hanging on the prison walls.

There were some performances by children at
Seodaemun courtyard.

We also saw a lot of adults in their hanboks taking group photos... I guess after their performance? There were stalls selling foods, there were some free and paid activities for children on March 1st Movement (Samil / Manse) Day.

Seodaemun Prison History Museum

251, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea

서울특별시 서대문구 통일로 251 (현저동)

Though we didn't see foreigner here, but I recommend it as it's a meaningful and educational place to learn history of Korea during Japanese occupation.

Sorry I've to stop here and continue Dongnimmun

Independence Gate few days later as my eyes

already in sleep mood and will auto shut down soon.

Related Posts:
~ March 1st Movement at Tapgol Park

~ [Suwon City Tour] - Hwaseong Haenggung Palace (화성행궁)

March 1st Movement at Tapgol Park

Oh dear~! Time flies!!! Actually I decided to complete my last year trip before Chinese New Year. Now I'd to skip posting about Unhyeongung and other places we visited on 28 February 2014. It's because I suddenly saw my Korean friend's posting Korean Toast in Cafe with Taegukgi at the background. Then I just remember that February has only 28 days! So, tomorrow is March 1st Movement in Korea.

Last year, exactly this date, we saw Korean flags (태극기 = Taegeukgi) were raised everywhere on our way from Nambu Bus Terminal to Center Mark Hotel.

We called 1330 through Skype to clear of our curiosity.The officer told us that it's because Korean Independence Day! So, I checked with her whether any places that we can attend the ceremony. She then checked and told us Seodaemun and...? I quickly said thank you as the taxi driver couldn't find Center Mark Hotel and my hubby didn't understand what he's saying...

That night when we went to Myeongdong, we saw KTO counter and went there to get more information. Since it's one day ceremony, we stick to our itinerary to go to Suwon in the morning then visit Seodaemun after that.

Coincidentally, we walked passed Tapgol Park on our way from Unhyeongung Palace. This park is another important spot, as it witnessed a great historical value and national spirit of Independence Protest on March 1, 1919.

The banner stated something related to March 1st Movement.

The event should be started at 14:00 pm.

Tapgol Park is historically important as the site of the origin of the March 1st Movement 1919,

an important part of the Korean independence movement as the first location for the

reading of the Proclamation of Independence. There are a number of bas-relief statues

representing Korean patriots, the Proclamation of Independence Monument,

and a poem by Han Yong-un.

This park was once a site of Wongaksa (Buddhist Temple). The word tap means "pagoda",

and the park gets its name from the Wongaksa Pagoda, a 10 storied stone pagoda

(National Treasure No.2) located in the park.

Tapgol Park (탑골공원)

Add: 99, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seou, Korea
서울특별시 종로구 종로 99 (종로2가)

Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station (Subway Line 1, 3, 5),

"Viva, Independent Korea~!"

It's 8:25pm... hopefully I can post Seodaemun Independence Gate by tonight, as tomorrow we'll going to Johor Bahru early in the morning and will be back late in the evening.

Thursday 26 February 2015

Dangui (당의) Royal Court Hanbok Dress

Unhyeongung - Dangui (당의) Royal Court Hanbok Dress | by Meheartseoul

We supposed to come back in the evening from Muju. We didn't have any plans after lunch, so we decided to find a nearby attraction around the hotel. From the map it seems like Unhyeongung is walkable from Center Mark Hotel. But, we decided to take the subway from Jonggak to Anguk Station.

Check out this video if you want to know how to purchase a Subway Ticket...

Unhyeongung Dangui (당의) Royal Court Hanbok Dress | meheartseoul.blogspot.com

Arrived in Anguk Station, looked high and low...

walked here and there to search for the Palace.

We didn't see anything that look like Palace although the map clearly stated it's here. Do you know why we couldn't find it?

Because we're expecting it to look like Gyeongbokgung or Changdeokgung.

Unhyeonggung is also a Palace (Gung = Palace).

We gave up and asked someone for help! And he answered...

"Uh huh?! 네, 여기다! Yes, You're here!!"

Aigoo~ really 'lose my face' I was so embarrassed leh!

Entrance Fee: 700 Won / Adult.

The palace will offer free admission starting on March 20, 2014

in accordance with the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s

partial revision of the Local Cultural Heritage Protection Act.

The counter staff asked whether we wanted to rent a Hanbok costume.

It costs 3,300 Won for 15 minutes.

이모 (Imo) bought us to the room behind this tree and she selected

this Hanbok for me based on my size.

I didn't dare to ask her whether I can choose the other Hanbok dress though this Hanbok seems too girlish / princess for me because Imo's face looked quite fierce.

I didn't take off my turtle neck blouse, because Imo said it's cold outside. Then she helped me to wear the Hanbok. She kept complimenting my look, my height and said that I looked like a Korean. Without much face expression she mumbled yeppeuda yeppeuda after I wore it. I kept saying thank you...

Then suddenly her face became more serious and complained that my husband is a bit too fat! I just couldn't stop laughing... LOL!

She asked me to tie my hair and she lent me a hair rubber band. Maybe she didn't like my curly lion hair. After that she reminded us that we had 15 minutes to return the hanbok there.

This Hanbok is called Dangui (당의). It's also called dang-jeogori (당저고리),

dang-jeoksam (당적삼), or dang-hansam (당한삼).

Dangui is a type of upper garment traditional hanbok for women, which was worn

as simple official outfit for ceremonial occasions during the Joseon Dynasty.

It's also known as Royal Court garment, as court ladies wore it as their daily dresses.

한복촬영,한복 야외촬영 meheartseoul.blogspot.com (Vera Lee)

The characteristics of Dangui is to emphasize the beauty of Hanbok’s curvy lines.

The form of Dangui is similar to that of Jeogori, the length of

both the front and back is triple to that of Jeogori.

Sleeves of Dangui are narrow. The side seams are open to

the armpit, and the hem is curved.

Court matron (Sanggung) or Lady-in-waiting (Gungnyeo) usually wear Dangui

just like the Queens or Princesses, but with no Geumbak or gold patterns.

Sanggung usually wears a dark shade of jade Dangui.

Geumbak is a traditional Korean craft for applying extremely

thin gold leaf on hanbok or other fabrics for decoration.

The Queen Mother, Queen Consort and Crown Princess wore Dangui

with attached ‘Hyungbae' (흉배 = Mandarin Square) placed on the

chest, shoulders and the back of the robe. However, Dangui for

Concubines and Court Ladies don't have Hyungbae on it.

During the early Joseon Dynasty, the robe color was the only reflection

to one’s rank inside the government: Red (1st senior to 3rd senior rank),

Blue (3rd junior to 6th junior rank), and Green (7th junior to 9th junior rank).

but soon they begun to adapt Hyungbae from the dynasties in China.

The rank badge, or Hyungbae is made up of embroidered cloud patterns and animals. Cranes for the civil officers and hopyo, a Tiger-Leopard mythical animal for military officers. Hyungbae with two animals are for 1st to 3rd rank and those with single animal are for the 4th to 9th rank. (source)