[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Four iconic Korean sites to honor Liberation Day

Celebrate Korea's Liberation Day by visiting four iconic sites to learn about the historical figures and independence movements that fought back against Japanese colonization.

Hyochang Park in Yongsan District, central Seoul, has taegeukgi, the Korean flag, hanging on trees for the March 1 Independence Movement Day. [NEWS1]

Every year on Aug. 15, Korea welcomes Liberation Day, commemorating the nation’s independence from Japanese colonization from 1910 to 1945. On this day, it’s common to see the Korean flag, the Taegeukgi, displayed in the windows of many homes, alongside various historical events organized by the government and local offices on the street and brought to our screens through various programs and films.

In honor of this historically significant occasion, the Korea JoongAng Daily has compiled four meaningful sites to visit in August.

Seodaemun Prison History Hall서대문형무소역사관

Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seodaemun District, western Seoul. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, might be a place of sadness and remorse for many Koreans, as the hall used to function as a prison that held anti-Japanese forces and patriots. Kyungsung Prison — also referred to as Gyeongseong Prison — was the initial name, which was soon changed multiple times — Seodaemun Jail in 1912, Seoul Prison in 1945 and Seoul Detention Center in 1987, to name a few. The prison was built in 1907 into a panopticon structure, accommodating up to 500 inmates and additional facilities. Visitors can peruse the record cards of former prisoners, view relics of the imprisoned anti-Japanese independence activists and see outdoor exhibitions, including the Leper's Building and Execution Building.

Visitors look at the prison rooms at Seodaemun Prison History Hall. [NEWS1]

To remember and commemorate the independence movement activists and celebrate Liberation Day, the Seodaemun District Office holds the Seodaemun Independence Festival at the History Hall and the surrounding Seodaemun Independence Park from Aug. 13 to 15. All programs are free, but some require online registration through the festival website. The History Hall extends its closing hours from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the festival. If you are visiting, don’t miss out on activities like the stamp rally program, Taegeukgi-making program and the food trucks, along with commemorative performances.

A musical show at Seodaemun Independence Festival's opening ceremony on the outdoor stage on Aug. 12 last year. This year's festival kicks off on Aug. 13 and continues until Aug. 15. [NEWS1]

@seodaemun_festival251 Tongil-ro, Seodaemun District, western Seoul(서울특별시 서대문구 통일로 251)Operating hours: March to Oct., 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Nov. to Feb., 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Last admission is 30 minutes before the final hour. Closed every Monday, Jan. 1, Seollal and ChuseokAdmission fee: 3,000 won ($2.20) for adults between ages 19-64Phone number 02-360-8590Website: https://sphh.sscmc.or.kr/_eng

Hyochang Park 효창공원

A statue of independence activist Yi Bong-chang in Hyochang Park, Yongsan District, central Seoul [JOONGANG ILBO]

Designated as National Historic Site No. 330, Hyochang Park in Yongsan District, central Seoul, is where the cemeteries of national independence movement activists and patriots rest. Political leaders such as Kim Ku (also referred to as Kim Koo) (1876-1949), Yi Dong-nyung (1869-1940) and independence activists like Yi Bong-chang (1900-1932) and Yun Bong-gil (1908-1932) are among them.

Spanning 123,307 square meters (1,327,300 square feet), the site was originally named Hyochangwon, housing the tombs of Prince Munhyo, the son of King Jeongjo in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and his mother. However, their tombs were relocated by the Japanese in 1940, and the site got its current identity as a park. Hyochang Park has painful memories of the movement of the royal tombs forced by the Japanese colonial government but is now a beloved site with thick pine forests and deep historical meaning, featuring buildings like the Kim Koo Museum and Library. Statues and well-groomed trees add to the scenic view of the park.

177-18 Hyochangwon-ro, Yongsan District, central Seoul(서울특별시 용산구 효창원로 177-18)No admission feePhone number: 02-2199-7594Website: https://hyochangpark.com/

The Independence Hall of Korea독립기념관

The Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, South Chungcheong [CHEONAN CITY]

Many historical spots open to the public are remnants of buildings that were either used, or altered to cater to, the needs and interests of the Japanese government. However, some places stand as symbols of resilience and efforts to overcome national difficulties. The Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, South Chungcheong, is one of them.

The grand Independence Hall opened on Aug. 15, 1987, built with the funds of national donations and with the intention to counteract the distortion of history in Japanese textbooks. The site of Independence Hall covers an enormous 910,417 square meters, with 10 indoor and 15 outdoor exhibition halls. The majority of the exhibitions portray the Japanese colonization era, but the vast space is also partially dedicated to other periods of Korean history, such as the tomb from the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo (37 B.C.-A.D. 668) in the Three Kingdoms era. There is also a large forest built with hopes for Korean unification. On a sunny day, visitors can enjoy the view of a large pond that houses white lotus flowers throughout the summer.

@koreai8151 Dongnipginyeomgwan-ro Mokcheon-eup, Dongnam District, Cheonan City, South Chungcheong(충청남도 천안시 동남구 목천읍 독립기념관로 1)Operating hours: March to Oct., 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Nov. to Feb., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Last admission at an hour before closing time. Closed every Monday, but the outdoors area opens throughout the year)No admission feePhone number: 041-560-0114Website: http://global.i815.or.kr/en

Imcheonggak임청각

Imcheonggak in Andong, North Gyeongsang, is a traditional Korean house of the aristocrat Seokju Lee Sang-ryong (1858-1932). [JOONGANG ILBO]

Imcheonggak in Andong, North Gyeongsang, is the nation’s Treasure No. 182 and an architectural masterpiece. Built in 1515, this hanok (Korean-style house) is one of the oldest houses in Korean history, equipped with 99 rooms. This mansion was home to the aristocrat Seokju Lee Sang-ryong (1858-1932), the first prime minister of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. His efforts in fighting against Japanese colonial rule were widely recognized but met with pushback from the Japanese government, leading to the house's demolition for railway construction in 1942. This story inspired an episode featuring Ko Sa-hong, the grandfather of Ko Ae-shin, in the historical drama "Mr. Sunshine" (2018).

The house has been repaired and still undergoes intermittent construction and maintenance. If you are visiting, enrich your experience by stopping by the seven-story brick pagoda at Beopheungsa Temple Site, National Treasure No. 16, which is only a two-minute walk away.

63 Imcheonggak-gil, Andong, North Gyeongsang(경북 안동시 임청각길 63)Phone number: 054-859-0025Website: http://imcheonggak.com/board/

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]