Mom, I went to prison.

It was another weekend and another opportunity to see the sights in Seoul. While a few of my friends opted for a movie and the amusement park, I decided to visit a prison. Right? Seriously, what were those other people thinking? Who passes up a prison? Not this girl.

Anyways, so a group of us hopped on the subway to see if couldn't get the heebie-jeebies. Seodaenum Prison was built forcibly by the Japanese in the early 1900's. At the same time the Korean's had started an Independence movement. Anyone found guilty of cooperating in this Independence group were placed here in Seodaenum.

There was little to no english translation, and with no guide, it was pretty difficult to make sense of what I was looking at. I did learn, however, that starvation was the leading cause of death in this prison and torture in any form was fair play. I'm guessing to add to the shock value, the current Korean population decided to fill the cells with dummies and mannequins, smeared in fake blood. For me, it just cheapened the whole thing and kind of made a mockery of a completely serious subject. But hey, someone's gotta be buying up those halloween clearance items.

This little boy was too afraid to go in.

Corpses were dragged through these tunnels after execution.

This plaque described why such a horrible looking tree grew inside the execution building's walls.

the hanging tree.

prison grounds

This part was really, really messed up. I didn't take a picture of it, because I was a bit disturbed, but this lovely dummy is part of it. You could actually semi-experience a hanging. You could sit in a chair, put the rope around your neck, and the chair would drop (obviously the rope dropped too). I wasn't a fan.

water torture.

lynching.

beating.

old school security guard.

in this cell, they had a tape on a loop of this woman screaming over and over again. really driving the point home I suppose.

These are old mugshots and "report cards" so they called them. As sad as they are I think they're quite beautiful.

As dark and twisted as some of the pictures may seem, it didn't feel that way at all (besides the hanging thing). Schools of kids were running around and playing. Old men were drinking coffee and shootin the breeze. It was strange to say the least.

After the cemetary, then the prison, you bet your butt I went to that amusement park the next week.

Just soakin' it allllll in.

C