Collective Memory Seodaemun Prison History Hall

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Collective MemorySeodaemun Prison History Hall

• Jihae Kim
• CMNS 487

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Seodaemoun Prison History Hall

• Started its construction under the power of
  Japanese in 1907 and was opened in 1908 October
  21st.
• A place where many Korean patriots were tortured
  and killed during the Japanese colonization
  (including Ryo Gwan Soon)
• This prison became a history site in 1998 for
  educational purposes. This site is visited by
  many students as part of their History or Social
  Studies class curriculum.
• For the students who live outside of Seoul, this
  museum and the patriots who died here are taught.
  
• Mon-fri from 930- 1800 in the summer seasons,
  closes 1730 in the winter.
• Admission is 1.50 for adults, 1.00 for students
  and 0.50 for children and free for seniors.

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Objective and Purpose of the monument

• To promote education on the past sufferings
  that our ancestors went through for freedom
• To build patriotism in the hearts of the future
  generations.
• To remember those who suffered on the nations
  behalf
• The museum brochure
• We do hope that all people, especially
  teenagers who will take charge of Korean future,
  can learn and cherish the spirit of Korean
  ancestors who showed blazing patriotism in
  independence movements. It is through these
  efforts that we can overcome that painful part of
  our history.

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Eviatar Zerubavel article

• Social Memories Steps to a Sociology of the Past
• -explains the connection the new generation has
  with being part of the collective past. Ex the
  Jewish Tradition of the passover.
• Indeed, being social presupposes the ability to
  experience event that had happened to groups and
  commnities to which we belong long before we
  joined them as if they were part of our own
  past. (Zerubavel, 1996, pg12)
• Seodaemoun Prison History Hall is used to
  commemorate and is designed to allow future
  generations mnemonic access to their collective
  past.
• Collective memory
• the integration of various different personal
  pasts into a single common past that all members
  of a particular community come to remember
  collectively
• The notion of a collective memory implies a past
  that is not only commonly shared but also jointly
  remembered. By helping ensure that an entire
  mnemonic community will come to remember its past
  together, as a group, society affects not only
  what and who we remember but also when we
  remember it.