From 1910 until 1945, Korea was annexed by Japan and ruled as its colony. The period evokes a range of strong emotions to this day and Seoul holds a number of important sites that either played key roles to the period or teaches about it. In honor of Samiljeol, which I’ll explain a bit more later, here are a few places to check out to learn more about this turbulent time.

To get a broad overview of Korea’s colonial era, start by hitting up the Seoul Museum of History. The museum is excellent in its coverage of Seoul’s past eras including a permanent section shedding light to Korea’s annexation and subsequent life in Seoul under Japanese rule. The exhibits includes photographs, artifacts, and plenty of background in English and Korean.

For a look at the colonial era and how it affected the waning days of Korea’s final royal dynasty, pay a visit to Deoksugung Palace. Along with Changdeokgung Palace, Deoksugung was where many members of the final royal family resided in the Joseon dynasty’s final days and within Deoksugung’s grounds are a number of important sites relevant to colonial rule. The Jungmyeongjeon (중명전) Hall just by Deoksugung, for example, witnessed the signing of the Eulsa Treaty which made Korea a protectorate of Japan. Seokjojeon, the striking neoclassical, Western-style hall within Deoksugung was used as an official royal residence by the last royal family. Entrance to Seokjojeon is only allowed through officially guided group tours throughout the day but it offers a fascinating glimpse into the final years of the Joseon Dynasty, the pressures they faced from Imperial Japan, and the tragic stories of the royal family members under annexation.

Not too far from the royal palaces is Tapgol Park, one of Korea’s most significant sites for the Korean independence movement. Here, on March 1, 1919, a number of activists gathered and proclaimed the Korean Declaration of Independence from Japan. Huge crowds formed to hear the proclamation made and eventually the gathering grew into a peaceful procession against Japan’s rule. The samiljeol movement, or March 1st movementm greatly inspired independence activities in other parts of Korea which were violently put down by Japanese forces. The park today features statues of some of the participating Korean independence fighters and is revered as the site that helped launch Korea’s modern independence movement. The movement’s significance is reflected in the day being observed today as a national public holiday.

Hyochang Park is also significant for being the final resting place of some of the great leaders of the independence movement. At the end of colonial rule, several important independence fighters were interred here including (Lee Bong Chang), Baek Jeong Ki, and Baekbeom Kim Koo. Kim Koo is especially respected by Koreans as an individual who dedicated his life to the independence of Korea. Visitors will especially want to pay a visit to the Kim Koo Museum and Library within the park which tells the story of Kim’s extraordinary life, his sacrifices, and his achievements.

Last but not least, a visit to the Seodaemun Prison History Hall is a must visit to learn about some of the greatest brutalities from the colonial period. The prison was once used by Japanese soldiers to imprison, torture, and execute thousands of independence fighters including young students. Visitors can tour the outside and inside of the prison grounds, jail cells, torture chambers, and execution sites, which provides a graphic look at the brutal savagery that occurred here. Like the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland or the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Japan, Seodaemun Prison History Hall serves as a painful but unforgettable reminder of a harrowing chapter in history.