The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    4 Chinese, 4 Russian military planes enter Korea's air defense zone without notice

  • 3

    'The Second Husband' co-stars to the tie knot, expecting child in real life

  • 5

    Egyptian national arrested for possession of cannabis cookie

  • 7

    14 injured as escalator reverses at Sunae Station in Bundang

  • 9

    ROK-US alliance is now nuclear-based: President Yoon

  • 11

    Heart transplant recipients tie the knot

  • 13

    Incheon announces plans to become hub for overseas Koreans

  • 15

    JYP founder to work as guest commentator for NBA finals on Korean cable

  • 17

    Controversy grows as fisheries ministry stresses safety of seafood, salt, beaches

  • 19

    Hyundai Motor, IKEA join hands to promote sustainable outdoor activities

  • 2

    Asiana Airlines pilots union to initiate mass flight delays

  • 4

    Korean food's global popularity leads to copycat products in China, Japan

  • 6

    'Dynamite' tops 1.7 bil. YouTube views to become most-watched BTS MV

  • 8

    Presidential office's plan to revamp TV viewing fees causes stir

  • 10

    Samsung family takes out stock loans to pay inheritance tax

  • 12

    International Yoga Day to celebrate well-being of body, mind

  • 14

    Saudi mega-city project NEOM secures $5.6 bil. for workforce housing

  • 16

    S. Korea wins seat on UN Security Council for 2024-25

  • 18

    Seoul Queer Culture Festival venue moved to Euljiro

  • 20

    JPMorgan chief meets with Korean financial leaders

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • About the past
  • Korea: deConstructed
  • Parchment Made of Sheepskins
  • Workable Words
  • Dialogues with Adoptees
  • Imbricated Chaos
Thu, June 8, 2023 | 15:15
Independence Gate: haunted past
Posted : 2018-03-25 09:20
Updated : 2018-03-25 15:23
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Independence Gate now
Independence Gate now

By Robert Neff

Independence Gate now
A string of oxen, laden with firewood and brush, can be seen passing through Independence Gate circa 1900.
The Independence Gate and its park enjoy the reputation as the site of Joseon's Independence Movement but they also have a dark past.

The region was once infested with man-eating tigers that preyed on lone merchants, and those who escaped the claws and fangs of the great beasts sometimes found themselves at the mercy of thieves and highwaymen.

Even the completion of the Independence Gate on Nov. 20, 1897, was marred by misfortune. The funeral of the Korean queen, who had been assassinated through the intrigue of members of the Japanese legation and disgruntled Koreans, was held the following day.

Rumors soon circulated that the area was haunted: goblins were said to prowl about in the darkness, cutting off the prized topknots of Korean men, and will-o-wisps sought to lure human prey to their deaths.

In December 1907, a local newspaper published this:

Independence Gate now
Oxen and carts pass near Independence Gate in the 1900s.

"The Koreans are firm believers in goblins, but sometimes this belief receives a rude shock. The vicinity of the Independence Arch at Seoul is reputed to be a famous resort for these uncanny visitors and many are the pranks reported. One dark night not long ago a certain Korean was compelled to pass that neighborhood and by the time he had gone beyond the Arch his fears were in the ascendancy. Just at this point sure enough a goblin (tok-gabi) appeared on the scene.

"He was ten feet high, somewhat broader than a man and had only one eye in the centre of his forehead which burned fiercely but had a curious manner of blinking at the observer. As there was no escape from the being, he concluded to attack it, so grasping a stout stick he had in his hand he aimed at the eye and struck with all his might. The goblin fell to the earth but a remonstrant human voice cried out 'Save my life, save my life!'

"Mutual explanations followed for the goblin turned out to be only an inoffensive villager from beyond the Peking Pass who was coming in to town in the dark with a load of wood on his back and smoking a pipe!"

Independence Gate now
A Japanese policeman can be seen under the arch.

But tigers and ghosts were perhaps not the most terrifying things in the area ― on Oct. 21, 1908, Gyeongseong Prison was opened. For nearly four decades, thousands of Koreans were imprisoned here for their efforts to gain Korea's independence from Japan. Many lost their lives within the prison walls.

The prison has long been closed down and now serves as a museum ― complementing the nearby Independence Gate ― as a symbol of Korea's struggle for independence. But even these symbols have something to fear: the future. Development is overshadowing them with tall apartment buildings that seem to diminish their importance to modern Korea.

Independence Gate now
Independence Gate in the 1920s



Emailrobertneff103@gmail.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Heart transplant recipients tie the knot Heart transplant recipients tie the knot
2Seoul Queer Culture Festival venue moved to Euljiro Seoul Queer Culture Festival venue moved to Euljiro
3Experts skeptical about effectiveness of S. Korea's UNSC seat to rein in NK Experts skeptical about effectiveness of S. Korea's UNSC seat to rein in NK
4Korea, Poland celebrate rollout of Warsaw's first FA-50 Korea, Poland celebrate rollout of Warsaw's first FA-50
5Samsung to unveil new foldable phones at Galaxy Unpacked in Seoul Samsung to unveil new foldable phones at Galaxy Unpacked in Seoul
6Yido bridges East, West via fusion cuisine in crafted ceramics Yido bridges East, West via fusion cuisine in crafted ceramics
7Coupang, Baemin under pressure from radical labor groups Coupang, Baemin under pressure from radical labor groups
8Rise in temperatures, solar radiation by 2100 inevitable: weather agency Rise in temperatures, solar radiation by 2100 inevitable: weather agency
9Umbrella union boycotts negotiating body to protest labor crackdown Umbrella union boycotts negotiating body to protest labor crackdown
10Tax on domestic cars to be lowered in July Tax on domestic cars to be lowered in July
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Frieze Seoul unveils stronger lineup of Asian galleries for its second edition Frieze Seoul unveils stronger lineup of Asian galleries for its second edition
2'Leaving Las Vegas' director Mike Figgis puts Korea in spotlight in new film 'Leaving Las Vegas' director Mike Figgis puts Korea in spotlight in new film
3[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists
4Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
5Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group