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National Museum Of Korean Democracy
Construction of National Museum of Korean Democracy where the ceaseless dream of Korean democracy is realized.
National Museum Of Korean Democracy is a location to look back at the past when hardships were tread upon and dreams were achieved. It is also a place filled with the passion to fulfill dreams not yet achieved, a site for learning to expand democracy and planting its roots, and a point of solidarity where many nations and people from around the globe can strive for democracy together.
‘Namyoung-dong anti-communist interrogation office’
Namyoung-dong anti-communist interrogation office building is constructed in 1976 for a five story building above ground, it was used for the anti-communist department branch office of the national police headquarters and was extended to seven stories in 1983. At that time, the building was disguised with a sign of "xx Marine Research Institute" to hide its secrets from the citizens. Inside, however, inhumane tortures were committed to repress democratization activists who criticize dictatorship. In January 1987, the ugly inside was exposed to the outside world by the tortured death of a student democratization activist, Park Jong-cheol, leading to its closure. The Namyoung-dong anti-communist department building, a key evidence of past state violence, is being transformed into National Museum Of Korean Democracy that upholds and safeguards the inalienable values of democracy and human rights.
Turning the Scene of State Violence Into the Arena of ‘Democracy and Human Rights’
The so-called ‘Namyoung-dong anti-communist interrogation office building’ is a place notorious for tortures of democratization activists in the 1970s-1980s. Ironically, the building has been used as the police human rights center owned by the Korean National Police Agency, since torture facilities there were shut down. In the end, the KDF took over the responsibility to manage and operate the building in December 2018 taking the initiative in founding National Museum Of Korean Democracy. The National Museum Of Korean Democracy is scheduled to open in 2024.
