1930년대 경성구치감 설치와 사상범

Abstract

Gyeongseong Detention Center was construct in June, 1935 as an annex to Seodaemun Prison to confine the "political offenders" on trial that quickly grew in number due to Maintenance of the Public Order Act executed in 1925. It consisted of six two-story structure including solitary confinement, shared confinement, and confinement for the ill. The capacity was 600 prisoners in 1,858.91m2 and there was an independent operating system of offices, storage for belongings in custody, boiler room, and kitchen area separated from the existing building of Seodaemun Prison and a separate confinement division with 74 guards. The detention center functioned independently for convenient confinement and punishment of political offenders for Japan"s imperial rule. About 676 political offenders confined in Gyeongseong Detention Center were identified with the prison record cards. They were mostly confined for violation of Maintenance of the Public Order Act and Security Act(95.12%). The length of sentence was less than one year and six months for 46.07% and less than 2~3 years for 28.54%. By age, 50% were in the 20s, 18.21% in the 30%, and 13.43% in teens. Among them, 135(19.97%) were men of national merit for liberation. There was a time when more than 10 were imprisoned for the Donguhoe case, Samdogyo case, and Chuncheon student movement. There were 99 prisoners who were on death penalty. Among them 30 were arrested during armed protests against Japan in Gando region. Japan sentenced them to death for murder, robbery, and arson under the General Criminal Act. As a result, Gyeongseong Detention Center was operated as a facility dedicated to inhibiting the powers threatening or interfering with the imperial order which Japan intended to maintain.