Kaesong (, ) is a special city in the southern part of

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...

(formerly in

North Hwanghae Province North Hwanghae Province (Hwanghaebuk-to; , lit. "north Yellow Sea province") is a province of North Korea. The province was formed in 1954 when the former Hwanghae Province was split into North and South Hwanghae. The provincial capital is Sari ...

), and the capital of

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

during the Taebong kingdom and subsequent

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

dynasty. The city is near the

Kaesong Industrial Region The Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR) or Kaesŏng Industrial Zone (KIZ) is a special administrative industrial region of North Korea (DPRK). It was formed in 2002 from part of the Kaesŏng Directly-Governed City. On 10 February 2016, it was temp ...

close to the

border Borders are usually defined as geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other subnational entities. Political borders c ...

with

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

and contains the remains of the

Manwoldae palace Manwoldae (Hangul: 만월대, Hanja: 滿月臺; lit. ''Full Moon Platform''), or Mangwoldae (Hangul: 망월대, Hanja: 望月臺), was the main palace of the Goryeo Dynasty of Korea. It did not have an official name, such as "Gyeongbokgung" (the ...

. Called Songdo while it was the ancient capital of Goryeo, the city prospered as a trade centre that produced Korean ginseng. Kaesong now functions as the DPRK's

light industry Light industry are industries that usually are less capital-intensive than heavy industry and are more consumer-oriented than business-oriented, as they typically produce smaller consumer goods. Most light industry products are produced for ...

centre. During the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945, the city was known by the Japanese pronunciation of its name, "Kaijō". Between 1945 and 1950, Kaesong was part of South Korea and under its control. The 1953

Korean Armistice Agreement The Korean Armistice Agreement ( ko, 한국정전협정 / 조선정전협정; zh, t=韓國停戰協定 / 朝鮮停戰協定) is an armistice that brought about a complete cessation of hostilities of the Korean War. It was signed by United Sta ...

left the city under North Korean control. Due to the city's proximity to the border with South Korea, Kaesong has hosted cross-border economic exchanges between the two countries as well as the jointly run

. As of 2009, the city had a population of 192,578.

History

The earliest archaeological signs of habitation in the Kaesong area date from the

Neolithic The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several parts ...

. Artifacts such as

Jeulmun pottery Comb Ceramic or Pit-Comb Ware (in Europe), Jeulmun pottery or Jeulmun vessel (in Korea) is a type of pottery subjected to geometric patterns from a comb-like tool. This type of pottery was widely distributed in the Baltic, Finland, the Volga ups ...

, stone ware, and stone axes have been excavated from Osongsan and

Kaesong Nasong Kaesong (, ) is a special city in the southern part of North Korea (formerly in North Hwanghae Province), and the capital of Korea during the Taebong kingdom and subsequent Goryeo dynasty. The city is near the Kaesong Industrial Region close t ...

, the double-walled fortress of Kaesong. As Kaesong has been occupied by various states throughout centuries, its name has changed. It was in the realm of

Mahan confederacy Mahan () was a loose confederacy of statelets that existed from around the 1st century BC to 5th century AD in the southern Korean peninsula in the Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces. Gina Lee Barnes, 《State Formation in Korea: Historical and A ...

, and was referred to as ''Busogap'' during the rule of

Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...

. Before the strength of

Baekje Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla. Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jum ...

was retreated to the southwest of

Jungnyeong Jungnyeong is a mountain pass in the Sobaek Mountains of central South Korea. It reaches a height of . It stands on the flank of Sobaeksan, which reaches more than twice that height. The pass connects Punggi-eup, Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do wit ...

, Mungyeong Saejae, and

Asan Bay Asan Bay is a South Korean bay in the Yellow Sea. Named after the city of Asan immediately to its south, it lies at the mouth of several rivers and separates the provinces of Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheongnam-do South Chungcheong Province ( ko, ...

in 475, the area had been a part of

for about 100 years. However, it became a territory of

Silla Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...

in 555, the 16th year of Jinheung of Silla's reign, and its name was changed to ''Song'ak-gun'' during the period. According to the ''

Samguk Sagi ''Samguk Sagi'' (, ''History of the Three Kingdoms'') is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The ''Samguk Sagi'' is written in Classical Chinese, the written language of the literati of ancient Korea, ...

'', when a castle was built in the site in 694, the third year of Hyoso of Silla's reign, Kaesong was referred to as "Song'ak (송악; 松嶽)". Therefore, it is assumed that the name Song'ak had been used at least before the time.

Goryeo

Silla began to decline in late 9th century, and a period of rival warlords ensued. In 898, Kaesong fell under the hand of

Gung Ye Gung Ye ( – 24 July 918, r. July 901 – 24 July 918) was the king of the short-lived state of Taebong (901–918), one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, he became a victim of the power st ...

, the founder of his short-lived state, Taebong, and then became a part of

in 919 by its founder, Wang Geon, who was enthroned as

Taejo of Goryeo Taejo of Goryeo (31 January 877 – 4 July 943), also known as Taejo Wang Geon (; ), was the founder of the Goryeo dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943, achieving unification of the Later Three ...

. Taejo established the capital in the south of Song'ak, and incorporated Kaesong into Song'ak under the name of "Gaeju". In 919, Kaesong became the national capital. In 960, the 11th year of

Gwangjong of Goryeo Gwangjong of Goryeo (925 – 4 July 975), personal name Wang So, was the fourth king of Goryeo. Biography Birth and early life Gwangjong was born in 925 as Wang So, fourth son of King Taejo, who had founded Goryeo in 918. His mother was Queen S ...

's reign, the city was renamed Gaegyeong, and in 995, the 14th year of Seonjong of Goryeo's reign, it was elevated to "Gaesong-bu". The Gaeseong-bu is a combined term of Song'ak-gun, and Gaesong-gun, which is different from the region of the pre-1945 Gaesong-ri, Seo-myeon, Kaepung-gun. In 1010, the first year of Hyeonjong of Goryeo's reign, the palace and houses were almost burnt down during the

second conflict in the Goryeo–Khitan War The Second Goryeo-Khitan War (; ) was an 11th-century conflict between the Goryeo, Goryeo dynasty of Korea and the Khitan people, Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China near what is now the border between People's Republic of China, China and North Kore ...

, so in 1018, Gaesong-bu was relegated for the "bu" system, and became to govern the three hyeon unites of Jeongju, Deoksu, and Gangeum. In the late 12th century, there was instability in both the government and the countryside. A slave named Manjǒk (or spelled as Manjeok) (만적; 萬積) led a group of slaves who gathered outside Kaesong in 1198. The revolt plot was suppressed by

Choe Chung-heon Choe Chung-heon (1149 – 29 October 1219) was a military ruler of Korea during the Goryeo period. Choe's father was a Grand General in the Goryeo military, hence precipitating his own entry into the military. Choe witnessed military men become ...

. When Yi Songgye overthrew Goryeo in 1392 and established the

Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

as Taejo of Joseon, he moved the Korean capital from Kaesong to Hanyang (modern-day

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

) in 1394.

20th century

Kaesong remained a part of Gyeonggi Province until the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

. When Korea was partitioned at the 38th parallel after World War II, Kaesong was on the southern side of the line (within South Korea). However, the battle of Kaesong-Munsan was won by the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the first days of the Korean War. The city was recaptured by UN Forces on 9 October 1950 during the UN Offensive, 1950, pursuit of the KPA that followed the successful Battle of Inchon, Inchon landings. UN Forces Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River#Aftermath, abandoned the city 16 December 1950 during the withdrawal to the Imjin River following the Chinese People's Volunteer Army intervention in the war. Kaesong would remain under Chinese/North Korean control until the end of the war. Ceasefire negotiations began in Kaesong on 10 July 1951, but were moved to Panmunjom, southeast of the city, on 25 October 1951. The

signed on 27 July 1953 recognised

n control over Kaesong making it the only city to change control from South Korea to North Korea as a result of the war. Postwar Kaesong and the part of Kyonggi Province that came to be occupied was organized into "Kaesong Region" (''Kaesŏng Chigu;'' 개성 지구; 開城地區). In 1957, Kaesong became a "Directly Governed City" (''Kaesŏng Chikhalsi;'' 개성 직할시; 開城直轄市).

21st century

In 2002, Kaesong Industrial Region, Kaesŏng Industrial Region was formed from part of Kaesong. In 2003, the remaining part of Kaesong (excluding the Industrial Region) became part of

. The city is close to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, Demilitarized Zone that divides North and South Korea. In October 2019, Kaesong became a "Special City".

Geography

Located in the center of Korea, Kaesong is the southernmost city of North Korea. It is bordered by Kaepung, Changpung, Panmun, and Kumchon counties. Kanghwa Island of Incheon Municipality lies just south, beyond a narrow channel. It covers an area of 1,309 km², the urban district is surrounded by Songaksan (North Hwanghae), Songak (Songak-san; 송악산; 松嶽山) (489 m) and Pongmyongsan, Pongmyong mountains. The city center surrounds the much smaller Mt. Janam (103 m), on which is located the city's Kim Il Sung statue. In the northern part of Kaesong, the end of the Ahobiryong Mountains, Ahobiryŏng range creates the northernmost border of Kaesong City. This range consists of Mts. Chonmasan, Chŏnma (757 m), Sŏnggŏ, Myoji (764 m), Suryong (716 m), Chesŏk (749 m), Hwajang (558 m), and Ogwan. With the exception of the mountainous northeastern region, however, most areas of Kaesong consist of low hills with the height less than 100 meters. The Imjin River flows along the northeastern border line of the city and the Ryesong River (禮成江) (Ryeseong-gang; 례성강) (transliterated in South Korea as Yeseong-gang; 예성강) runs along the western border to the mouth of the Han River (Korea), Han River. In addition to the two rivers, small and large rivers and streams such as the Samich'ŏn, Wŏlamch'ŏn, Chukbaech'ŏn, Kŭmsŏngch'ŏn, and Sach'ŏn rivers drain into the Han. The river basin located in the southwest of Kaesong has spacious alluvial plains such as P'ungdŏkbŏl, Singwangbŏl, and Samsŏngbŏl. The geology consists of the Proterozoic, Cenozoic, and Paleozoic stratum, strata and Mesozoic intrusive granite. The underground resources include gold, zinc, copper, fluorspar, limestone, granite, and kaolin. The soil comprises generally brown forest soil while the areas drained by Yesŏng, Imjin, and Han rivers consist of mostly alluvial soil, alluvial and saline soil. The climate is generally warm and moderate, with an average annual temperature of around 10 ℃. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of −5.9 ℃, while the hottest month is August, with an average temperature of 24.7 ℃. The average annual rainfall ranges from 1,300 to 1,400 millimeters. The duration of frost-free period is 180 days—the longest in North Korea. About 55% of Kaesong is forested (80% of the trees are pines), and 40 species of mammals and 250 birds inhabit the area.

Climate

Kaesong has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: ''Dwa''), with cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers with abundant rainfall.

Administrative divisions

Before 2002, Kaesong Directly Governed City was divided into one city (Kaesŏng itself) and three counties; Changpung County, Changpung County and Panmunjom. In 2003, P'anmun-gun and part of Kaesong-si were separated from Kaesŏng Directly Governed City and merged to form

. The remaining part of Kaesŏng joined

in 2002. Kaesong is currently divided into 24 administrative districts known as Administrative divisions of North Korea#Third-level divisions, Dong, as well as three villages ("ri").

Culture

Landmarks

Kaesong is home to the World Heritage Site Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong. Koryo Songgyungwan University (Light Industry), Communist University and Art College are located in Kaesong. The Koryo Museum, housed in the city's old Songgyungwan, Confucian academy, contains many priceless Goryeo arts and cultural relics (although many are copies, with the originals held in the vaults of the Korean Central History Museum in Pyongyang). As the former capital of Goryeo, the tombs of almost all of the Goryeo kings are located in the area, though most are not accessible; the heavily reconstructed Tomb of King Wanggon, belonging to the dynasty's founder,

, is located to the west of the city in Kaepung-gun. Other notable tombs include those of kings Hyejong of Goryeo (the Sollung Royal Tomb), Gyeongjong of Goryeo (Yongrung Royal Tomb), Seongjong of Goryeo (Kangrung Royal Tomb), Hyeonjong of Goryeo (Sollung Royal Tomb), Munjong of Goryeo (Kyongrung Royal Tomb), and Gongmin of Goryeo (Tomb of King Kongmin). Kaesong also contains North Korea's only two royal tombs dating to the

: the Hurung Royal Tomb, belonging to the dynasty's second king, Jeongjong of Joseon, and the Cherung Royal Tomb, containing the remains of Queen Sinui, wife of the dynasty's founder, Taejo of Joseon, Yi Songgye (Taejo of Joseon). The two final tombs, despite belonging to members of the Joseon royal family, were excluded from the World Heritage Site Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty because of their location in North Korea.

Cuisine

North Korea-Kaesong-Tongil restaurant-02

Since Kaesong was the capital of

with 487 years of rule, its culinary culture was highly developed. The luxurious style of Kaesong cuisine is frequently compared with those of

cuisine and Jeolla Province, Jeolla cuisine. Kaesong cuisine was traditionally treated as part of Gyeonggi Province, Gyeonggi cuisine, since Kaesong belonged to Gyeonggi Province until 1950. However, it has been incorporated into the administration of North Korea after the

while Gyeonggi Province is in South Korea. ''Bossam kimchi'' (wrapped kimchi), ''pyeonsu'' (square-shaped summer Mandu (food), mandu), ''sinseollo'' (royal casserole), ''seolleongtang'' (ox bone soup), ''chueotang'' (mudfish soup), ''joraengi tteokguk'' (rice cake soup), ''umegi'' (tteok covered with syrup), and gyeongdan (ball-shaped ''tteok'') are representative Kaesong dishes. ''Umegi'', also called ''Kaesong juak'', is a holiday food of Kaesong, and known for the delicate style with the sweet and nutty taste. The dish is made by kneading a mixture of rice flour and glutinous rice flour with warm water, by shaping the dough into balls with either one pine nut or jujube, by frying and coating them with syrup.

Economy

With its topography, climate and soil, Kaesong has advantageous natural conditions for Agriculture, agricultural productions. The water supply system is established with 18 reservoirs, including Songdo Reservoir, built for agricultural advances and about 150 pumping stations as well as hundreds of dammed pools. The cultivated land accounts for 27% of Kaesong's area. Rice, maize, soybeans, wheat, and barley are the main crops. Among them, rice production accounts for 60% of the whole grain production, and Kaepung and Panmun are the two primary regions, producing more than 70% of the rice production. In addition, vegetable and fruit cultivation including peach, apple and persimmon, livestock farming, and sericulture are active. Peach is a local specialty of Kaesong, especially white peach, which accounts for more than 25% of the total fruit production. The counties of Kaepung-gun and Panmun-gun are also known for cultivating the quality Korean ginseng called ''Goryeo Insam''. Kaesŏng is DPRK's

centre. The urban district is equipped with a Jewellery, jewel processing factory, ginseng processing factory and an embroidery factory. Since the

period, Kaesong had been a center of handcrafts such as Goryeo ware and commerce while the textile industry has been the primary business along with the production of grocery goods, daily general goods, and ginseng products after the division into the two states. The food processing industry ranks next to the textile business, mainly producing ''miso, jang'' (soybean-based condiments), oil, Canned Foods, canned foods, Korean alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and others. In addition, resin, timber, handicrafts, pottery, shoes, school supplies, musical instruments, and glass are produced. Kaesong has factories for producing agricultural machines and tractor repair. As of 2002, the city contained the headquarters of the Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Central Bank of North Korea, with branches also in Kapung and Panmun counties. The DPRK and ROK jointly operate an industrial complex in the Kaesong Industrial Region. The industrial park, built around 2005, employs over 53,400 North Koreans at over 120 South Korean textile and other labor-intensive factories. In early 2013, approximately 887 South Koreans worked in the complex, which produced an estimated $470 million of goods in 2012, and the complex employed a sixth of Kaesong's working people. Amid tensions in 2013, the industrial park was temporarily closed. It was closed again in 2016.

Tourism

Kaesong is a major destination for foreign visitors to North Korea. Many Goryeo-era sites are located in Kaesong, including the Namdaemun (Kaesong), Kaesong Namdaemun gate, the Songgyungwan, Songgyungwan Confucian Academy, now the Koryo Museum, and the Sonjuk Bridge, Sonjuk Bridge and Pyochung Pavilion. Less-known sites include Kwandok Pavilion, the ruined Goryeo-era Manwoldae Palace, Anhwa Temple, Sungyang Hall, Mokchong Hall, and the Kaesong Chomsongdae (개성 첨성대; 開城瞻星臺) observatory. Located to the west of the city are the tombs of Kings Tomb of King Kongmin, Kongmin and Tomb of King Wanggon, Wanggon; twenty-four km north of Kaesong is Taehungsan Fortress, a Koguryo satellite fortress built to protect Pyongyang. This castle contains the Kwanumsa (Kaesong), Kwanum and Taehungsa, Taehung Temples. The famous Pakyon Falls are located in the area, as well as a large, recently discovered Goryeo-era Buddha carved into the stone on Chonmasan, Mt. Chonma. Most tourists to Kaesong are put in the traditional Kaesong Folk Hotel, housed in 19 traditional hanok courtyard houses.

Education

Sungkyunkwan, one kilometer north of Seonjukgyo bridge is a representative traditional educational institution in Kaesong. It was founded in the neighborhood of Gukja-dong with the name Gukjagam (국자감; 國子監) in 992 during the reign of Seongjong of Goryeo, King Seongjong of

, which ignited Korean Confucianism. Its name was changed to Gukhak (국학; 國學) in the reign of Chungnyeol of Goryeo and was referred to as ''Seonggyungwan''. In 1367, the 16th year of Gongmin of Goryeo's reign, the structure was revamped and Yi Saek, and Jeong Mong-ju, Confucian scholars of the time taught there as professors. In 1592, the 25th year of Seonjo of Joseon's reign, Kim Yuk reconstructed the institution which was burned down by the Japanese during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598). The first modern school that appeared in Kaesong was Hanyeong Seowon (한영서원; 韓英書院), or Anglo-Korean School established by Yun Chi-ho in 1906, with the help of American missionaries Mr. Wasson, and Mr. Candler. It obtained authorization as Songdo High School from Governor-General of Korea in 1917, and expanded to the Songdo School Foundation in 1950 with the accreditation for the establishment of Songdo Middle School and Songdo College of Pharmacy, the latter of which produced 40 graduates. However, when the Korean War occurred, the foundation was moved to Incheon, and reconstructed Songdo Middle and High Schools in 1953 which still exist to the present. By 1950, there were two public high schools: Kaeseong High School (개성중학교;開城中學校) and Kaeseong Girls' High School (개성고등여학교;開城高等女學校) and three private high schools: Songdo High School (송도중학교;松都中學校), Jeonghwa Girls' School (정화여학교;貞和女學校) and Hosudon Girls' School (호수돈여학교;好壽敦女學校). Like Songdo High School, Jeonghwa and Hosudon Girls' Schools, with the teachers and most students, evacuated south during the

and their campuses now are located in

and Daejeon respectively. There were also eight public elementary schools (국민학교) in Kaeseong by 1950, they were the Manwol (만월;滿月), Donghyun (동현;銅峴), Seonjuk (선죽;善竹), Koryo (고려;高麗), Songdo (송도;松都), Junggyeong (중경;中京), Namsan(남산;南山) and Deokam (덕암;德岩) elementary schools. As of 2002, Kaesong had 80 each public elementary schools which scattered in each unit of ''ri'' (village), 60 middle-high schools, 3 colleges and 3 universities such as Songdo University of Politics, Kaesong University of Education, and Kaesong Communist University.개성직할시 교육과 문화 (Education and Culture of Kaesong)
(in Korean) Nate / Britannica

Transportation

Kaesong is connected to Pyongyang and other cities by rail and highways. The city's main railway station is Kaesong Station, which is on the Pyongbu Line. There was a project to build a trolleybus line in this city though never completed.

Sister cities

* Cusco (1990)

People born in Kaesong

* Uicheon (1055–1191), founder of the Cheontae Buddhist sect * Choe Chung-heon, Choe Chung-hon (1149–1219), a military ruler of Korea during the

* Choe Woo, Choe U (died 1249), general of the

, son of Choe Chung-Hon * Hwang Hui (1363–1452), prime minister of

* Hwang Jin-i (1515–1550), famous Kisaeng and poet * Lee Jong soo (Chong Lee) (1938–2017), Father of Taekwondo in Canada * K. W. Lee (1928–), Korean-American print journalist * Won Pyong Oh (1926–2020), South Korean zoologist * Chin Byung Ho (1909–1972), Dean of Seoul National University Medical School * Youn Yuh-jung (1947-), South Korean actress and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Academy Award winner * Woo In-hee (died 1981), North Korean actress and a mistress of Kim Jong-il.

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

* .

External links

Gaeseong Industrial District Foundation Foreign Investment Support Center

German website about the City of Kaesong
*
North Korea opens hidden city to tourists
" ''BBC News''. Friday 7 December 2007.
City profile of Kaesong

''Historical Remains in Kaesong'' picture album
at Naenara
Another picture album
at Naenara * {{Authority control Kaesong, Directly Governed Cities and Special Administrative Regions of North Korea Former capitals of Korea