Kaesong

Kaesŏng 개성시
Municipal City with special status
개성특급시
Korean transcription(s)
• Chosŏn'gŭl
• Hancha
• McCune–Reischauer	Kaesŏng-T'ŭkkŭpsi
• Revised Romanization	Gaeseong-Teukgeupsi
The old town in Kaesong
Nickname(s): Songdo (송도/松都)  (Korean) "City of Pines "
Country	North Korea
Province	North Hwanghae Province
Settled	c. 700
Administrative divisions	24 dong, 3 ri
Area
• Total	1,309 km2 (505 sq mi)
Population (2009)
• Total	192,578
• Dialect	Gyeonggi

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Location	North Korea
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iii
Reference	1278
UNESCO region	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	2013 (37th Session)

Kaesong (Gaeseong; Korean pronunciation: [kɛsʰʌŋ]) is a city in North Hwanghae Province in the southern part of North Korea, a former Directly-Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Taebong kingdom and subsequent Goryeo dynasty. The city is near the Kaesong Industrial Region close to the border with South Korea and contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. 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 centre. It was also known by the Japanese pronunciation of its name, "Kaijō", during the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945.

Due to the city's proximity to the border with South Korea, Kaesong hosts cross-border economic exchanges between the two countries as well as the jointly-run Kaesong Industrial Region.

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

The earliest archaeological signs of habitation in the Kaesong area date from the Neolithic. Artifacts such as Jeulmun pottery, stone ware, and stone axes have been excavated from Osongsan and Kaesong Nasong, 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, and was referred to as Busogap during the rule of Goguryeo. Before the strength of Baekje was retreated to the southwest of Jungnyeong, Mungyeong Saejae, and Asan Bay in 475, the area had been a part of Baekje for about 100 years.