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Kaesŏng

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
The old town in Kaesong
Nickname(s): Songdo (송도/松都)  (Korean)
"City of Pines "
Location of Kaesŏng
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
Nam Gate in Kaesong.jpg
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.


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