('''Gaeseong''') is a city in
North Hwanghae Province,
North Korea , a former
Directly Governed City , and the capital of
Korea during the
Koryo Dynasty . The city is near
Kaesŏng Industrial Region .
When
Yi Songgye overthrew the Koryo Dynasty in
1392 and established the
Choson Dynasty , he moved the Korean capital from Kaesŏng to Hanyang (modern-day
Seoul ). Kaesŏng remained a part of
Kyonggi Province until the
Korean War . In
1951 , the city (which had been part of
South Korea ) came under
North Korea n control, and the area around the city was organized into "Kaesŏng Region" (''Kaesŏng Chigu;'' 개성 지구; 開城 地區). In
1955 , Kaesŏng became a "Directly Governed City" (''Kaesŏng Chikhalsi;'' 개성 직할시; 開城 直轄市). In
2002 ,
Kaesŏng Industrial Region was formed from part of Kaesŏng. In
2003 , the remaining part of Kaesŏng (exluding the Industrial Region) became part of
North Hwanghae Province.
The city is close to the
Demilitarized Zone that divides North and South Korea.
Before
2002 , Kaesŏng Directly Governed City was divided into 1 city (Kaesŏng itself) and 3 counties.
- ''Kaesŏng-si'' (개성시, 開城市)
- Changp'ung-gun (장풍군; 長豊郡)
- Kaep'ung-gun (개풍군; 開豊郡)
- P'anmun-gun (판문군; 板門郡)
In
2003 , P'anmun-gun and part of Kaesŏng-si were separated from Kaesŏng Directly Governed City and merged to form Kaesŏng Industrial Region. The remaining part of Kaesŏng joined North Hwanghae in 2002.
It was formally named Songdo while it was the ancient capital of Koryo. It prospered as a trade center that produced
Korean Ginseng, which is famous internationally. It is now the DPRK's light industry centre.
Located in central Korea, along with Kyonggi Province, North Hwanghae Province, South Hwanghae Province and Kangwon Province.
Kanghwa Island of
Inchon Municipality lies just south, beyond a narrow channel. It covers an area of 1,309 km², the urban district is surrounded by Mountain Songal (489m) and Mountain Pongmyong.
Kaesŏng is connected to Pyongyang and other cities by rail, highways and a dual purpose military and civilian air station.
Koryo Songgyungwan University (Light Industry), Communist University and Art College are located in Kaesŏng. Kaesong history museum has a lot of Koryo arts and cultural relics including Chomsongdae, Manwol Pavilion, Kaesong Nam Gate, Anhwa Temple, the Tomb of King Wanggon and the Tomb of King Kongmin. The suburbs have vestiges of the palaces of the previous royal dynasties. Twenty-four km north of Kaesŏng is the Pagyon Falls and Taehung Castle.
Kaesŏng is DPRK’s light industry centre. The urban district is equipped with a jewel processing factory, ginseng processing factory and an embroidery factory.
