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 Rasong, 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. However, it became a territory of
Silla 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'', 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 the late 9th century, and a period of rival warlords ensued. In 898, Kaesong fell under the hand of
Gung Ye, the founder of his short-lived state,
Taebong, and then became a part of
Goryeo in 919 by its founder, Wang Geon, who was enthroned as
Taejo of Goryeo. 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'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, so in 1018, Gaesong-bu was relegated for the "bu" system, and became to govern the three hyeon unites of Jeongju, Deoksu, and Gangeum. When Yi Song-gye overthrew Goryeo in 1392 and established
Joseon as
Taejo of Joseon, he moved the Korean capital from Kaesong to Hanyang (modern-day
Seoul) in 1394. Kaesong remained a part of
Gyeonggi Province until the
Korean War. When Korea was partitioned at the
38th parallel after
World War II, most of Kaesong's territory was at the south of the border (inside South Korea). In contrast, a small portion to the north was within North Korea. However, the
battle of Kaesong-Munsan was won by the
Korean People's Army (KPA) in the first days of the Korean War. UN Forces recaptured the city on 9 October 1950 during the
pursuit of the KPA that followed the successful
Inchon landings. UN Forces
abandoned the city on 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. on 10 July 1951, but were moved to
Panmunjom, southeast of the city, on 25 October 1951. The
Korean Armistice Agreement signed on 27 July 1953 recognised
North Korean 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,
Kaesŏng Industrial Region was formed from part of Kaesong. In 2003, the remaining part of Kaesong (excluding the Industrial Region) became part of
North Hwanghae Province. The city is close to the
Demilitarized Zone that divides North and South Korea. In October 2019, Kaesong became a "Special City". ==Geography==