Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong Area

The Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong are a group of medieval monuments in Kaesong that were part of the capital of the Koryo (Goryeo) dynasty. These collectively inscribed sites represent the political, cultural and spiritual centre of the kingdom.

Highlights across the group include palace ruins, a Confucian academy, fortified gates and sections of city walls, and royal tombs, which together illustrate urban planning and ceremonial practice from the 10th to the 14th centuries. The ensemble is recognized for its preservation of Koryo-era urban and ritual architecture.

Kaesong was established as the capital by Wang Kon, the founder of the Koryo dynasty, in the early 10th century and remained the political centre of the kingdom through the 14th century. The surviving monuments date mainly to the Koryo period and reflect the city’s role in administration, education and royal ritual.

The monuments are located within and around the modern city of Kaesong in southwestern North Korea, close to the 38th parallel and the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas. They lie within the historic urban core and surrounding ceremonial landscapes of the former capital.

• Visitor access: Access to the sites is controlled and typically only possible via organized tours in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, so check tour arrangements in advance.

What to See#

• Manwoldae: Manwoldae palace site contains the archaeological remains of the Goryeo dynasty royal palace complex, exposed in open-air ruins and excavation areas.
• Songgyungwan: Songgyungwan was the kingdom’s principal Confucian academy used for higher learning and state examinations during the Goryeo period.
• Fortifications and temples: A series of temples, city gates and sections of the medieval city wall illustrate the administrative and defensive layout of the old capital.
• Tombs: Royal tombs and accompanying ritual sites from the Koryo era, illustrating burial practices and memorial architecture.

Kaesong is near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and access for foreign visitors is tightly controlled. Tours to Kaesong typically depart from Pyongyang through authorized tour operators and include travel by road; private travel is not permitted. For visitors coming from the South, access is normally impossible except on special arrangements via inter-Korean agreements.

• Access to Kaesong's sites is tightly controlled; travel usually requires an organized tour through DPRK-approved operators - plan logistics well in advance.
• Bring passport photocopies and follow guide instructions strictly; photography restrictions vary by site.
• Look beyond the main monuments: the gently terraced city walls and the quiet village lanes tell more about daily life past and present than the palace plaques.