Kaesong: History, Former Names & Timeline
Capital of the Goryeo dynasty for almost five centuries, later famous for ginseng and trade.
KaesongExplore Kaesong in the interactive map
Former names of Kaesong
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| AD 919 | Gaegyeong | Goryeo capital |
| 1400 | Kaesong |
Timeline of Kaesong
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| AD 919 | Wang Geon makes Gaegyeong his capital |
| 1232 | The court flees the Mongols to Ganghwa Island |
| 1270 | The court returns to Gaegyeong |
| 1394 | The new Joseon dynasty moves its capital to Hanyang (Seoul) |
| 1951 | Korean War armistice talks begin at Kaesong |
Who ruled Kaesong
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–401 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 400 BC–324 BC | Gojoseon |
| 323 BC–201 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 200 BC–101 BC | Tungus |
| 100 BC–2 BC | Unclaimed / no data |
| 1 BC–499 | Koguryo |
| 500–799 | Silla |
| 800–899 | Silia |
| 900–999 | Silla |
| 1000–1199 | Korea |
| 1200–1299 | Goryeo |
| 1300–1399 | Great Khanate |
| 1400–1491 | Northern Yuan |
| 1492–1913 | Korea |
| 1914–1944 | Empire of Japan |
| 1945–1959 | Korea (USSR) |
| 1960–today | Korea, Democratic People's Republic of |
Battles and sites near Kaesong
- Battle of Incheon · 1950
Landmarks in and around Kaesong
GyeongbokgungStanding · 1395
Famous people of Kaesong
| Lived | Person | |
|---|---|---|
| AD 877 – AD 943 | Wang Geon (Taejo of Goryeo) | Founder of Goryeo |
Nearby cities
Further reading
Questions about Kaesong
What was Kaesong called in the past?
Kaesong has been known as Gaegyeong (from AD 919, Goryeo capital). Its present name dates from 1400.
Which states have ruled Kaesong?
On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Kaesong lies within 12 different states: Gojoseon, Tungus, Koguryo, Silla, Silia, Korea, Goryeo, Great Khanate, Northern Yuan, Empire of Japan and others.
What are the key dates in the history of Kaesong?
AD 919: Wang Geon makes Gaegyeong his capital. 1232: The court flees the Mongols to Ganghwa Island. 1270: The court returns to Gaegyeong. 1394: The new Joseon dynasty moves its capital to Hanyang (Seoul). 1951: Korean War armistice talks begin at Kaesong.
Which famous people are connected with Kaesong?
Wang Geon (Taejo of Goryeo) (founder of goryeo, AD 877 – AD 943).
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.