Kaesong

A historic city near the inter-Korean border that served as the capital of the Goryeo dynasty for several centuries, from which the Western name Korea ultimately derives. Uniquely among major cities on the peninsula, it preserved much of its old fabric, and its monuments, palace ruins, an ancient Confucian academy, tombs, and stone bridges earned collective World Heritage recognition. The area is also known for ginseng. Foreign visitors reach it on guided excursions from the capital, often paired with the border zone.