Daeseong-dong
Encyclopedia
Daeseong-dong South Korea
, is a town in South Korea close to the North Korean border. It lies within the Korean Demilitarized Zone
(DMZ). The village is about one mile south of the Bridge of No Return
towards the North and 7.5 miles from the city of Kaesong
, North Korea
.
Daeseong-dong belongs administratively to Josan-ri, Gunnae-myeon in Paju
. It is the only civilian habitation within the Southern portion of the DMZ with Panmunjeom
0.6 miles northeast, with the actual Military Demarcation Line (the de facto border between South and North Korea) only 350 metres (1,148.3 ft) west of the village.
Daeseong-dong is only one mile opposite of Kijŏng-dong, a village in North Korea's portion of the DMZ. Here an observer can see Korea's division; the different national flags fluttering on gigantic flagpoles in Daeseong-dong and Gijeong-dong respectively.
While the DMZ is under the administration of the Allied Control Commission, the residents of Daesong-dong are considered South Korean civilians and subject to South Korean government law. Residents of Daesong-dong have both benefits and restrictions. For example, the residents have the same rights to vote and be educated, but they are exempted from national defense duties (conscription) and taxation. However, there are restrictions on many matters including the freedom of residence and change of residence, as well as an 11pm curfew.
In the 1980s, the South Korean government built a 98.4 m (323 ft) tall flagpole with a 130 kilograms (287 lb) flag of South Korea
in Daeseong-dong. The North Korean government responded by building a taller one at 160 m (525 ft) with a 270 kg (595 lb) flag of North Korea
in Kijŏng-dong, only 1.2 km (0.745647283979768 mi) west of the border with the South Korea
, in what some have called the "flagpole war"; the flagpole is the second tallest in the world at present, after the flag of Azerbaijan
in Baku
at 162 m (531 ft).
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, is a town in South Korea close to the North Korean border. It lies within the Korean Demilitarized Zone
Korean Demilitarized Zone
The Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...
(DMZ). The village is about one mile south of the Bridge of No Return
Bridge of No Return
Located in the Joint Security Area , the so-called "Bridge of No Return" crosses the Military Demarcation Line between North Korea and South Korea. It was used for prisoner exchanges at the end of the Korean War in 1953. The name originates from the claim that many war prisoners captured by the...
towards the North and 7.5 miles from the city of Kaesong
Kaesong
Kaesŏng is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea , a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
.
Daeseong-dong belongs administratively to Josan-ri, Gunnae-myeon in Paju
Paju
Paju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Paju was made a city in 1997; it had previously been a county .The city is located just south of Panmunjeom on the 38th parallel. To defend the Korean capital, Seoul, many US and Korean army bases are set up in the city. In 2002, the northernmost...
. It is the only civilian habitation within the Southern portion of the DMZ with Panmunjeom
Panmunjeom
Panmunjom, located in Gyeonggi Province, is a village on the de facto border between North and South Korea, where the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War was signed. The building where the armistice was signed still stands, though it is on the northern side of the Military...
0.6 miles northeast, with the actual Military Demarcation Line (the de facto border between South and North Korea) only 350 metres (1,148.3 ft) west of the village.
Daeseong-dong is only one mile opposite of Kijŏng-dong, a village in North Korea's portion of the DMZ. Here an observer can see Korea's division; the different national flags fluttering on gigantic flagpoles in Daeseong-dong and Gijeong-dong respectively.
While the DMZ is under the administration of the Allied Control Commission, the residents of Daesong-dong are considered South Korean civilians and subject to South Korean government law. Residents of Daesong-dong have both benefits and restrictions. For example, the residents have the same rights to vote and be educated, but they are exempted from national defense duties (conscription) and taxation. However, there are restrictions on many matters including the freedom of residence and change of residence, as well as an 11pm curfew.
In the 1980s, the South Korean government built a 98.4 m (323 ft) tall flagpole with a 130 kilograms (287 lb) flag of South Korea
Flag of South Korea
The flag of South Korea, or Taegeukgi has three parts: a white background; a red and blue taegeuk in the centre; and four black trigrams, one in each corner of the flag...
in Daeseong-dong. The North Korean government responded by building a taller one at 160 m (525 ft) with a 270 kg (595 lb) flag of North Korea
Flag of North Korea
The flag of North Korea was adopted on September 8, 1948, as the national flag and ensign. The red star of Communism can be seen on this flag on a white disc. The flag was adopted in 1948, when Northern portion of Korea became a Communist state. The traditional Korean flag was red, white, and blue...
in Kijŏng-dong, only 1.2 km (0.745647283979768 mi) west of the border with the South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, in what some have called the "flagpole war"; the flagpole is the second tallest in the world at present, after the flag of Azerbaijan
Flag of Azerbaijan
The flag of Azerbaijan is the national flag of Azerbaijan. It consists of an horizontal tricolour of blue, red, and green, with a white crescent and an eight-pointed star centered in the red band. The blue band refers to the nation's Turkic heritage, the red stands for progress, and the green...
in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
at 162 m (531 ft).
See also
- Korean Demilitarized ZoneKorean Demilitarized ZoneThe Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...