Hyundai Asan Begins Tours of Kaesong and its Historic Sites

Hyundai Asan Corporation, the longtime major promoter of tourism ventures to North Korea completed its first trial tour to Kaeseong in North Korea.

Kaeseong is located 10 kilometers north of the Demilitarized Zone. It was a city once part of the South prior to the cease-fire truce signed in 1953 after the Korean War, but now is the North Korean city situated closest to the border between the South and North.

A few people connected to the Kaeseong Industrial Complex project have visited Kaeseong. But it is the first time that South Koreans have been on a sightseeing tour to the city, the one-time capital of Koryeo Dynasty that lasted from 918 to 1392.

The one-day excursion involved 500 tourists, nearly half of whom were born in Kaeseong.

Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun, Hyundai Asan Corporation chairman Yoon Man Jun, Korea National Tourism Organization president Kim Jong-min and 70 journalists also participated in yesterday's tour. Tourists gathered at Kyoungbok Palace in downtown Seoul at 6 am yesterday and arrived at Kaeseong two hours later via Jayuro, Imjingak, Tongil Bridge, Dorasan Customs, Immigration and Quarantine and the Demilitarized Zone.

Hyundai Asan sources said that the cost for regular tours is estimated to be less than $195 per person and the itinerary will include Kaeseong City, Sonjukgyo, Koryo Museum, King Kongmin's Tomb, King Wang Gun's Tomb and Parkyon Falls.