A Tale of Two Neighbors Lived Only a Mile Apart
You’d hardly imagine that two villages separated by barely 2.2 kilometers would hold such different fates. Located in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, Kijong-dong and Daeseong-dong stand on opposite sides of a tense border, each shaped by distinct realities that invite fascination.
Daeseong-dong: The Surviving Farming Village
Daeseong-dong lies within the DMZ on South Korea’s side, about 1 km south of the Military Demarcation Line. It is home to roughly 138 residents as of 2024—mostly older individuals and descendants of families who owned land before the Korean War.
Residents enjoy tax exemptions, are excused from military service, and are granted large farming plots that provide some of the country’s highest agricultural income. The village operates under strict conditions: a nightly curfew, mandatory military escort for visitors, and a requirement for residents to spend at least 240 nights per year there to maintain their residency.
Kijong-dong: The Illusion of Life
Directly across the border, in North Korea, stands Kijong-dong—also called “Peace Village”—built after the 1953 armistice. From a distance, it appears like a busy village with painted windows, multi-story buildings, and electric lights.
Yet observers report that the buildings are empty shells, with only maintenance staff performing sweeping and cleaning tasks to maintain the appearance of activity. North Korea claims the village houses around 200 families and includes facilities like schools and a hospital, but there is no independent evidence confirming this.
The Skyward Challenge: A Flagpole Face-Off
In the 1980s, both villages became centers of an unusual display: Daeseong-dong raised a 100 m (328 ft) flagpole flying a 130 kg South Korean flag.
North Korea responded by erecting a towering 160 m (525 ft) pole with a 270 kg flag in Kijong-dong—one of the tallest flagpoles in the world. The two poles stand as bold markers, visible from both sides, signaling strong national presence.
Frontline Realities: Life Versus Display
The villages illustrate starkly different realities: one inhabited by working families living under strict rules and heavy military oversight, the other existing largely as a visual statement rather than a functioning community. Daeseong-dong’s residents maintain active agriculture while observing tight restrictions, while Kijong-dong serves as a carefully maintained façade.
Two villages sit just 2.2 km apart inside the Korean Demilitarized Zone, yet their realities couldn’t be more different.
Kijong-dong and Daeseong-dong face each other across the border, their unusual history marked by restrictions, displays, and unique lives…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/OLSKe24mTD
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) August 21, 2025