Sonjuk Bridge, Stone bridge in Kaesong, North Korea.
Sonjuk Bridge is a stone bridge over a narrow stream south of Janamsan in Kaesong, about 1 km east of the old Namdaemun gate. It is 8.35 m long and 3.36 m wide, built of light grey rectangular blocks with a flat walkway of large slabs. Low stone balustrades with rounded posts run along both edges, and stacked piers rise from the water.
Built in 1290 during the Goryeo dynasty, the bridge was originally called Sonji Bridge. In April 1392 Chŏng Mong-ju was assassinated here on the orders of Yi Pang-wŏn, and the bridge was renamed Sonjuk after bamboo reportedly grew at the spot. It was closed to traffic in 1780, when a stone balustrade was added and a new bridge built alongside.
The name changed from Sonji Bridge to Sonjuk Bridge after bamboo (juk) reportedly sprouted beside the bridge the night Chŏng Mong-ju was killed. His poem "Song of a Loyal Heart" is associated with the site, and a brown spot on a stone is said to be his bloodstain, which turns red when it rains.
The location is accessible through standard tour routes through the historic city and sits within the old district. Wear sturdy shoes since the surface is stone, which can become slippery when wet.
A subtle discoloration on the stone surface is often overlooked by visitors, yet it carries a story tied to tragic events from centuries past. Local guides often point out this mark as a direct witness to that distant moment in time.
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