"Capital of Willows"
According to the 2008 population census, it has a population of 3,255,288.
The city was split from the South Pyongan province in 1946.
The city's other historic names include Kisong, Hwangsong, Rakrang, Sŏgyong, Sodo, Hogyong, Changan, and Heijō (during Japanese rule in Korea).
There are several variants.