Korea began to produce quality silks, along with hemp and ramie fabrics, already in the late primitive ages. This fact was proven by earthenware depicting silkworm from the relics dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze ages, discovered in Pongsan County, North Hwanghae Province.

Its silk-weaving technique was spread even to Japan in the period of the Three Kingdoms in Korea. According to a Japanese history book, Korean technicians had been active in Japan from the 4th-5th centuries to the 7th century to teach how to produce silk.

The silk-producing technique further developed, with silk fabrics increased in number of varieties, in the period of Koryo Kingdom (918-1392). And the fabrics was exported even to the Middle and Near East for its good quality and widely known to the world as "Koryo Silk".

There appeared a large number of silk production bases and areas of mulberry during the Feudal Joson Dynasty (1392-1910).

The localities of Korea noted for silk production are Nyongbyon in North Phyongan Province, Songchon in South Phyongan Province, Kumya, Jongphyong, Kowon, Pukchong and Tanchon in South Hamgyong Province, Kilju and Myongchon in North Hamgyong Province, Cholwon in Kangwon Province, Suan in North Hwanghae Province, etc.

Among the famous silk fabrics, there are Yaksandan and Kuryongdan silks named by President Kim Il Sung. Yaksandan, patterned with azalea, was named after Yaksandongdae, a well-known area in Nyongbyon, and Kuryongdan the River Kuryong skirting Yaksandongdae.

These kinds of silk cloth are produced at the Nyongbyon Silk Mill, a famous silk producer in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The modernly-equipped mill also turns out various kinds of silk fabrics such as polychromatic silk, brocade and satin, with silk thread produced at the Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Silk Mill and rayon yarn at the Chongjin Chemical Fibre Mill as main raw materials.

The Korean silk is still very popular among foreigners as well as local people.

The Pyongyang Silk Shop, located in Mansudae Street in the capital city of the DPRK, serves many silk products including chima (skirt) and jogori (coat) and bed suites.