History of Changwon
- Changwon, which boasts 2000 years of history, used to be a trading center of Northeast Asia, manufacturing iron and exporting it to China and Japan during the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period of Korea. It also played a strategic role in the defeat of Japanese pirates during the Joseon Dynasty.
At present, Changwon is recreating itself as a world masterpiece city and one of the most competitive cities in Korea based on Masan City's history and culture, Changwon City's industry and environment and Jinhae's logistic and oceanic resources.
10th Century B.C.
Changwon during the Prehistoric age
- It is not clear when people started living in Changwon, but according to the artifacts and data uncovered so far, it has been estimated that people started living in Changwon during the Neolithic Age. The Bronze Age began in Korea around the 10th century B.C. and people probably started living in changwon from that time. The majority of the pattern-less earthenware objects excavated from the lowest layer of the Sungsanpaechong Shellmound seems to have been made during the later period of he Bronze Age. The tradintion of pattern-less earthenware was transmitted to the makers of Gimhae earthenware, which appeared during the Proto-Three Kingdoms Period of Korea.
Year 1400
Changwon during the Joseon Dynasty
- The name Changon first appeared in July in the 8th year of the reign of King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty when two prefectures, namely Uichang and Hoewon, were combined to reate a higher division, Changwon-bu. In the 15th year of King Taejong's reign, Changwon-bu was ascended to become Changwon-do Hobu, and later during the King Sunjo Period (1601), it was ascended to become Changwondae-do hobu. Ungcheon-hyun Prefecture in the Jinhae Region was ascended to become Ungcheon-do Hobu during the 5th year of King Jungjong's reign (1510) but became Ungcheon-hyun Prefecture again in 1512.
In the 1800s
Changwon during the Great Han Empire
- With the implementation of a system comprising 23 divisions during the 32nd year of King Gojong's reign (1895), Changwon was reorganized as Changwon-gun and Ungcheon-gun. In 1903 the 7th year of King Gwangmu's reign when the Renaming Act 48 was implemented, Changwon was renamed as Changwon-bu. In 1908 the 2nd year of King Yunghee's regin. Ungcheon-gun an Jinhae-gun were integrated. During the Japanese colonial period, Changwon-bu was changed to Masan-bu in 1910, Masan Port was opened and Changwon-gun was separated from Masan-bu.
In the 1970s
Changwon during the modern period
- After Korea's liberation from Japan, Masan-bu was renamed as Masan-si and Jinhae-eup of Changwon-gun was ascended to become Jinhae-si in 1955. After Changwon District was ascended to become Changwon-si in 1980 the three cities developed into independent administrative bodies. Notably since the establishment of the Masan Export Free Zone in 1970 and the development of the Changwon National Industrial Complex in 1974 the cities have grown together as an economic center of Korea.
In the 2010s
Launch of the integrated Changwon-si
- Since ancient times, Changwon, Masan, and Jinhae have grown as central cities of industry, culture and administration in Yeongnam Province. Finally on July 1, 2010, the three cities united to create Unified Changwon City-Korea's first Autonomous Integrated Administration Area and rapidly became one of Korea's most competitive cities. With the construction of a regional specialized growth belt, Unified Changwon City is being recreated as a world masterpiece city by strengthening its industrial foundations to the world-class level and by strengthening the education, culture and welfare of the city and its citizens.
