New stone age (3000 B.C)

Small rice seed showing the start of farming culture in Korea.

When speaking of the history in Korea, ‘five thousand years of history.’

Then, how long has it been since people started eating rice?

‘Gawaji rice’found in Goyang-si is a precious proof that it has been more than 5000 years since farming culture started.

The period of Three Stages (3 to 5 centuries)

Ruins in Myukjulsan Mountain as a proof for protecting the capital

Myukjulsan Mountain in Goyang-si in the middle of Paju and Hangju fortress has served as a hub for transportation and military cause in the history as it was nearly located to Han River. As constructing the bank at Han River, it became a land now. However, the place was located near Han River that ships were able to anchor during Japanese colonial era.

Relics and remains of Baekje during Hansung period were cultivated in Myukjulsan Mountain. Many of the earthenware particles including the architectural traces of residential places and earthen ramparts were cultivated that they became meaningful data for showing circumstances in the past near Han River during the period of Three States. Relics cultivated in the first session are preserved in the museum in Gyeonggi-do. It is now planned to cultivate additional relics.

End of Silla period – Early Koryo period (end of 10th century – first half of 11st century)

Hub of celadon in Wonheung-dong, Goyang-si, burning celadon in the beginning

Celadon is the most beautiful and outstanding plate mankind has ever made so far.

Especially, celadon in Korea is called as green celadon, and it has reputation in all over China where invented celadon in the first place.

Kiln site where burnt the celadon was located on eastern side of Gunjisan Mountain. This place was where burnt celadon from the end of Silla period to the beginning of Koryo Dynasty is of relics that shows the shape and color of celadon in early days of Korea.

Early Joseon Dynasty (1470)

From a small city to the city recognized by the king.

Royal tomb is located at the best location of topography in generation by generation.

Throughout the history, Goyang-si was a small city in peripherals. However, as it was known that Goyang-si was the best location in terms of topography, large royal tombs such as Seooreung Royal Tomb or Seosam Royal Tomb were built. It positively affected the reputation and the size of the village.

Goyang where royal tome was built at became Hyeon to Gun. Hyeon is relevant to Dong, and Gun is City in modern days.

Mid-Joseon Dynasty (1593)

Spirit of Haengju Siege is still wondering around Goyang-si.

Seige of Jijju Castle, Hansando, and Hangju were three main sieges of Japanese invasions.

Among them, siege of Hangju was not a war against Japanese soldiers.

It was the war that men and women of all ages participated in against the enemy representing how ancestors were willing to protect their own country. According to the records, housewives moved the rocks with their scarves during the siege of Hangju providing weapons to soldiers and poured hot oils to Japanese soldiers who climbed up the castle wall to help their own troops.

What was interesting was that people might easily misunderstand how they used old weapons to defeat enemy. However, siege of Hangju was the war that our soldiers used new weapon such as bomb shells and freight cars.

Late Joseon Dynasty (1711)

The most beautiful fortress in Korean Peninsula was built in Bunhaksan Mountain.

There are three castles in the capital area of Korea Suwon Fortress, Namhan Fortress, and Bukhansan Fortrress.

Among them, Bukhansan Fortress was built in Bukhansan Mountain that was called to have gorgeous landscape in the nature with spirit of patriotism so that people could live in the nature.

Royal forces, Buddhist monks, and all others helped construct this fortress that it became the most beautiful fortress in Korean Peninsula with the length of 11.6km within 6 months.

Modern era (1906)

Wave of modernization in Gyeongui Line

As the transportation was developed, city was also grown.

In Goyang-si, Ilsan became the hub in Goyang with Gyeongui Line in 1906. Gyeongui Line was additionally constructed by Japan to solidify the colonization in Korean Peninsula.

However, it was a sign for the beginning of modernization and growth of Goyang-si after Korea became independent from Japan. Due to the development of transportation,

commercial district was established on the area where was a farming village.

Such growth course and history of Goyang-si are shown in the 600 year museum in Goyang.

Modern era (1914-1961)

Changes in the area of Goyang-si and movement of gun office in Goyang

They are now included in the Seoul area, but Dongdaemun, Seodaemun, Jamsil, Yeouido, and others were a part of Goyang in the past.

Goyang gun-office was relocated to Seodaemun in 1914, Goyang area became twice as larger than the current Goyang-area for the past 50 years and ended up having the largest area since the area was named as Goyang.

Afterwards, Goyang gun-office was settled in Wondang in 1961,

the area became Goyang-gun, and area shrank as it is right now.

Modern era (1992)

Goyang was more beautiful than flowers

and the city pursued the life in developed countries. Citizens in Goyang-si started pursuing the quality of lives over others.

Under these circumstances, government found the appropriate area for people to lead such a life and proceed the ‘new city plans’ Ilsan is one of such cities to proceed the plan.

At last, people started gathering in Ilsan pursuing the quality of live that Ilsan became known as a city where people wanted to live.

Goyag-gun was promoted as Goyang-si in 1992. Goyag-gun was promoted as Goyang-si in 1992. This was the first case where the entire gun-area was promoted as the city in Korea.

Present (2013-2014)

With 600 years of the history,

Goyang-si became the city with a million population.

Do you know how many years of history Goyang has? In 2013,

Goyang had 600th anniversary year as the city was named. Therefore, Goyang-si has more than 600 years of history.

When many of the countries and cities were created and disappeared, Goyang-si stayed there for over six centuries.

However, Goyang-si is more than an old city. In 2014, Goyang-si became the city of a million population as it was the city where people wanted to live. It was the third in Gyeonggi-do and tenth in the entire Korea.

Hereupon, Goyang-si is the city with ‘dynamic’ features created by the history with 600 years and a million population.