Gojoseon (Old Joseon) was the first state on the Korean peninsula and was founded upon a flourishing bronze culture. During the middle and early modern ages, only the state of Joseon, which existed prior to Wiman Joseon, was referred to as Gojoseon. However, now Gojoseon also includes Wiman Joseon. The mandolin-shaped dagger culture of the Liao River basin and the finely wrought bronze dagger culture of the Daedong river basin comprised the culture of Gojoseon. During the reign of King Jun in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, the capital of Gojoseon and Wiman Joseon was Pyeongyang. From the late 4th century to the early 3rd century BC, before the war with Yan of Warring States China, the capital of Gojoseon was located somewhere near the Liao River basin.

According to Samgukyusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), the history book written by Monk Ilyeon in the 13th-century and the Weishu (Book of Wei), the Chinese history book that Monk Ilyeon had referred to, Gojoseon was founded by Dangun Wanggeom—grandson of Hwanin, the god of heaven, and son of Hwanin’s concubine-born son Hwanung. Considering the archaeological circumstances of the Liao River basin and various historical documents, Gojoseon started as a chiefdom society in the Liao River basin in 8th- 6th century BC and by 7th-5th century BC, China became aware of the name Gojoseon.

Gojoseon embraced an advanced bronze culture along with other advanced cultures from the region and developed not only culturally and economically but also politically. According to the Chinese history book the Weilue (Brief History of Wei), Gojoseon became powerful enough in the 4th century BC to contend with Yan, one of the Seven Warring States of China. On the surface, the tension between Gojoseon and Yan originated in Yan’s use of the term ‘king.’ But soon after, the ruler of Gojoseon was also assumed the title ‘king,’ which indicates that Gojoseon was indeed not a weak state.

The tension between Gojoseon and Yan led to a full-scale war from the late 4th century to the early 3rd century BC which resulted in the loss of Gojoseon’s control over 2,000 ri (= approx. 800 km) of territory and transfer of its capital to Pyeongyang. During the transitional period between the Qin and Han dynasties, and in the early part of the Han dynasty, many Chinese people in northern China, including those from Yan, fled across the border to Gojoseon to escape the chaos of their country. One of the refugees from Yan named Wiman brought together other refugees and some natives and attacked King Jun, succeeding in the establishment of Wiman Joseon.

Since Wiman Joseon was founded by a small group of refugees from China and a majority of natives, under the leadership of Wiman, it was clear from the start that the new state inherited the legitimate legacy of Gojoseon. It is understood that, in the end, the Chinese refugees assimilated with the people of Gojoseon. Meanwhile, King Jun of Gojoseon, who lost the throne, exiled himself to the peninsula’s western coast by boat and called himself the "Han King" Wiman Joseon grew stronger through trade and mediation with Han and thus accumulated enough military and economic power to subjugate small countries such as Imdun and Jibeon and gradually emerged as a powerful nation.

The growth of Wiman Joseon made the Han uneasy as the dynasty was at the time confronting the Xiongnu people of the northern regions. Consequently, in 109 BC, a full-scale war took place between the two states. Han attacked Wiman Joseon with nearly 50,000 men, but it took almost a year for them to win the war. They managed to do so only by inducing internal discord, an indicator of the strength of Wiman Joseon. Meanwhile, to the north of Gojoseon in the 2nd century BC, another Korean state, Buyeo, was founded, while in the southern part of the peninsula, Jin was established. These three states formed the basis of the Three Kingdoms—Goguryeo(Koguryo), Baekje and Silla.

In the early 2nd century BC, Wiman overthrew the regime of King Jun and founded Wiman Joseon, establishing Wangheom-seong (Wanggeom-seong) as its capital. It is worth noting here that the title “king” began to be used by Gojoseon in the late 4th century BC when Yan introduced the term. The records reveal that in the autumn of 109 BC, a time when Wiman Joseon and Han China were engaged in war, Han had to fight long and hard to gain control over Wangheom-seong thanks to its strong defenses. In the summer of 108 BC, Seonggi, a high official of Wiman Joseon, launched an uprising against Han China in Wangheom-seong but was killed in the end.

It is safe to say that Wiman Joseon's capital, Wangheom-seong, was located on the northern reaches of Daedong River, now part of the North Korean capital Pyeongyang, as demonstrated by the fact that the Paesu River, the functional border between Wiman Joseon and Han China, is the river we now call the Yalu; that the administrative capital of Joseon-hyeon (county) in Nangnang (Lelang) Commandery, established in the vicinity of Wiman Joseon's capital, now remains as the clay fortress in today's Toseong-dong in Pyeongyang, on the south bank of the Daedong River; and that the Yeolsu River, believed to be closely connected to Wangheom-seong and Joseon-hyeon, is considered to be the river that we now call Daedong River. In other words, the capital of Gojoseon, under King Jun's control until it was conquered by Wiman Joseon, was also located in the current city of Pyeongyang.

The exact location of Gojoseon's capital before King Jun's reign—in other words, before Gojoseon lost 2,000 ri (1 ri=approx. 393 m) of its territory in the war against Yan between the late 4th to early 3rd century BC—remains unknown. However, Gojoseon's capital is believed to have been located somewhere in the Liao River basin, since the finely wrought bronze dagger culture of the Daedong River basin under King Jun's rule and under Wiman Joseon grew out of the mandolin-shaped dagger culture of the Liao River basin, and we know that the mandolin-shaped dagger culture developed in the vicinity of the Liao River. According to scholars, present-day Chaoyang, Jinzhou, Beizhen, Shenyang, Liaoyang, Haicheng, Gaizhou, in China, are some of the most likely candidates.

The state of Gojoseon is the result of political progress made by two tribes, the Ye and the Maek. The Yemaek people lived along the Korean peninsula and in the northeastern corner of present-day China, including Liaoning and Jilin Provinces, where they established and developed the mandolin-shaped dagger culture, one of early Gojoseon's representative cultures. Chinese history books contain many references to the Yemaek people, indicating that from early on, the Korean people were widely known in other countries, including China.

The Yemaek people founded Gojoseon in the vicinity of the Liao River basin—Liaoning Province in present-day China—and developed a unique culture and language unlike those of neighboring states during the times forming Buyeo and Goguryeo. The Chinese history books Shiji (Historical Records) and Hanshu (History of the Earlier Han Dynasty) identify Yemaek Joseon as one of the major tribes of Gojoseon and Hou Hanshu (History of the Later Han Dynasty) and Sanguozhi (History of the Three Kingdoms) confirm that the tribe that preceded Buyeo and Goguryeo(Koguryo) on the Korean peninsula was Yemaek

Later, these tribes went on to form ruling groups in a number of states including Eastern Ye, Okjeo, Samhan, Baekje and Silla, although the make up of population varied from state to state. We can conclude, therefore, that the tribes that grew to become the Korean people are the Yemaek people of Gojoseon and the Han people, who built the Samhan (Three Han) States in the south of the Korean Peninsula

Gojoseon was the first state in Korean history to unify its political and religious functions within one governing system and legal system, as represented by its Eight Prohibitions. The state of Gojoseon remained stable for a long period of time, even while its politics and society saw numerous changes. In its mandolin-shaped dagger culture stage, Gojoseon is believed to have achieved the status of a chiefdom society, and it was likely during its finely wrought bronze dagger culture stage that it advanced to become a kingdom.

Although no documentation of the political structure of early Gojoseon has been found, we know that in its later periods, the kingdom established a central governing system. In the central government, top officials such as baksa, gyeong, daebu, sang, daesin and janggun aided the king.

That being said, Gojoseon's ruling power was not fully centralized as communal elements remained. To an extent, the central government exercised control over a number of groups that made up the kingdom, but at the same time, these groups had their own internal systems of self-governance. Some of the high government officials ruled their own territories and, if the king refused to accept their opinions, they sometimes chose to leave the central government.

It is likely that from early on, Gojoseon's economy was more advanced than we would expect. Evidence of this can be found in the fact that the kingdom had developed its own unique bronze culture that was clearly distinguishable from China or other groups in the north; that the Liaoning region had advanced to an agricultural economy that centered around grain production; and that there were frequent exchanges between Gojoseon and its neighbors.

During Wiman Joseon, in particular, the kingdom profited from intermediary trade with Han China and other neighbors, using currency from Yan China, the crescent-knife coin mingdaoquian. This coin has been uncovered over a vast region, from Beijing to the Korean peninsula, which indicates that the people of Gojoseon and many of its neighboring tribes used mingdaoquian

It is believed that Gojoseon had achieved the status of a kingdom with a class-based society by the time of Wiman Joseon, at the latest. The evidence shows that Wiman Joseon was equipped with a capital, its own bureaucracy and a military. Wiman Joseon's administrative capital was Wangheom-seong; its civil officials, called sangjik, made up its bureaucratic system; and its military had at least 10,000 soldiers under the command of generals. Its growth was propelled by both intermediary trade and military conquests. Wiman Joseon traded with Han China and with other neighboring states. Its military campaigns targeted smaller states including Jinbeon and Imdun.

The evidence supports the fact that in the 4th century BC, even earlier than Wiman Joseon, Gojoseon had its own king, high military officials like daebu, and a military system, but information is limited by the lack of documentation. However, we can infer from the records available, including the fact that Gojoseon was located in the vicinity of the Liao River basin from late 4th century BC to early 3rd century BC, before its war against Yan, and that relics of the mandolin-shaped culture have been discovered in the area, and more directly, from the fact that tombs dating back to the 8th – 6th century BC—not only tombs with a simple set of relics but ones that contain an array of relics demonstrating military, government and status—have been found in the same area suggests that Gojoseon had already evolved into a chiefdom society.

Further details of Gojoseon society are revealed in the three articles from the Eight Prohibitions, Wiman Joseon's code, stating that he who kills another shall immediately be put to death; that he who causes bodily injury to another shall pay compensation in grain; and that he who steals another's possessions shall either be made a slave of his victim, or pay a fine of 500,000 coins to be exonerated. In fact, records show that people did not close their gates, as no robbery was committed and that women were recognized for being faithful, avoiding lewd or loose conduct. These laws suggest that Gojoseon society was governed by the rule of law and that slaves were its lowest social class.

The legend of Dangun tells the tale of the founding of Gojoseon. This legend is believed to date back to the reign of King Jun of Gojoseon and Wiman Joseon, but the exact time period remains under dispute. Scholars hold different views about the interpretation of the legend, one being that its main characters, Dangun and the bear, are closely connected to the cultural traditions of North Asia, and that Dangun Joseon, the state that Dangun founds, as the story goes, represents the Neolithic Age, while Yemaek Joseon (Gija Joseon) represents the Bronze Age.

The earliest references to the Dangun legend appear in ancient Korean books like Gogi and Bongi, and the Chinese history book Weilue, which Ilyeon, the author of Samgukyusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) and other writers consulted, but scholars agree that the oldest known record of the legend is Samgukyusa, written in the 13th century. Other books include Jewangungi (Songs of Emperors and Kings) by Yi Seung-hyu, Eungjesiju (Notes on Royal Commission Poems) by Gwon Lam and the treatise “Geographical Description” in Sejongsillok (Annals of King Sejong). The following is a summary of the Dangun legend, as presented in Samgukyusa.

Once upon a time, Hwanin's illegitimate son Hwanung set his mind on the human world, and Hwanin, understanding his son's intentions, gazed down at Mt. Samwi Taebaek and concluded that the location would be the most auspicious for humans. He handed Hwanung the three heavenly seals and sent him down to govern the human world. Hwanung, and his 3,000 attendants, descended on a spot below Sindansu, the holy altar tree, on the summit of Mt. Taebaek, which he named Sinsi, the City of God. He led Pungbaek (Earl of Wind), Usa (Master of Rain), Unsa (Master of Clouds) in governing the affairs of the human world including agriculture, life span, disease, law, and ethics.

A bear and a tiger living in a cave nearby prayed ceaselessly to Hwanung, asking him to make them human. In response, Hwanung gave them a wick of divine wormwood and 20 cloves of garlic and said, “If you eat these and avoid the sun for 100 days, you will become human.” The bear and the tiger ate them and after 21 days of avoiding the sun, the bear became a woman but the tiger could not stay away from the sun so he failed.

Ungnyeo, the bear that had become human, prayed for a mate beneath the tree Sindansu. Hwanung answered her prayers by briefly changing to human form and marrying Ungnyeo. They had a son, Dangun Wanggeom, who went on to found Gojoseon. He ascended to the throne in 2,333 BC, and chose Asadal on Mt. Baegak as the capital. After reigning for 1,500 years, at the age of 1,908, he became a mountain god in Asadal.