Ancient Times

• Named Siljikguk or Siljikgokguk (Mahan Territory)

Period of the Three States (Before Century)18C ~ 668

• 102Annexed to Silla (in the 23rd year of the reign of King Pasa)
• 468Annexed to Goguryeo (in the 56th year of the reign of King Jangsoo)
• 505Renamed Siljikju (Isabu, in the 6th year of the reign of King Jijeung of Silla Dynasty)
• 658Renamed Bukjin (in the 5th year of the reign of King Muyeul of Silla Dynasty)

Unified Silla 668 ~ 935

• 757Renamed Samcheok County (in the 16th year of the reign of King Gyeongdeok)

Goryeo918 ~ 1392

• 995Renamed Cheokju (in the 14th year of the reign of King Seongjong)
• 1018Renamed Samcheok Prefecture (in the 9th year of the reign of King Hyeonjong)

Joseon1392 ~ 1910

• 1393Upgraded to Samcheok bu (in the 2nd year of the reign King Taejo)
• 1413Renamed Samcheok Protectorate (in the 13th year of the reign of King Taejong)
• 1895Name changed from Samcheok Protectorate to Samcheok County (in the 32nd year of the reign of King Gojong)

Japanese Colonial Period 1910 ~ 1945

• 1914Bunae and Malgok-myeons among 12 myeons (sub-counties) were integrated into Bunae-myeon, and Dosang, Doha, and Gyeonbak-myeons were renamed Buksam-myeon.
• 1917Bunae-myeon was upgraded to Samcheok-myeon.
• 1938Samcheok-myeon was upgraded to Samcheok-eup.

Republic of Korea1945 ~

• 1945Boksam-myeon was upgraded to Bukpyeong-eup.
• 1960Sangjang-myeon was upgraded to Jangseong-eup.
• 1963Sodal-myeon was upgraded to Dogye-eup.
• 1973Hwangji branch district, Jangseong-eup, was upgraded to Hwangji-eup, thereby becoming the largest county nationwide with population of 300,000 people, 5 eups, and 5 myeons.
• 1980.04.01Bukpyeong-eup was integrated into Donghae City in accordance with Law No. 3188.
• 1980.12.01Wondeok-myeon was upgraded to Wondeok-eup by Presidential Decree No. 10050.
• 1981.07.01Jangseong-eup and Hwangji-eup were upgraded to Taebaek City in accordance with Law No. 3425.
• 1986.01.01Samcheok-eup was upgraded to Samcheok City with 6 subdistricts (Namyang-dong, Wolgye-dong, Gyo-dong, Jeongra-dong, Sajik-dong, Dowon-dong) in accordance with Law No. 3798.
• 1986.03.27Ojeo branch district, Wondeok-eup, was upgraded to Gagok-myeon by Presidential Decree No. 11874.
• 1989.01.01Yonghwa-ri and Jangho-ri in Wondeok-eup were integrated into Geundeok-myeon by Presidential Decree No. 12007.
• 1989.04.01The Singi branch district of Dogye-eup, 7 ri administrative units and Machari districts were upgraded to Singi-myeon in accordance with Samcheok County Ordinance No. 1371.
• 1992.10.15Wolgye-dong was renamed Dangjeo-dong.
• 1994.12.265 ri administrative units of Hajang-myeon were integrated into Taebaek City.
• 1995.01.01Samcheok City and Samcheok County were integrated into Samcheok City in accordance with Law No. 4774.
• 1998.10.26Sajik-dong and Dowon-dong were removed in accordance with Samcheok City Ordinance Nos. 270 and 271, and Dangjeo-dong was renamed to Seongnae-dong.