The city, to the north of Seoul, is strategically important for the defense of the Korean capital.

Under Goguryeo, the dynasty's territory extended southward into Korean peninsula, and Dongducheon became part of the kingdom in the form of naeulmae hyun (a certain form of ancient village land holding).

Later Dongducheon became Sacheon village of Unified Silla in the North-South States Period.

Dongducheon has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate (Köppen: Dwa) with cold, dry winters and hot, rainy summers.

In 2007, the festival was held at Camp Nimble, a former US Army installation returned to South Korea.