The region was the birthplace of the kingdom of Silla, which unified Korea in 668 CE.

The region also has a highly significant role in modern Korean history; every non-acting South Korean president from 1963 to 2022 except Choi Kyu-hah (1979-1980) had ancestry from Gyeongsang, and all except Lee Myung-bak were also born in Gyeongsang.

In 1895, Gyeongsang was replaced by the districts of Andong in the north, Daegu (대구부; 大邱) in the centre, Jinju in the southwest, and Dongnae (동래부; 東萊府; now Busan) in the southeast.

In 1896, Andong, Daegu, and northern Dongnae Districts were merged to form North Gyeongsang, and Jinju and southern Dongnae districts were merged to form South Gyeongsang.

The region is ringed by the Taebaek and Sobaek Mountains and is drained by the Nakdong River.