According to the History of the Three Kingdoms, the region was called Handasa-gun (Korean: 한다사군), then changed into Hadong-gun in 757 CE, during the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Silla.

Nestled between the Seomjin River and Mount Jiri, the county is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists who enjoy nature.

Pak Gyeongni's 16-volume novel Land is partly set in the village of Pyeongsa-ri (Korean: 평사리; Hanja: 平沙里) in Agyang-myeon, Hadong County.

[3][4] While much of Korea has experienced an explosion of industrial development, Hadong remains a destination for those who wish to escape the bustle of city living.

However, a lack of activity in the industrial sector has left the government with little incentive to expanding the sometimes inadequate existing road infrastructure.