In 1509, it was renamed Hamgyŏng after its two principal cities, Hamhung and Kyongsong.

In the 18th century, this was transcribed via Chinese as Kyen-king and glossed as meaning "the Happy".

Korea's northeastern frontier was first organized into the province of Yonggil in 1413.

In 1895, the province was replaced by the districts (부; 府; pu) of Kyongsong in the northeast, Kapsan in the northwest, and Hamhŭng in the south.

Hamgyŏng was bounded on the west by P'yŏngan, on the south by Hwanghae and Kangwŏn, on the east by the Sea of Japan, and on the north by Qing China and the Russian Empire.