Hampyeong used to be called Jinguk(진국) in prehistoric times, and Mahan in the Samhan age.

In the 9th year of King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty, Hampyeong-hyeon and Mopyeong-hyeon were fused into Hampyeong-hyeon, and consisted of 14 myeon; Donghyeonrae-myeon, Suhyeonrae-myeon, Yongpung-myeon, Haejae-myeon, Dagyeong-myeon, Dadong-myeon, Sonbul-myeon, Singwang-myeon, pyeongreung-myeon, Sinji-myeon, Haebo-myeon, Wolak-myeon, Modong-myeon, Daeya-myeon.

Hampyeong is famous for its annual butterfly festival which is the only one of its kind in South Korea.

The county officially has upbrought tens of thousands of butterflies and other facilities like greenhouses for insects for the festival.

Annually Hampyeong attracts more than 1 million people which, considering its size and scale is quite a large number.