The region was called Maeguru at the time of King Gwanggaeto the Great.

[1] Before 1413, the region was part of Hamgyong province, then known as Munju County, but due to the naming changes that follows the convention of changing regional names that end with ju to end with chon(川) or san(山), it became the county of Munchon.

Munch'ŏn is divided into 16 tong and 14 ri: Fishery, fruit, and livestock are the main industries of the region.

[5] Munch'ŏn has reserves of zinc, gold, silver, limestone, dolomite, granite and clay.

Munch'ŏn-si is served by the Kangwŏn Line of the Korean State Railway, with stations at Koam-dong, Okp'yŏng-dong and Munch'ŏn-dong.