Go-Joseon, or Old Korea (2333 - 206 BC), was the first Korean kingdom. According to legend, it was founded by Dangun in southern Manchuria in the basins of the Liao and Taedong Rivers.
Judging from Chinese records, the state of Go-Joseon as a political entity could be described as a kingdom (Chinese: 國; pinyin: guó) at least by the beginning of the 4th century BC. This roughly coincides with the advent of the Iron Age in Korea.
Go-Joseon went into a period of decline, but it was revived in the 2nd century BC as Wiman Joseon. Some Korean records combine Wiman Joseon, Gija Joseon, and the initial Go-Joseon as periods of one Go-Joseon.
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