In the history, the appearance of the society of the early Gojoseon which corresponds to Bronze Age mostly remains as archaeology material and some of historical fact are recorded in the literature of PreChin era.
Among PreChin literatures, the books in which the contents related to Gojoseon are recorded are 『Gwanja』, 『Sanhaekyung』, 『Jeongukchaek』 (The Warring States Book), 『Chunchu』 and 『Sangseo』.
Through the record of 『Gwanja』, we can know that the early Gojoseon was located in Liaodong or in the area adjacent to Liaodong and did not exist in Liaosi area.
Furthermore, it is highly likely that Gojoseon existed in the area adjacent to Liaodong.
And Gojoseon was famous for regional product tiger leather which has pattern and in Chunchu period the Ji(齊) country discussed trade
with Gojoseon.
It can be confirmed that according to the record in 『Jeongukchaek』(The Warring States Book), at that time the Gojoseon was located in the area not distant from the frontier of Yan(燕) and was an influence group which they should pay attention to when discussing situation or foreign relation of Yan country.
Accordingly it can be known that at the latest in the middle of the 4thcentury B.C. the true substance of Gojoseon was distinctly recognized by the people in northern China.
In 『Sanhaekyoung』’s 「Hanaebukkyung」 the gojoseon was located in the north of the sea and the south of the mountain, and because the area of the present Liaodong and west North Korea area is located with their back toward Jangbaek and Nangrim mountain range and facing the sea with the front it corresponds to the record in 『Sanhaekyoung』.
In addition, in 『Haenaekyoung』 it is written that Gojoseon is located in the inside of seashore of the East Sea and the corner of the north sea. This means that roughly saying the Gojoseon is within the bounds of the East Sea.
Finally the article in 『Sanhaekyoung』 only explains the rough situation about the location of Gojoseon and it is inadequate as a material
which discusses the original location of Gojoseon.
Some disputants strongly raise the contention that the influence expressed as ‘Sukshin’ or ‘Doyee’, ‘Dongyee’(eastern barbarian) in the literature in ancient China can be seen as the real substance like ‘Joseon’.
However, because these tribes appear in the same record with ‘Joseon’ it is reasonable that they are seen as tribe groups different from ‘Joseon’.
In the above the conclusion obtained while reviewing the PreChin literature is the fact that Gojoseon was powerful influence group located in the east of Yan and maintained confrontation situation against Yan in the 4thcentury B.C.
Only, about the fact that when and where in 7th century B.C. the true substance ‘Joseon’ appeared in the history, there is limitation in approaching to it with literature anymore.
For clearer interpretation, we have no choice but to assume the area related to the early Gojoseon and judge through remains and relics excavated from there.