Modern Age
In 1895, (32 nd year of Gojong's reign), Gabogaehyuk led to the abolition of the 8-Province Local Administrative System and the country was reorganized into 23 Bus and 331 Guns. Such restructuring marked a change from macro-regionalism to micro-regionalism. Smaller units than Provinces, Bus, Moks, Guns, and Hyuns, were integrated as Guns in the process of unifying the local administrative systems. Governors called Gwanchalsa and Gunsu were appointed to Bus and Guns, respectively. At that time, Sangju-mok was changed to Sangju-gun (governing 23 myuns) and Hamchang-hyun to Hanchang-gun, both of which were integrated into Andong-bu ( 安東府 ).
August 4 1896 saw the restructuring of the nation's 23 Bus into 13 Provinces pursuant to Royal Order No. 36. Gyeongsangdo was divided into Gyeongsangbukdo and Gyeongsangnamdo; Myungguns were classified by size; Sangju and Gyeongju were labeled as 1 st -grade Bus, Daegu, Seongju, Uiseong, and Andong as 2 nd -grade Bus, and Hamchang as a 4 th -grade Bu, with 41 Guns integrated into Gyeongsangbukdo.
November 4, 1905, Yuiam Jang Ji-yeon from Sangju criticized the forced conclusion and unfairness of Eulsa Treaty and published in the Hwangseong Shinmun (newspaper) the article called “Today I Raise a Wail of Sorrow,” which led to the suspension of the newspaper.
In the 9 th year of Gwangju, Gojong's reign of Daehan Empire (1905), the country was restructured into 8 provinces; Sangju-gun was reorganized from 31 into 22 myuns.
In 1906, the entire country was reorganized into 13 provinces and 3,335 myuns. Gyeongsangbukdo was restructured into 41 guns and 507 myuns; Sangju-gun was reorganized into 21 myuns from 31 myuns. 4 myuns, Dandong, Danseo, Dannam, and Danbuk, were handed over to Bian-gun ( 比安郡 : currently, Uiseong-gun) and 5 myuns, Yeongsun, Sandong, Sanseo, Sannam, and Sanbuk, over to Mungyeong.
September 30 1910, during the Japanese occupation, provincial governors (Gwanchalsa) were renamed as minister (Janggwan) and Buyuns, Gunsus, and Myunjangs were appointed in Bus, Guns and Myuns, respectively.
In 1912, under the policy of town repair and road paving, Sangju Fortress was torn down except the south gate, which was finally removed in 1924.
March 1 1914 - The local administration was reorganized into 12 Bus, 218 Guns, and 2,517 Myuns. At that time, 7 myuns in Hamchang-gun were reorganized into 3 myuns and were put under control of Sangju-gun; 22 myuns in Sangju-gun were restructured into 15 myuns, leaving Sangju-gun with 18 gaemyuns.
In June 1917, the Myun system was declared and all public affairs, except educational affairs, started to be handled under control of myuns. In August 1919, provincial governors were renamed as Dojisa ( 道知事 ) and were given the authority to exercise police power.
April 1 1931 - As the Up-Myun system took effect, Sangju-myun was promoted to an up and Sangju-gun governed 1 up and 17 myuns.