diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 46a80564b092..ee9eb0cb949f 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ https://github.com/Kong/kong/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md#contributing
 ### Checklist
 
 - [ ] The Pull Request has tests
-- [ ] There's an entry in the CHANGELOG
+- [ ] A changelog file has been added to `CHANGELOG/unreleased/kong` or adding `skip-changelog` label on PR if unnecessary. [README.md](https://github.com/Kong/kong/CHANGELOG/README.md) (Please ping @vm-001 if you need help)
 - [ ] There is a user-facing docs PR against https://github.com/Kong/docs.konghq.com - PUT DOCS PR HERE
 
 ### Full changelog
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
index ec10e3aec5fe..8c67b2e13843 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ on:
     # ignore markdown files (CHANGELOG.md, README.md, etc.)
     - '**/*.md'
     - '.github/workflows/release.yml'
+    - 'CHANGELOG/**'
   push:
     paths-ignore:
     # ignore markdown files (CHANGELOG.md, README.md, etc.)
diff --git a/.github/workflows/changelog.yaml b/.github/workflows/changelog.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9d0e48c27a86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/changelog.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+name: Changelog
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types: [ "opened", "synchronize", "labeled", "unlabeled" ]
+
+jobs:
+  require-changelog:
+    name: Is changelog required?
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 2
+
+      - name: Retrives changed files in CHANGELOG/unreleased/**/*.yaml
+        id: changelog-check
+        uses: tj-actions/changed-files@5817a9efb0d7cc34b917d8146ea10b9f32044968 # v37
+        with:
+          files: 'CHANGELOG/unreleased/**/*.yaml'
+
+      - name: Requires a changelog file if 'skip-changelog' label is not added
+        if: ${{ !contains(github.event.*.labels.*.name, 'skip-changelog') }}
+        run: >
+          if [ "${{ steps.changelog-check.outputs.added_files_count }}" = "0" ]; then
+            echo "PR should contain a changelog file"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+  validate-changelog:
+    name: Validate changelog
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      - name: Validate changelogs
+        uses: thiagodnf/yaml-schema-checker@228a5be72029114e3cd6301e0aaeef6b557fa033 # v0.0.8
+        with:
+          jsonSchemaFile: CHANGELOG/schema.json
+          yamlFiles: |
+            CHANGELOG/unreleased/*/*.yaml
diff --git a/CHANGELOG/Makefile b/CHANGELOG/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a71e38b41106
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+install_dependencies:
+	luarocks install penlight --local
+	luarocks install lyaml --local
diff --git a/CHANGELOG/README.md b/CHANGELOG/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ead8a94074c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+# CHANGELOG
+
+The CHANGELOG directory is used for individual changelog file practice.
+The `kong/CHANGELOG.md` now is deprecated.
+
+
+## How to add a changelog file for your PR?
+
+1/ Copy the `changelog-template.yaml` file and rename with your PR number or a short message as the filename. For example, `11279.yaml`, `introduce-a-new-changelog-system.yaml`. (Prefer using PR number as it's already unique and wouldn't introduce conflict)
+
+2/ Fill out the changelog template.
+
+
+The description of the changelog file field, please follow the `schema.json` for more details.
+
+- message: Message of the changelog
+- type: Changelog type. (`feature`, `bugfix`, `dependency`, `deprecation`, `breaking_change`)
+- scope: Changelog scope. (`Core`, `Plugin`, `PDK`, `Admin API`, `Performance`, `Configuration`, `Clustering`)
+- prs: List of associated GitHub PRs
+- issues: List of associated GitHub issues
+- jiras: List of associated Jira tickets for internal track
+
+Sample 1
+```yaml
+message: Introduce the request id as core feature.
+type: feat
+scope: Core
+prs:
+  - 11308
+```
+
+Sample 2
+```yaml
+message: Fix response body gets repeated when `kong.response.get_raw_body()` is called multiple times in a request lifecycle.
+type: bugfix
+scope: PDK
+prs:
+  - 11424
+jiras:
+  - "FTI-5296"
+```
+
+
+## changelog command
+
+The `changelog` command tool provides `preview`, and `release` commands.
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+You can skip this part if you're at Kong Bazel virtual env.
+
+Install luajit
+
+Install luarocks libraries
+
+```
+luarocks install penlight --local
+luarocks install lyaml --local
+```
+
+### Usage
+
+```shell
+$ ./changelog -h
+
+Usage: changelog <command> [options]
+
+Commands:
+  release <version>                  release a release note based on the files in the CHANGELOG/unreleased directory.
+  preview <version>                  preview a release note based on the files in the CHANGELOG/unreleased directory.
+
+Options:
+  -h, --help                         display help for command
+
+Examples:
+  changelog preview 1.0.0
+  changelog release 1.0.0
+```
+
+**Preview a release note**
+```shell
+./changelog preview 1.0.0
+```
+
+**Release a release note**
+```shell
+./changelog release 1.0.0
+```
diff --git a/CHANGELOG/changelog b/CHANGELOG/changelog
new file mode 100755
index 000000000000..87e93e2c46d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG/changelog
@@ -0,0 +1,292 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env luajit
+
+local pl_template = require "pl.template"
+local pl_tablex = require "pl.tablex"
+local pl_file = require "pl.file"
+local pl_dir = require "pl.dir"
+local pl_path = require "pl.path"
+local pl_stringx = require "pl.stringx"
+local lyaml = require "lyaml"
+local pl_app = require 'pl.lapp'
+
+local CHANGELOG_PATH -- absolute path of CHANGELOG directory
+do
+  local base_path = os.getenv("PWD")
+  local command = debug.getinfo(1, "S").source:sub(2)
+  local last_idx = pl_stringx.rfind(command, "/")
+  if last_idx then
+    base_path = pl_path.join(base_path, string.sub(command, 1, last_idx - 1))
+  end
+  CHANGELOG_PATH = base_path
+end
+local UNRELEASED = "unreleased"
+local REPOS = {
+  kong = "Kong/kong",
+}
+local JIRA_BASE_URL = "https://konghq.atlassian.net/browse/"
+local GITHUB_REFERENCE = {
+  pr = "https://github.com/%s/pull/%d",
+  issue = "https://github.com/%s/issues/%d"
+}
+local SCOPE_PRIORITY = { -- smallest on top
+  Performance = 10,
+  Configuration = 20,
+  Core = 30,
+  PDK = 40,
+  Plugin = 50,
+  ["Admin API"] = 60,
+  Clustering = 70,
+  Default = 100, -- default priority
+}
+
+setmetatable(SCOPE_PRIORITY, {
+  __index = function()
+    return rawget(SCOPE_PRIORITY, "Default") - 1
+  end
+})
+
+local function table_keys(t)
+  if type(t) ~= "table" then
+    return t
+  end
+  local keys = {}
+  for k, _ in pairs(t) do
+    table.insert(keys, k)
+  end
+  return keys
+end
+
+local function parse_github_ref(system, reference_type, references)
+  if references == nil or references == lyaml.null then
+    return nil
+  end
+  local parsed_references = {}
+  for i, ref in ipairs(references or {}) do
+    local repo = REPOS[system]
+    local ref_no = tonumber(ref) -- treat ref as number string first
+    local name = "#" .. ref
+    if not ref_no then -- ref is not a number string
+      local parts = pl_stringx.split(ref, ":")
+      repo = parts[1]
+      ref_no = parts[2]
+      name = pl_stringx.replace(tostring(ref), ":", " #")
+    end
+    parsed_references[i] = {
+      id = ref_no,
+      name = name,
+      link = string.format(GITHUB_REFERENCE[reference_type], repo, ref_no),
+    }
+  end
+  return parsed_references
+end
+
+
+local function parse_jiras(jiras)
+  local jira_items = {}
+  for i, jira in ipairs(jiras or {}) do
+    jiras[i] = {
+      id = jira,
+      link = JIRA_BASE_URL .. jira
+    }
+  end
+  return jira_items
+end
+
+
+local function is_yaml(filename)
+  return pl_stringx.endswith(filename, ".yaml") or
+    pl_stringx.endswith(filename, ".yml")
+end
+
+local function is_empty_table(t)
+  return next(t) == nil
+end
+
+local function compile_template(data, template)
+  local compile_env = {
+    _escape = ">",
+    _brackets = "{}",
+    _debug = true,
+    pairs = pairs,
+    ipairs = ipairs,
+    tostring = tostring,
+    is_empty_table = is_empty_table,
+  }
+
+  compile_env = pl_tablex.merge(compile_env, data, true) -- union
+  local content, err = pl_template.substitute(template, compile_env)
+  if not content then
+    return nil, "failed to compile template: " .. err
+  end
+
+  return content
+end
+
+local function absolute_path(...)
+  local path = CHANGELOG_PATH
+  for _, p in ipairs({...}) do
+    path = pl_path.join(path, p)
+  end
+  return path
+end
+
+local function collect_files(folder)
+  local files
+  if pl_path.exists(folder) then
+    files = assert(pl_dir.getfiles(folder))
+    if files then
+      table.sort(files)
+    end
+  end
+  local sorted_files = {}
+  for _, filename in ipairs(files or {}) do
+    if is_yaml(filename) then
+      table.insert(sorted_files, filename)
+    end
+  end
+
+  return sorted_files
+end
+
+
+local function collect_folder(system, folder)
+  local data = {
+    features = {},
+    bugfixes = {},
+    breaking_changes = {},
+    dependencies = {},
+    deprecations = {},
+  }
+
+  local map = {
+    feature = "features",
+    bugfix = "bugfixes",
+    breaking_change = "breaking_changes",
+    dependency = "dependencies",
+    deprecation = "deprecations",
+  }
+
+  local files = collect_files(folder)
+  for _, filename in ipairs(files) do
+    local content = assert(pl_file.read(filename))
+    local entry = assert(lyaml.load(content))
+
+    entry.prs = parse_github_ref(system, "pr", entry.prs) or {}
+    entry.issues = parse_github_ref(system, "issue", entry.issues) or {}
+    entry.jiras = parse_jiras(entry.jiras) or {}
+
+    if entry.scope == nil or entry.scope == lyaml.null then
+      entry.scope = "Default"
+    end
+
+    local key = map[entry.type]
+    if not data[key][entry.scope] then
+      data[key][entry.scope] = {}
+    end
+    table.insert(data[key][entry.scope], entry)
+  end
+
+  for _, scopes in pairs(data) do
+    local scope_names = table_keys(scopes)
+    table.sort(scope_names, function(a, b) return SCOPE_PRIORITY[a] < SCOPE_PRIORITY[b] end)
+    scopes.sorted_scopes = scope_names
+  end
+
+  return data
+end
+
+local function collect_unreleased()
+  local data = {}
+
+  data.kong = collect_folder("kong", absolute_path(UNRELEASED, "kong"))
+
+  return data
+end
+
+
+local function generate_content(data)
+  local template_path = absolute_path("changelog-md-template.lua")
+  local content = assert(pl_file.read(template_path))
+  local changelog_template = assert(loadstring(content))()
+  return compile_template(data, changelog_template)
+end
+
+
+-- command: release
+-- release a release note
+local function release(version)
+  -- mkdir unreleased path if not exists
+  if not pl_path.exists(absolute_path(UNRELEASED)) then
+    assert(pl_dir.makepath(absolute_path(UNRELEASED)))
+  end
+
+  local data = collect_unreleased()
+  data.version = version
+  local content = assert(generate_content(data))
+  local target_path = absolute_path(version)
+  if pl_path.exists(target_path) then
+    error("directory exists, please manually remove. " .. version)
+  end
+  os.execute("mv " .. UNRELEASED .. " " .. target_path)
+  local filename = pl_path.join(target_path, "changelog.md")
+  assert(pl_file.write(filename, content))
+  assert(pl_dir.makepath(UNRELEASED))
+
+  print("Successfully generated release note.")
+end
+
+
+-- command: preview
+-- preview the release note
+local function preview(version)
+  local data = collect_unreleased()
+  data.version = version
+  local content = assert(generate_content(data))
+  print(content)
+end
+
+
+local cmds = {
+  release = function(args)
+    local version = args[1]
+    if not version then
+      error("Missing version")
+    end
+    release(version)
+  end,
+  preview = function(args)
+    local version = args[1]
+    if not version then
+      error("Missing version")
+    end
+    preview(version)
+  end,
+}
+
+
+local args = pl_app [[
+Usage: changelog <command> [options]
+
+Commands:
+  release <version>                  release a release note based on the files in the CHANGELOG/unreleased directory.
+  preview <version>                  preview a release note based on the files in the CHANGELOG/unreleased directory.
+
+Options:
+  -h, --help                         display help for command
+
+Examples:
+  changelog preview 1.0.0
+  changelog release 1.0.0
+]]
+
+local cmd_name = table.remove(args, 1)
+if not cmd_name then
+  pl_app.quit()
+end
+
+local cmd_fn = cmds[cmd_name]
+if not cmds[cmd_name] then
+  pl_app.quit("Invalid command: " .. cmd_name, true)
+end
+
+cmd_fn(args)
diff --git a/CHANGELOG/changelog-md-template.lua b/CHANGELOG/changelog-md-template.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b631139c2657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG/changelog-md-template.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+return [[
+> local function render_changelog_entry(entry)
+- ${entry.message}
+>   if #(entry.prs or {}) > 0 then
+>     for _, pr in ipairs(entry.prs or {}) do
+ [${pr.name}](${pr.link})
+>     end
+>   end
+>   if entry.jiras then
+>     for _, jira in ipairs(entry.jiras or {}) do
+  [${jira.id}](${jira.link})
+>     end
+>   end
+>   if #(entry.issues or {}) > 0 then
+(issue:
+>     for _, issue in ipairs(entry.issues or {}) do
+ [${issue.name}](${issue.link})
+>     end
+)
+>   end
+> end
+>
+> local function render_changelog_entries(entries)
+>   for _, entry in ipairs(entries or {}) do
+>     render_changelog_entry(entry)
+>   end
+> end
+>
+> local function render_changelog_section(section_name, t)
+>   if #t.sorted_scopes > 0 then
+### ${section_name}
+
+>   end
+>   for _, scope_name in ipairs(t.sorted_scopes or {}) do
+>     if not (#t.sorted_scopes == 1 and scope_name == "Default") then -- do not print the scope_name if only one scope and it's Default scope
+#### ${scope_name}
+
+>     end
+>     render_changelog_entries(t[scope_name])
+>   end
+> end
+>
+>
+>
+# ${version}
+
+## Kong
+
+> render_changelog_section("Breaking Changes", kong.breaking_changes)
+
+
+> render_changelog_section("Deprecations", kong.deprecations)
+
+
+> render_changelog_section("Dependencies", kong.dependencies)
+
+
+> render_changelog_section("Features", kong.features)
+
+
+> render_changelog_section("Fixes", kong.bugfixes)
+
+]]
diff --git a/CHANGELOG/changelog-template.yaml b/CHANGELOG/changelog-template.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f2594e2911b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG/changelog-template.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+message:
+type:
+prs:
+jiras:
+issues:
diff --git a/CHANGELOG/schema.json b/CHANGELOG/schema.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3a84124a19cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG/schema.json
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
+  "type": "object",
+  "properties": {
+    "message": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "Message of the changelog",
+      "minLength": 1,
+      "maxLength": 1000
+    },
+    "type": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "Changelog type",
+      "enum": [
+        "feature",
+        "bugfix",
+        "dependency",
+        "deprecation",
+        "breaking_change"
+      ]
+    },
+    "scope": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "Changelog scope",
+      "enum": [
+        "Core",
+        "Plugin",
+        "PDK",
+        "Admin API",
+        "Performance",
+        "Configuration",
+        "Clustering"
+      ]
+    },
+    "prs": {
+      "type": "array",
+      "description": "List of associated GitHub PRs",
+      "items": {
+        "pattern": "^(\\d+|\\w+\/\\w+:\\d+)$",
+        "type": ["integer", "string"],
+        "examples": ["1", "torvalds/linux:1"]
+      }
+    },
+    "issues": {
+      "type": "array",
+      "description": "List of associated GitHub issues",
+      "items": {
+        "pattern": "^(\\d+|\\w+\/\\w+:\\d+)$",
+        "type": ["integer", "string"],
+        "examples": ["1", "torvalds/linux:1"]
+      }
+    },
+    "jiras": {
+      "type": "array",
+      "description": "List of associated Jira tickets for internal tracking.",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string",
+        "pattern": "^[A-Z]+-[0-9]+$"
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "message",
+    "type"
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/CHANGELOG/unreleased/kong/.gitkeep b/CHANGELOG/unreleased/kong/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e69de29bb2d1