Daegu (, , literally 'large hill', 대구광역시), formerly spelled Taegu and officially known as the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea.
It is the third-largest
urban agglomeration
An urban area, built-up area or urban agglomeration is a human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban morphology as cities, t ...
in South Korea after
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
and
Busan
Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, w ...
; it is the third-largest
official metropolitan area in the nation with over 2.5 million residents; and the second-largest city after Busan in the
Yeongnam
Yeongnam (Hangul: 영남, ; literally "south of the passes") is a region that coincides with the former Gyeongsang Province in what is now South Korea.
The region includes the modern-day provinces of North and South Gyeongsang and the self-gov ...
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
in southeastern
Korean Peninsula
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
. It was overtaken by Incheon in the 2000s, but still it is said to be the third city, according to the "Act on the Establishment of Daegu City and Incheon City" (Act No. 3424 and April 13, 1981). Daegu and surrounding
North Gyeongsang Province
North Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상북도, translit=Gyeongsangbuk-do, ) is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, and remained a province of Korea until the ...
are often referred to as
Daegu-Gyeongbuk, with a total population over 5 million.
Daegu is located in south-eastern Korea about from the seacoast, near the
Geumho River
The Geumho River flows through North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and drains into the Nakdong River. It rises in the hilly area of western Pohang, flows west for 116 kilometers before its meeting with the Nakdong in western Daegu. It drain ...
and its mainstream,
Nakdong River
The Nakdonggang River or Nakdonggang () is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan. It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea's Three Kingdoms Er ...
in
Gyeongsang-do
Gyeongsang ( ko, 경상도, ''Gyeongsang-do''; ) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongsang was located in the southeast of Korea.
The provincial capital was Daegu. The region was the birthplace of the Kingd ...
. The Daegu basin is the central plain of the
Yeongnam
Yeongnam (Hangul: 영남, ; literally "south of the passes") is a region that coincides with the former Gyeongsang Province in what is now South Korea.
The region includes the modern-day provinces of North and South Gyeongsang and the self-gov ...
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
. In ancient times, the Daegu area was part of the proto-kingdom
Jinhan
Jinhan () was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD in the southern Korean Peninsula, to the east of the Nakdong River valley, Gyeongsang Province. Jinhan was one of the Samhan (or "T ...
. Subsequently, Daegu came under the control of the
Silla Kingdom
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of Ko ...
, which unified the
Korean Peninsula
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
. During the
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
period, the city was the capital of
Gyeongsang-do
Gyeongsang ( ko, 경상도, ''Gyeongsang-do''; ) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongsang was located in the southeast of Korea.
The provincial capital was Daegu. The region was the birthplace of the Kingd ...
, one of the traditional
eight provinces of the country.
Daegu was an economic motor of Korea during the 1960s–1980s period and was especially known for its electronics industry. The humid subtropical climate of Daegu is ideal for producing high-quality apples, thus the nickname, "Apple City". Daegu is also known as "Textile City". Textiles used to be the pillar industry of the city. With the establishment of the
Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone, Daegu is currently focusing on fostering fashion and high-tech industries.
Daegu was the host city of the 22nd
World Energy Congress
The World Energy Council is a global forum for thought-leadership and tangible engagement with headquarters in London. Its mission is 'To promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all people'.
The idea for the fo ...
, the
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics () was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011.
The United States topped the medal standings in th ...
and the
2003 Summer Universiade
The 2003 Summer Universiade, also known as the XXII Summer Universiade, took place in Daegu, South Korea.
Emblem
* The alphabet letter "U" and five stars, which is FISU's emblem, make up the basis of the emblem for the Daegu Universiade.
* It sym ...
.
[FIS]
22nd SUMMER UNIVERSIADE
Retrieved 2011-10-12 It also hosted four matches in the
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...
.
History
Prehistory and early history
Archaeological investigations in the Greater Daegu area have revealed a large number of settlements and burials of the prehistoric
Mumun Pottery Period
The Mumun pottery period is an archaeological era in Korean prehistory that dates to approximately 1500-300 BC. This period is named after the Korean name for undecorated or plain cooking and storage vessels that form a large part of the pottery ...
(around 1500–300 BC). In fact, some of the earliest evidence of Mumun settlement in Gyeongsangdo have been excavated from Siji-dong and Seobyeon-dong.
[YUM (Yeungnam University Museum). ''Siji-eui Munhwayujeok VIII: Chwirakji Bonmun'' ultural Sites of Siji VIII: Settlement Site Text Research Report No. 33. Yeungnam University Museum, Gyeongsan, 1999b] Dongcheon-dong is one of the substantial Mumun agricultural villages that have been excavated. The Dongcheon-dong site dates back to the Middle Mumun (around 850–550 BC) and contains the remains of many prehistoric pit-houses and agricultural fields. Megalithic burials (dolmens) have also been found in large numbers in Daegu.
Ancient historical texts indicate that during the
Proto–Three Kingdoms (
Mahan Mahan or Mahaan may refer to:
* Mahan (name)
* Mahan confederacy, chiefdoms in ancient Korea
* Mahan, Iran, a city in Kerman Province
* Mahan District, an administrative subdivision of Kerman Province
* Mahan Rural District, an administrative subdi ...
,
Jinhan
Jinhan () was a loose confederacy of chiefdoms that existed from around the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD in the southern Korean Peninsula, to the east of the Nakdong River valley, Gyeongsang Province. Jinhan was one of the Samhan (or "T ...
, and
Byeonhan) period, Daegu was the site of a chiefdom or walled-town polity known from that time, according to historical records, as
Dalgubeol Throughout and before recorded history, Daegu has served as a nexus of transportation, lying as it does at the junction of the Geumho and Nakdong rivers. During the Joseon Dynasty, the city was the administrative, economic and cultural centre of th ...
. It was absorbed into the kingdom of
Silla
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...
no later than the fifth century. The vestiges of the wall can be seen, and relics have been excavated in the current
Dalseong Park
Dalseong Park is a park located in Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea. The park includes Gwanpungnu Pavilion, a local history hall, a zoo, and some monuments.
History
The park is located inside the oldest earthen fortification in Korea, dating from ab ...
.
Silla
Silla succeeded in unifying the Korean peninsula by defeating the other kingdoms of
Baekje
Baekje or Paekche (, ) was a Korean kingdom located in southwestern Korea from 18 BC to 660 AD. It was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, together with Goguryeo and Silla.
Baekje was founded by Onjo, the third son of Goguryeo's founder Jum ...
and
Goguryeo
Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
in the late seventh century, partly due to assistance from China's
Tang Dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...
. Shortly thereafter, in 689, Silla's King
Sinmun considered moving the capital from
Gyeongju
Gyeongju ( ko, 경주, ), historically known as ''Seorabeol'' ( ko, 서라벌, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, ...
to Daegu, but was unable to do so. This initiative is known only through a single line in the ''
Samguk Sagi
''Samguk Sagi'' (, ''History of the Three Kingdoms'') is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The ''Samguk Sagi'' is written in Classical Chinese, the written language of the literati of ancient Korea, ...
'', a most valued historical record of ancient Korea by Koryeo Dynasty historian
Kim Bu-sik
Kim Bu-sik, or Gim Busik (; 1075–1151) was a statesman, general, Confucian scholar and writer during Korea's Goryeo period. He was a scion of the Silla royalty and a member of the Gyeongju Kim clan. Later he was the supreme chancellor from 1136 ...
, but it is presumed to indicate both an attempt by the Silla king to reinforce royal authority and the entrenched resistance of the Gyeongju political elites that was the likely cause of the move's failure. The city was given its current name in 757.
In the late 1990s, archaeologists excavated a large-scale fortified Silla site in Dongcheon-dong, Buk-gu. The site at Locality 2 consists of the remains of 39 raised-floor buildings enclosed by a formidable ditch-and-palisade system. The excavators hypothesize that the fortified site was a permanent military encampment or barracks. Archaeologists also uncovered a large Silla village dating to the sixth to seventh centuries AD at Siji-dong.
Later Three Kingdoms and Goryeo
During the
Later Three Kingdoms period
The Later Three Kingdoms period (889-935 AD) of ancient Korea saw a partial revival of the old three kingdoms which had dominated the peninsula from the 1st century BC to the 7th century AD. After the Unified Silla kingdom had ruled Korea alone ...
, 892–936, Daegu was initially aligned with
Hubaekje
Hubaekje or Later Baekje (, ) was one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, along with Taebong and Silla. Later Baekje was a Korean dynastic kingdom founded by the disaffected Silla general Gyeon Hwon in 900, whom led the local gentry and popul ...
. In 927, northern Daegu was the site of the Battle of Gong Mountain between the forces of
Goryeo
Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...
under
Wang Geon
Taejo of Goryeo (31 January 877 – 4 July 943), also known as Taejo Wang Geon (; ), was the founder of the Goryeo dynasty, which ruled Korea from the 10th to the 14th century. Taejo ruled from 918 to 943, achieving unification of the Later Three ...
and those of Hubaekje under
Gyeon Hwon
Gyeon Hwon (; 867 – 27 September 936, r. 892 – March 934) was the king and founder of Later Baekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, and reigned from 892 to 935. Some records render his name as "Jin Hwon" (진훤). He was also the prog ...
. In this battle, the forces of Goryeo were crushed and Wang Geon himself was saved only by the heroic deed of his general
Shin Sung-gyeom. However, the atrocities of the Hubaekje forces at this time apparently changed local sympathizers to favor Wang Geon, who later became the king of
Goryeo
Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...
.
Numerous place names and local legends in the area still bear witness to the historic battle of 927. Among these are "
Ansim", which literally means "peace of mind", said to be the first place where Wang Geon dared to stop after escaping the battle, and "
Banwol", or half-moon, where he is said to have stopped and admired the moon before returning to Goryeo. A statue commemorating the battle now stands in northern Daegu, as does a memorial to Sin Sunggyeom.
In the
Goryeo
Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...
period, the first edition of the ''
Tripitaka Koreana
The (lit. ) or ("Eighty-Thousand ''Tripiṭaka''") is a Korean collection of the (Buddhist scriptures, and the Sanskrit word for "three baskets"), carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks in the 13th century.
It is the oldest intact vers ...
'' was stored in Daegu, at the temple of Buinsa. However, this edition was destroyed when the temple was sacked in 1254, during the
Mongol invasions of Korea
A series of campaigns were conducted between 1231 and 1270 by the Mongol Empire against the Goryeo dynasty of Korea. There were seven major campaigns at tremendous cost to civilian lives, the last campaign made Goryeo a vassal state of the Yu ...
.
Joseon
![Daegu dalseongdo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Daegu_dalseongdo.jpg)
Daegu served as an important transportation center during the
Joseon
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
Dynasty. She stands in the mid part of the
Great Yeongnam Road
The Great Yeongnam Road, or Yeongnamdaero, was one of the principal roads of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910. It ran between Hanseong (modern-day Seoul) and Dongnae (in modern-day Busan). More generally, it served to connect the Gy ...
which ran between Seoul and Busan. It lay at the junction of this arterial road and the roads to Gyeongju and
Jinju
Jinju () is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It was the location of the first (1592) and second (1593) Sieges of Jinju by Japanese forces during the Imjin War. The Republic of Korea Air Force Education and Training Command is ...
.
In 1601, Daegu became the administrative capital of the
Gyeongsang-do
Gyeongsang ( ko, 경상도, ''Gyeongsang-do''; ) was one of the eight provinces of Korea during the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongsang was located in the southeast of Korea.
The provincial capital was Daegu. The region was the birthplace of the Kingd ...
, which is current Daegu,
Busan
Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, w ...
,
Ulsan
Ulsan (), officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City is South Korea's seventh-largest metropolitan city and the eighth-largest city overall, with a population of over 1.1 million inhabitants. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring ...
,
Gyeongsangbuk-do
North Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상북도, translit=Gyeongsangbuk-do, ) is a province in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang province, and remained a province of Korea until the ...
, and
Gyeongsangnam-do
South Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상남도, translit=Gyeongsangnam-do, ) is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is at Changwon. It is adjacent to the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. The UNESCO World H ...
. At about that time, the city began to grow into a major city. The status continued for nearly 300 years, and the city has been transformed as the capital of Gyeongsangbuk-do since Gyeongsang-do was divided into two provinces, Gyeongsangbuk-do (northern Gyeongsang-province) and Gyeongsangnam-do (southern one) in 1896.
Daegu's first regular markets were established during the late Joseon period. The most famous of these is the
Yangnyeongsi
Daegu Yangnyeongsi Festival is a festival of Daegu, South Korea.
The festival is held every May. The main events include a Medicinal herb party, cutting medicinal herbs contest and a free medical check-up by oriental medicine.
History
Daegu ...
herbal medicine market. This became a center of herbal trade in Joseon, and even attracted buyers from neighboring countries. Traders from Japan, who were not permitted to leave the
Nakdong River
The Nakdonggang River or Nakdonggang () is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan. It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea's Three Kingdoms Er ...
valley, hired messengers to visit the market on their behalf.
Seomun Market
Seomun Market is the largest traditional street market in Daegu, South Korea, containing more than 4,000 shops. Seomun Market is particularly known as a source for textiles and sewing services, a key ingredient of Daegu's fashion industry.
The n ...
, which stood at the city's west gate at that time, was one of the top-three markets in the Joseon period.
Korean Empire and colonial rule
Japanese imperialism forcibly opened up Korea's markets beginning in the late 19th century. In 1895, Daegu became the site of one of the country's first modern
post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...
s, as a part of the 'Gab-o' reforms introduced in the aftermath of the
First Sino-Japanese war
The First Sino-Japanese War (25 July 1894 – 17 April 1895) was a conflict between China and Japan primarily over influence in Korea. After more than six months of unbroken successes by Japanese land and naval forces and the loss of the po ...
.
Beginning in the late 1890s, increasing numbers of foreign merchants and workers started to visit Daegu, which emerged as a modern transportation center of the newly constructed
Gyeongbu Line
The Gyeongbu Line (''Gyeongbuseon'') is a railway line in South Korea and is considered to be the most important and one of the oldest ones in the country. It was constructed in 1905, connecting Seoul with Busan via Suwon, Daejeon, and Daegu. ...
main railroad connecting Seoul and Busan.
In 1905, the old fortress wall was forcibly destroyed. As a tribute to the wall, streets that now run where the wall once stood have been named
Dongseongno and
Bukseongno, which translates as "east fortress street" and "north fortress street" respectively.
Independence movement
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
s against imperial aggressions were outstanding in Daegu. These began as early as 1898, when a branch of the
Independence Club
The Independence Association (독립협회, 獨立協會) was founded through the initiative of Philip Jaisohn (Seo Jae-pil) on July 2, 1896. At its founding it was recognized by the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Despite some remarkable ach ...
was opened in the town. As the demise of the
Korean Empire
The Korean Empire () was a Korean monarchical state proclaimed in October 1897 by Emperor Gojong of the Joseon dynasty. The empire stood until Japan's annexation of Korea in August 1910.
During the Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong oversaw the Gwa ...
approached in 1907, local citizens led by
Seo Sang-don organized the
National Debt Repayment Movement
The National Debt Repayment Movement (The National Debt Redemption Movement) was a movement to restore national power between 1907 and 1908 to repay government bonds with public fundraising. It was started by Seo Sang-dong of Daegu on 30 January 1 ...
. The movement spread nationwide, although it fell short of repaying the national debt through individual donations. Freedom fighting continued after the 1910 annexation, notably during the
March 1st movement
The March 1st Movement, also known as the Sam-il (3-1) Movement (Hangul: 삼일 운동; Hanja: 三一 運動), was a protest movement by Korean people and students calling for independence from Japan in 1919, and protesting forced assimilation ...
of 1919. At that time, four major demonstrations took place in Daegu, involving an estimated 23,000 peace-loving citizens.
After 1945
In 1946, the
Daegu October Incident took place, one of the most serious social disorders since the foundation of the Republic of Korea. On October 1, Korean national police killed three student demonstrators and injured many others. It was also the site of major demonstrations on February 28, 1960, prior to the
presidential election
A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President.
Elections by country
Albania
The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public.
Chile
The pre ...
of that year.
Daegu and all of North Gyeongsang province had heavy guerrilla activities in the late 1940s, as thousands of refugees shied away from the fighting in Jeolla province and sought shelters in Daegu. In November 1948, a unit in Daegu joined the mutiny which had begun in
Yeosu
Yeosu (; ''Yeosu-si''), historically also Yosu, and known to the Japanese as Reisui during the period when Korea was under Japanese rule, is a city located on the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula in South Jeolla Province, South Korea and ...
the previous month. As in many other areas during the Korean War,
political killings of dissenters were widespread.
During the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
, heavy fighting occurred nearby along the
Nakdong River
The Nakdonggang River or Nakdonggang () is the longest river in South Korea, and passes through major cities such as Daegu and Busan. It takes its name from its role as the eastern border of the Gaya confederacy during Korea's Three Kingdoms Er ...
. Daegu sat inside the
Pusan Perimeter
The Battle of the Pusan Perimeter ( ko, 부산 교두보 전투) was a large-scale battle between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces lasting from August 4 to September 18, 1950. It was one of the first major engagements of the ...
, however, so it remained in South Korean hands throughout the war. The fighting that prevented North Korean troops from crossing the Nakdong River has become known as the
Battle of Taegu
The Battle of Taegu was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War, with fighting continuing from August 5–20, 1950 around the city of Taegu, South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pus ...
.
In the second half of the 20th century, the city underwent explosive growth, and the population has increased more than tenfold since the end of the Korean War. The city was politically favored during the 18-year-long rule of
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee (, ; 14 November 1917 – 26 October 1979) was a South Korean politician and army general who served as the dictator of South Korea from 1961 until his assassination in 1979; ruling as an unelected military strongman from 1961 ...
, when it and the surrounding area served as his political base. Daegu champions conservative political ideas and movements today and is a political base for the
Saenuri Party
The Liberty Korea Party () was a conservative political party in South Korea that was described variously as right-wing, right-wing populist, or far-right. Until February 2017, it was known as the Saenuri Party (), and before that as the Han ...
.
In the 1980s, Daegu separated from Gyeongsangbuk-do and became a separately administered provincial-level
directly governed city (''Jikhalsi''), and was redesignated as a
metropolitan city
A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications.
A big ci ...
(''Gwangyeoksi'') in 1995. Today, Daegu is the third-largest
metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...
in Korea with respect to both population and commerce.
Since 1990, Daegu has suffered two of South Korea's worst mass casualty disasters: the
1995 Daegu gas explosions
The 1995 Daegu gas explosions occurred at Daegu Metro Line 1, a construction site located in Sangin-dong, Daegu, South Korea, on April 28, 1995. At least 101 people, including 42 Yeongnam Middle School students, were killed with as many as 202 pe ...
, which killed 101 people, and the 2003
Daegu subway fire
The Daegu subway fire occurred on February 18, 2003, when an arsonist set fire to a train; 192 people died and 151 others were injured at the Jungangno station of the Daegu Metropolitan Subway in Daegu, South Korea. The fire had spread acros ...
, which killed 192 people.
In February 2020, Daegu was the epicenter of the
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
The COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). The first case in South Korea was announced on 20 January 2020. The numbe ...
.
Politics
![Daegu city hall context](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Daegu_city_hall_context.jpg)
Two local governments are in the city, the Daegu Metropolitan Government in
Jung District and Gyeongbuk Provincial Government in
Buk District Buk-gu, (), or "Northern District", is the name of a ''gu'' in several South Korean cities:
* Buk-gu, Busan
* Buk-gu, Daegu
* Buk-gu, Gwangju
Buk District (Buk-gu) is a district situated in the northern part of the city of Gwangju, South Korea ...
. The provincial government will be relocated to
Andong
Andong () is a city in South Korea, and the capital of North Gyeongsang Province. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of 167,821 as of October 2010. The Nakdong River flows through the city. Andong is a m ...
in its proper province, Gyeongbuk. The mayor and heads of city's eight districts are directly elected by the citizens every four years. The city council has 29 members which consist of 26 from the same number of electoral districts and three proportional representations. They are also directly elected every four years. Most of them are the members of the
Liberty Korea Party
The Liberty Korea Party () was a conservative political party in South Korea that was described variously as right-wing, right-wing populist, or far-right. Until February 2017, it was known as the Saenuri Party (), and before that as the Hanna ...
, the main
conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...
political party in South Korea. Daegu is a stronghold for the party and has produced two Presidents of the Republic of Korea thus far:
Roh Tae-woo
Roh Tae-woo (; ; 4 December 1932 – 26 October 2021) was a South Korean politician and army general who served as the sixth president of South Korea from 1988 to 1993.
Roh was a close ally and friend of Chun Doo-hwan, the predecessor leader ...
and
Park Geun-hye
Park Geun-hye (; ; often in English ; born 2 February 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th president of South Korea from 2013 to 2017, until she was impeached and convicted on related corruption charges.
Park was the fi ...
. As the capital of the Korean conservatives, the city has wielded strong political influence in
elections
An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.
Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operate ...
.
Administrative divisions
![00-daegu-en](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/00-daegu-en.svg)
Daegu is divided into 7 districts (''Gu'') and 1 county (''Gun'')
*
Jung District () – ''means the central district.''
*
Dong District () – ''means the east district.''
*
Seo District () – ''means the west district.''
*
Nam District () – ''means the south district.''
*
Buk District Buk-gu, (), or "Northern District", is the name of a ''gu'' in several South Korean cities:
* Buk-gu, Busan
* Buk-gu, Daegu
* Buk-gu, Gwangju
Buk District (Buk-gu) is a district situated in the northern part of the city of Gwangju, South Korea ...
() – ''means the north district.''
*
Suseong District ()
*
Dalseo District
Dalseo District (Dalseo-gu) is a district in western Daegu, South Korea. It borders Dalseong-gun on the north, south, and west, and Seo-gu and Nam-gu on the east. It has a population of about 610,000, and an area of 62.27 square kilometers. The ...
()
*
Dalseong County
Dalseong County (Dalseong-gun) is a ''gun'' occupying much of south and western Daegu, South Korea. A largely rural district lying along the Nakdong River, it makes up nearly half of Daegu's total area. It is divided in half by a narrow piece o ...
()
Geography
Topography
![Countryandcitydaegu](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Countryandcitydaegu.jpg)
Daegu sits in a basin surrounded by low mountains.
Palgongsan
Palgongsan, also Palgong Mountain, and previously called Gongsan during the Goryeo dynasty, is a mountain in southeastern South Korea, lying on an outlier of the Taebaek range. It stands on the northeastern border between Daegu metropolitan ...
to the north,
Biseulsan
Biseulsan (비슬산) is a mountain of Gyeongsangbuk-do, eastern South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border w ...
to the south, Waryongsan to the west, and a series of smaller hills in the east. The
Geumho River
The Geumho River flows through North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, and drains into the Nakdong River. It rises in the hilly area of western Pohang, flows west for 116 kilometers before its meeting with the Nakdong in western Daegu. It drain ...
flows along the northern and eastern edges of the city, emptying in the Nakdong River west of the city.
Climate
Daegu has a cooler version of a
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...
: ''Cwa''). In
Holdridge climate classification, Daegu has a warm temperate moist forest climate. The mountains that comprise the basin trap hot and humid air. Similarly, in winter, cold air lies in the basin. The area receives little precipitation except during the rainy season of summer, and is sunny throughout much of the year. Data gathered since 1961 indicates that the mean temperature for January, the coldest month in Daegu, is and that for August, the warmest month, is . The city's lowest record temperature was , and the city's highest record temperature was . In summer 2018, high temperatures led to the emergence of a new term called Dae-Frika (Daegu+Africa) starting with the internet community, and has been used in the media, broadcasting, etc. Summers in Daegu are some of the hottest in the Korean peninsula.
Economy
![Daegu Metro Line 3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Daegu_Metro_Line_3.jpg)
Daegu is a manufacturing industry city. The major industries are
textile
Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...
s,
metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
s and
machinery
A machine is a physical system using power to apply forces and control movement to perform an action. The term is commonly applied to artificial devices, such as those employing engines or motors, but also to natural biological macromolecule ...
. In the year 2021, Daegu had a regional GDP of $44,144 million. Many companies such as
Daegu Bank
DGB Financial Group (Korean: DGB금융그룹,( abbreviated as DGBFG) is a South Korean banking holding company headquartered in Daegu. Its flagship company, Daegu Bank, is one of the largest regional banks in the country, mostly serving customer ...
,
Korea Delphi
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic of ...
,
Hwasung corp. Hwaseong or Hwasong can refer to:
*Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, a city in the South Korean province of Gyeonggi
**Hwaseong Stadium, a group of sports facilities
*Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO heritage site in Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
* Hwas ...
, and
TaeguTec
TaeguTec Ltd. (Korean: 대구텍), formerly known as Korea Tungsten Company, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Daegu, Korea. It is the largest cutting tools manufacturer in the Far East, also Korea's largest manufacturer of tungste ...
are situated in this city, and
Samsung
The Samsung Group (or simply Samsung) ( ko, 삼성 ) is a South Korean multinational manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea. It comprises numerous affiliated businesses, most of them united under the ...
and
Kolon were founded here. Numerous factories are located in the industrial complexes situated in the west and north sides of the city including the Seongseo Industrial Complex, West Daegu Industrial Complex and the Daegu Dyeing Industrial Complex.
The city is the economic and industrial core of the
Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, one of the major industrial areas in Korea. It accounted for as much as 94 percent of Korea's trade surplus in 2006. The electronics industries in
Gumi Gumi may refer to:
* Gumi, Iran, a village in South Khorasan Province, Iran
* Gumi, Nepal, a village development committee in Surkhet District, Bheri Zone, Nepal
* Gumi, North Gyeongsang, a city in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
** Gumi University
* ...
and the steel industries in
Pohang
Pohang () is a city in the province of North Gyeongsang, South Korea, and a main seaport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River. The city is divided into two wa ...
provided great services to that surplus. World-leading manufacturing facilities for
Anycall
Anycall () was a South Korean mobile phone brand established by Samsung Electronics in 1993. Like other mobile phone brands in South Korea, they provide technology such as cameras, internet access, and digital TV through Digital Multimedia Broadc ...
(
Samsung Mobile
Samsung Mobile Division is one of five divisions within Samsung Electronics, belonging to the Samsung Group, and consists of the Mobile Communications Division, Telecommunication Systems Division, Computer Division, MP3 Business Team, Mobile So ...
) and
POSCO
POSCO (formerly Pohang Iron and Steel Company) is a South Korean steel-making company headquartered in Pohang, South Korea. It had an output of of crude steel in 2015, making it the world's fourth-largest steelmaker by this measure. In 2010, i ...
's main factories are located near the city. Daegu and its neighbouring cities were designated for the
Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone by the central government in 2008. It is specialized companies like Winitech software company in knowledge-based service and manufacturing industries.
Historically, Daegu has been the commercial center of the southern part of the
Korean Peninsula
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
with
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
in the center and
Pyongyang
Pyongyang (, , ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is known as the "Capital of the Revolution". Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 populatio ...
in the north (currently
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...
), because of its advantageous location. Some of the large, traditional markets like
Seomun Market
Seomun Market is the largest traditional street market in Daegu, South Korea, containing more than 4,000 shops. Seomun Market is particularly known as a source for textiles and sewing services, a key ingredient of Daegu's fashion industry.
The n ...
are still flourishing in the city.
Additionally, Daegu was considered the third major economic city in Korea, after Seoul and Busan. However, due to the decline of the textile industry, which is the heart of Daegu's economy, the overall economic growth of the city has also fallen.
Also, the city is the warmest region in South Korea due to the humid subtropical climate. This climate condition provides the region with high quality apples and oriental melons. The fruit industry is a crucial support for the local economy. Due to the stagnant economy, Daegu's population began to decrease after 2003. Recently, the local government has begun focusing on working towards economic revival and concentrating on improving the city's fashion industry.
Fashion industry
Beginning in the late 1990s, Daegu has been actively making efforts to promote its
fashion
Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion in ...
industry based on its textile and
clothing
Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natural ...
manufacturing industries under the 'Daegu: Fashion City'. The city opens many exhibitions related to the fashion and textile industries including th
Daegu Fashion Fairan
Preview in Daeguannually or semi-annually, and invites national institutes. A large new town specializing in the textile-fashion industries is currently under construction in Bongmu-dong, northeastern Daegu. The district, officially named Esiapolis, takes aim at the fashion hub of East Asia. Textile complexes, textile-fashion institutions, an international school, fashion malls as well as residential areas plan to be developed in the district.
Culture and sightseeing
![Daegu skyline as seen from KNU's Technopark](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Daegu_skyline_as_seen_from_KNU%27s_Technopark.jpg)
Generally, Daegu is known as a conservative city. As well as being the largest inland city in the country beside Seoul it has become one of the major metropolitan areas in the nation. Traditionally,
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
has been strong; today there are still many temples. Korean Confucianism, Confucianism is also popular in Daegu, with a large academy based in the city. Neon cross-topped spires of Christian churches can also be seen in the city.
Sights
The most well-known sight of the city is the stone Buddha called Gatbawi on the top of Gwanbong,
Palgongsan
Palgongsan, also Palgong Mountain, and previously called Gongsan during the Goryeo dynasty, is a mountain in southeastern South Korea, lying on an outlier of the Taebaek range. It stands on the northeastern border between Daegu metropolitan ...
. It is famous for its stone Gat (hat), gat (Korean traditional hat). People from all over the country visit the place, because they believe that the Buddha will grant one's single desire. Administratively, the site itself is located in the neighboring city, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk.
![Donghwasa Temple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Donghwasa_Temple.jpg)
On the outskirts of the city, mountains keep many traditional temples such as Donghwasa, Pagyesa, and Buinsa. Donghwasa is a Buddhist temple that was built by Priest Geukdal-hwasang in 493, and many artifacts of the period are found around the temple. The International Tourist Zen Meditation Center is Korea's only Zen-themed center. Some lecture halls or memorial halls such as Dodong-seowon () and Nokdong-seowon () are also located in the suburbs.
Old villages have been preserved, such as the Otgol village (''Gyeongju Choi'' clan's original residence area) and the Inheung village (''Nampyeong Muns). In the urban area, the
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
's administrative or educational buildings including Gyeongsang-gamyeong () and Daegu-hyanggyo () also remain. The main gateway of the city in that period called Yeongnam-jeilmun (, meaning the first gateway in
Yeongnam
Yeongnam (Hangul: 영남, ; literally "south of the passes") is a region that coincides with the former Gyeongsang Province in what is now South Korea.
The region includes the modern-day provinces of North and South Gyeongsang and the self-gov ...
), has been restored in Mangudang Park. Western style modern architecture like Gyesan Cathedral and the old building of Jeil Church are preserved across the urban area. Gyesan Cathedral is the third oldest gothic church building in Korea and the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu which is one of Roman Catholicism in South Korea, three archdioceses in South Korea. Several buildings, in the present Keisung Academy and the Kyungpook National University, KNU middle/high school, are famous too.
Yangnyeongsi
Daegu Yangnyeongsi Festival is a festival of Daegu, South Korea.
The festival is held every May. The main events include a Medicinal herb party, cutting medicinal herbs contest and a free medical check-up by oriental medicine.
History
Daegu ...
() in Namseongno (often called Yakjeon-golmok) is the oldest market for Korean medicinal herbs in the country with a history of 350 years. Bongsan-dong which has some art galleries and studios is being developed as the artistic center of the city since the 1990s.
Nearby tourist attractions include Haeinsa—a Korean Buddhism, Buddhist temple that houses the ''
Tripitaka Koreana
The (lit. ) or ("Eighty-Thousand ''Tripiṭaka''") is a Korean collection of the (Buddhist scriptures, and the Sanskrit word for "three baskets"), carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks in the 13th century.
It is the oldest intact vers ...
'' (a woodblock edition of the ''Tripitaka'' and one of the world's oldest extant complete collections of the Buddhist scriptures). Haeinsa is located in Gayasan National Park of Hapcheon, Gyeongnam. The historic city of
Gyeongju
Gyeongju ( ko, 경주, ), historically known as ''Seorabeol'' ( ko, 서라벌, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, ...
, Gyeongbuk, the capital of the ancient kingdom of
Silla
Silla or Shilla (57 BCE – 935 CE) ( , Old Korean: Syera, Old Japanese: Siraki2) was a Korean kingdom located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, formed the Three Kingdoms of K ...
is located east of Daegu.
Mountains and parks
![Daegu Botanical Garden Bridge](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Daegu_Botanical_Garden_Bridge.jpg)
Mt. Palgong, Mt. Biseul, and Mt. Ap are the representative mountains in Daegu. Apsan, just in the southern part of the city, is the closest mountain from the urban area among them. It has many trails, Korean Buddhism, Buddhist temples, a Korean War museum, and a gondola ride to the peak. Additionally, Waryongsan, Hamjisan, and Yongjibong are located in the city. These serve as neighborhood parks to the citizens. Mt. Palgong has a cable car to the summit. There are also hiking trails in the direction of the Donghwasa Temple and Sutaegol Valley.
In the urban area, several small mountains and hills play the same role. Dalseong Park, which sits inside a 1,500-year-old earth fortress, is a historic place of the city. It contains the city's only zoo and some monuments as well as the wall. Duryu Park or Duryusan is a large forest in the middle of the urban area. It has Daegu Tower, Woobang Land, Kolon Bandstand, Duryu Stadium, and many sports facilities. Daegu Tower, also called Woobang Tower or Duryu Tower, is the tallest contemporary structure (202 m) and a symbol of the city. Its observatory commands good views of the surroundings. Woobang Land is the largest amusement park out of the capital area. Many small gardens lie in the heart of the city, such as the National Debt Repayment Movement Memorial Park (Gukchae Bosang Park) and 2·28 Park. The former park includes Dalgubeol-daejong (), which means the Dalgubeol grand bell. The bell is struck every week and year. There is also a botanical garden with a variety of plants and flowers.
Downtown and shopping
Dongseongno () is the downtown of Daegu lying from the Daegu Station to ''Jung-ang pachulso'' (central police station) near the Banwoldang subway station in the center of the city Jung-gu, Daegu, Jung-gu. It has the Jung-angno subway station as the nearest station from its heart. Like its name meaning the street in the east fortress, the eastern part of Daegu-eupseong (, means the Daegu-Principality Fortress) was situated along this street. The fortress, however, had been demolished in the early 20th century. Although Daegu is the nation's third or fourth largest city, the Dongseongno area form the largest and the broadest downtown area in the whole country except the capital city,
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
. In most cases, famous brands open their branch shop first here out of the Greater Seoul area.
![Seomun Market Gate](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Seomun_Market_Gate.JPG)
Sub-downtowns in the city have its own commercial powers and colors. The area around the Seongseo Industrial Complex subway station in Dalseo-gu is a concentration of many amusement spots, and young people easily can be seen around Kyungpook National University in Buk-gu, Daegu, Buk-gu. ''Deuran-gil'' (means the street inside the field) in Suseong-gu is known for many restaurants.
The city has a number of department stores. Many of these belong to national or multinational chains, but the local Daegu Department Store also operates two branches, while another local chain, Donga Department Store operates four in the city proper. The six department stores among them gather at the downtown. The traditional markets such as
Seomun Market
Seomun Market is the largest traditional street market in Daegu, South Korea, containing more than 4,000 shops. Seomun Market is particularly known as a source for textiles and sewing services, a key ingredient of Daegu's fashion industry.
The n ...
and Chilseong Market sell all sorts of goods.
Festivals
Many traditional ceremonies and festivals in agrarian society disappeared in the process of modernization. A Confucian ritual ceremony called ''Seokjeondaeje'' is held at Daegu-hyanggyo every spring and autumn. The Yangnyeongsi herb medical festival and Otgol village festival are the contemporary festivals about traditional culture.
Lately in the city, enthusiasm about performing arts is growing and the local government is trying to meet its demand. Daegu International Opera Festival (DIOF) in October since 2003, Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF), and Daegu International Bodypainting Festival (DIBF) are three of the most famous festivals on each field in Korea, although those have short histories.
Various festivals in various themes like the Colorful Daegu Festival,
Dongseongno festival,
Palgongsan
Palgongsan, also Palgong Mountain, and previously called Gongsan during the Goryeo dynasty, is a mountain in southeastern South Korea, lying on an outlier of the Taebaek range. It stands on the northeastern border between Daegu metropolitan ...
maple festival,
Biseulsan
Biseulsan (비슬산) is a mountain of Gyeongsangbuk-do, eastern South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border w ...
azalea festival, Korea in Motion Daegu, and so on, are held by the city, each ward, or the specific groups, all through the year.
On August 25 through August 31, 2008, Daegu hosted the first ever Asian Bodypainting Festival, a sister event of the World Bodypainting Festival in Seeboden, Austria.
Each year the city is home to the Daegu International Jazz Festival: http://www.dijf.or.kr/
Every May the "Colorful Daegu Festival" offers performances and art programs including the Colorful Parade. In July, the Daegu Chimac Festival takes place at Duryu Park in Dalseo-gu, Daegu. The term "chimac" is a portmanteau of chicken and maekju (meaning "beer"). There were over 880,000 visitors in 2015, and one million visitors during the festival in 2016.
Museums
Daegu Art Museum![dam 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Dam_1.jpg)
*Daegu National Museum – A notable national museum collecting relics excavated in and around Daegu
Daegu Bangjja Yugi (Korean Bronzeware) Museum*Hengso Museum, Hengso Museum of Keimyung University
*Korea Video Museum
*Kyungpook National University Museum
*Museum for Daegu National University of Education
Museum of Natural Dye ArtsNational Debt Repayment Movement Memorial Museum
Theaters
Daegu Opera House– The first theater in Korea only for performing opera
– One of the largest scale theaters in the city.
Daegu Culture and Arts Center
Sports
On March 27, 2007, the city was selected to host the
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics () was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011.
The United States topped the medal standings in th ...
. Daegu competed with cities such as Moscow, Russia, and Brisbane, Australia, to earn the votes of the IAAF Council. The event was the fourth IAAF World Championships in Athletics to be held outside Europe, and the first games in mainland Asia. It was also the third worldwide sports event held in Korea after the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Korea Japan 2002, was the 17th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams organized by ...
in Korea and Japan, in which Daegu hosted four matches. It also hosted the
2003 Summer Universiade
The 2003 Summer Universiade, also known as the XXII Summer Universiade, took place in Daegu, South Korea.
Emblem
* The alphabet letter "U" and five stars, which is FISU's emblem, make up the basis of the emblem for the Daegu Universiade.
* It sym ...
.
The city hosts th
Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships Meetingevery year since 2005.
Daegu Stadium is the second largest sports complex in South Korea with a seating capacity of 66,422. Daegu Civic Stadium hosted some football matches at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
The Daegu Marathon is held here every year in April. The race begins and ends at the Daegu Stadium.
Sports teams
= Samsung Lions
=
![Daegu Samseong Lions Park](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Daegu_Samseong_Lions_Park.jpg)
The Samsung Lions are a professional baseball team founded in 1982. They are based in the southeastern city of Daegu and are members of the KBO League. Their home stadium is Daegu Samsung Lions Park. They have won the Korean Series eight times. The Samsung Lions are the first team to win four consecutive Korean Series titles (2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014). They are also the first Korean team to win a regular league title for five consecutive years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015).
= Daegu FC
=
![Daegu DGB Bank Park 2019](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Daegu_DGB_Bank_Park_2019.jpg)
Daegu Football Club was founded as a community club at the end of 2002, and made their K League debut in 2003. Historically, Daegu have often placed in the lower reaches of the K League. Their best season to date has been 2021, when they finished third out of twelve teams. They were also the winners of the Korean FA Cup in 2018, which qualified the club for their first appearance in the AFC Champions League the following year. The club has since played in the 2021 and 2022 editions of AFC Champions League.
Media
There are three terrestrial TV broadcasting stations in the city: Korean Broadcasting System, KBS Daegu Broadcast Station, Daegu Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, MBC, and Taegu Broadcasting Corporation, TBC. These are affiliated companies of central broadcasting stations in Seoul just like other Television in South Korea, local broadcasting companies in South Korea. TBC (Taegu Broadcasting Corporation) depends on Seoul Broadcasting System, SBS. They cover to Gyeongsangbuk-do out of the city. Each television broadcasting company has its own radio station as well.
International Daegu
Daegu is largely a homogeneous community that includes few non-Koreans. However, a number of immigrants from South Asia, South and Southeast Asia work in automotive-parts factories on the city's west side. In addition, there is a small group of English-speaking Westerners working in English schools and university programs. The American military bases are also home to several hundred Americans. Recently Chinese students have begun studying Korean at universities in Daegu, and there is an increasing number of graduate and post-graduate students from other Asian countries. As elsewhere in Korea, Korean food overwhelmingly dominates; Chinese, Japanese and Western food forms the bulk of non-Korean food but recently Indian and Russian foods have become available.
Daegu hosts three American military bases, Camp Henry, Camp George which houses Daegu American School, and Camp Walker. Camp Walker houses Daegu High School for high school children, while Camp George hold the school for elementary and middle school (both of which are primarily for children of military personnel and US Military civilian employees). Camp George also houses most of the married [Enlisted] ranked soldiers. Camp Henry and Camp Walker serve as the primary place of work for all the military personnel. Camp Walker serves as the home to enlisted Sergeants Major and Officer ranked soldiers, Major and up. Although non-military families can enroll their children at the school, most either home-school their children or send them to a small Christian private school which teaches about 25 children near the central business district of Daegu.
Religion
According to the census of 2015, 23.8% of the population followed
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
and 19.7% followed Christianity (12% Protestantism and 7.7% Catholic Church, Catholicism). 55.8% of the population is irreligious.
Education
, Daegu has 232 elementary schools, 125 middle schools, and 94 high schools. There are two specialized public high schools which are Daegu Science High School and Taegu Foreign Language High School, and some other high schools such as Keisung Academy, Gyeongsin High School and Daeryun High School have good grades for university admission. Most of well-known high schools are located in Suseong-gu because its educational grade and zeal are high standard in the country.
Also, Daegu has 4 independent private high schools like Keisung Academy (also called Keisung High School), Gyeongsin High School, Gyeong-il Girl's High School, Daegun Catholic High School.
Universities and colleges
![Daegu KNU medicine](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Daegu_KNU_medicine.jpg)
Daegu and its satellite towns are one of the areas which have the largest private higher educational institutions in Korea. Many of their main campuses are located in the nearby Gyeongsan city which serves the Daegu region as a college town. Kyungpook National University (KNU) is one of the most highly ranked and well organized national universities in Korea. It holds high ranks in and around the city in many academic fields, whil
DGIST(Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)is recognized as Korea's one of top universities in the field of science and technology. DGIST is one of four ISTs in Korea, along with KAIST, UNIST and GIST. It was established under 'The Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology Act (Act 699)' enacted on December 11, 2003. In 2019, DGIST was selected a
'Top 25 Rising Young Universities' Daegu has two of the most prestigious private universities outside Seoul, Yeungnam University(YU)and Keimyung University. There are some smaller private universities such as Catholic University of Daegu and Daegu University. Daegu National University of Education offers elementary education training.
The other universities and colleges include Daegu Arts University, Daegu Cyber University, Daegu Haany University, Daegu Health College, Daegu Mirae College, Daegu Polytechnic College, Daegu Technical College, Daeshin University, Keimyung University, Kyongbuk Science College, Kyungil University, Taekyeung College, Yeungjin College, Yeungnam College of Science and Technology, and Youngnam Theological College and Seminary.
Medical institutions
Some large university hospitals make the city the medical hub of south-eastern Korea. The Kyungpook National University Hospital, founded as ''Daegu-dongin-uiwon'' in 1907 by the Japanese, is the best-known hospital in the city. The Dongsan Hospital (attached to Keimyung University), founded as ''Jejungwon'' in 1899, is one of the oldest western style medical clinics in Korea. The Yeungnam University Medical Center has the largest number of beds in the city. The yearly treatment amount of these tertiary hospitals is the second largest in South Korea after that of Seoul. The Daegu Catholic University Medical Center is also included in them.
Primary and secondary schools
*Hamji High School
*Kangbuk High School
*Maecheon High School
*Seongsan High School
International schools in Daegu include:
*Daegu International School
*Daegu Chinese Elementary School or Korea Daeguhwagyo Elementary School ()
*Overseas Chinese High School, Daegu
Elementary schools
Global schools:
* Daegu Sindang Elementary School
Transportation
Rail
![Dongdaegu station below wide](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Dongdaegu_station_below_wide.jpg)
Daegu is the hub of the Korean inland railroad traffic. The main railroad of the country,
Gyeongbu Line
The Gyeongbu Line (''Gyeongbuseon'') is a railway line in South Korea and is considered to be the most important and one of the oldest ones in the country. It was constructed in 1905, connecting Seoul with Busan via Suwon, Daejeon, and Daegu. ...
passes through the city. The largest railroad station in the city, Dongdaegu Station has the second largest passenger traffic in Korea after Seoul Station, it is the number one station in Korea for train stops, and the largest train traffic.
All trains passing through Dongdaegu Station make a mandatory stop. The station re-opened in 2004 after extensive renovations serving the KTX, KTX highspeed train, Saemaul-ho, Saemaul and Mugunghwa-ho, Mugunghwa trains. All kinds of trains except KTX depart from Daegu Station, an all-new building with cinemas, restaurants and a department store, located near the city centre. It has the tenth largest passenger traffic in Korea.
Daegu Line branches off from Gacheon station of Gyeongbu Line.
Metro
![Daegu subway linemap en](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Daegu_subway_linemap_en.svg)
The city also has a Rapid transit, metro system, consisting of two heavy rail lines. Daegu Metro Line 1, Line 1 crosses the city from northeast to southwest, while Daegu Metro Line 2, Line 2 crosses from west to east. Daegu Metro Line 3, Line 3 from northwest to southeast is an elevated monorail. All the lines are and will be operated by th
Daegu Metropolitan Transit Corporation(DTRO). Another line will operate in a few years as a heavy rail system using the Gumi–Daegu–Gyeongsan section of Gyeongbu Line. Line 4 is a long-range plan and will be a circle line. Fare is 1400 won and 1250 won with a prepaid card. There is a free interchange scheme between the metro and bus within an hour of first use for the prepaid card users.
It started a full-fledged health-sharing stairway project by installing "Seven-color melody health donation stairs" at Shinmae Station and Imdang Station on Daegu Subway Line 2. Using these stairs, LED lights turn on with the sound of the keyboard. And a donation of ₩10(won) per session goes to those in need (such as pediatric cancer centers and low-income families).
Road
There are two types of buses which are local and limited express. Limited express buses have more seats, but often passengers are required to stand. , Local bus fare costs around 1,400 South Korean won, won with cash, Limited express bus fare would set you back 1,800 won. Discounted fare is available with a prepaid card.
Bus route numbers are made up with 3 digits, each number indicates the area that bus serves. For example, number 407 bus runs from zone four, to zone zero, and then to zone seven. Other routes, usually circular, are named for the districts they serve and numbered 1 through 3.
Traffic is sometimes heavy, however, the major thoroughfares handle fairly high volumes of traffic without too much trouble.
Air
Daegu is served by Daegu International Airport, located in northeastern Daegu. As of July, 2022, international destinations include China, Thailand, the Philippines, and Mongolia.
Bus
![Sewoon 156](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Sewoon_156.png)
*
Others
Accidents
*The Frog Boys, this incident is an unsolved case. 5 boys were killed by the criminal in 1991. Boys failed to return after going out to pick up the salamander eggs, and people often call the case "The frog boys case".
*The
1995 Daegu gas explosions
The 1995 Daegu gas explosions occurred at Daegu Metro Line 1, a construction site located in Sangin-dong, Daegu, South Korea, on April 28, 1995. At least 101 people, including 42 Yeongnam Middle School students, were killed with as many as 202 pe ...
killed 101 and injured 202. A pagoda for consolation of the dead was erected in Haksan park.
*The
Daegu subway fire
The Daegu subway fire occurred on February 18, 2003, when an arsonist set fire to a train; 192 people died and 151 others were injured at the Jungangno station of the Daegu Metropolitan Subway in Daegu, South Korea. The fire had spread acros ...
occurred on February 18, 2003, when an arsonist, "Kim Dae-Han" set fire to a train at the Jungangno Station of the Daegu Metropolitan Subway in Daegu, South Korea. The fire spread across two trains within minutes, killing 192 people and injuring 151 others. It remains the deadliest deliberate loss of life in a single incident in South Korean peacetime history.
Notable people
Leaders
*
Roh Tae-woo
Roh Tae-woo (; ; 4 December 1932 – 26 October 2021) was a South Korean politician and army general who served as the sixth president of South Korea from 1988 to 1993.
Roh was a close ally and friend of Chun Doo-hwan, the predecessor leader ...
– army general and thirteenth president of South Korea
*
Park Geun-hye
Park Geun-hye (; ; often in English ; born 2 February 1952) is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th president of South Korea from 2013 to 2017, until she was impeached and convicted on related corruption charges.
Park was the fi ...
– former president of South Korea, from 2013 to 2017, daughter of former president
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee (, ; 14 November 1917 – 26 October 1979) was a South Korean politician and army general who served as the dictator of South Korea from 1961 until his assassination in 1979; ruling as an unelected military strongman from 1961 ...
Industrialists
*Kim Woo-jung – Korean businessman, founder and former chairman of the Daewoo Group
*Toni Ko – Businessperson and founder of NYX Cosmetics
*Lee Kun-hee – a South Korean businessman who served as chairman of the Samsung Group from 1987 to 2008 and from 2010 to 2020, and is credited with the transformation of Samsung to the world's largest manufacturer of smartphones, televisions, and memory chips.
Religious
*Kim Sou-hwan – first Korean Cardinal (Catholicism), Cardinal of the Catholic Church. His father escaped from his hometown of Chungcheong province for keeping his religion.
Writers
*Jaegwon Kim – philosopher
Actors and actresses
*Bong Joon-ho – director and screenwriter
*Lee Chang-dong – director
*Shin Seong-il – actor, director, and producer
*Son Ye-jin – actress
*Moon Chae-won – actress
*Song Hye-kyo – actress
*Min Hyo-rin – actress
*Seo Ji-hoon (actor), Seo Ji-hoon – actor
*Yoo Ah-in – actor
*Jang Dong-yoon – actor
*Yoon So-ho – actor
*Tom Choi – actor
*Kim Jung-woo (singer), Kim Jung-woo – actor
*Kim Min-jae (actor, born 1996), Kim Min-jae – actor
*Kim Hee-sun – actress
*Sung Hoon – actor
Sports
*Man Soo Lee, Lee Man-Soo – baseball player
*Yang Jun-Hyuk – baseball player
*Lee Seung-Yeop – baseball player
*Park Chu-Young – soccer player
*Jin Sun-Yu – short-track speed skater, triple gold medalist at 2006 Winter Olympics
*Bae Sang-moon – golfer, leading money winner on the Japan Golf Tour for the 2011 season
*Choi Doo-ho – mixed martial artist
Beauties
*Jang Yoon-jeong (Miss Korea), Chang Yun-jong – first runner-up of the Miss Universe 1988, winner of the Miss Korea 1987
*Son Tae-young – first runner-up of the Miss International 2000, second runner-up of the Miss Korea 2000, actress
*Seo Eun-mi – first runner-up of the Miss International 2009, one of two first runners-up of the Miss Korea 2009
*Yoo Ye-bin – winner of the Miss Korea 2013, competed in Miss Universe 2014
Singers
*Min Yoon-gi (stage names Suga (rapper), Suga and Agust D) – rapper, songwriter, record producer and member of K-pop group BTS
*Kim Tae-hyung (stage name V (singer), V) – singer, songwriter, actor, composer, producer and member of K-pop group BTS.
*Choi Beom-gyu — singer, songwriter, producer, and member of K-pop group Tomorrow X Together
*Kim Ji-yeon (stage name Bona (singer), Bona) – member of K-pop girl group Cosmic Girls
*Kang Chan-hee (stage name Kang Chan-hee, Chani) – member of K-pop boy group SF9 (band), SF9
*Kim Ki-bum (stage name Key (singer), Key) – member K-pop boy group Shinee
*Kim Min-jun (stage name Jun. K) – member of K-pop boy group 2PM
*Lee Joo-heon (stage name Joohoney) – member of K-pop boy group Monsta X
*Park Ji-young (stage name Kahi (entertainer), Kahi) – former leader and member of After School (group), After School
*Park So-jin – leader and member of K-pop girl group Girl's Day
*Nancy Jewel McDonie (stage name Nancy (singer), Nancy) – member of K-pop girl group Momoland
*Jang Da-hye (stage name Heize) – singer-songwriter, rapper, participant in Unpretty Rapstar 2
*Kim Dong-han – former member of JBJ (band), JBJ and member of WEi, a participant in Produce 101 (season 2)
*Lee Seung-hyub – rapper, singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, actor, member of the South Korean band N.Flying
*Bae Joo-hyun (stage name Irene (singer), Irene), singer and actress, member and leader of Red Velvet (group), Red Velvet
Other
*Kim Yong-jun (art critic)
*Sin Sung-gyeom – a Korean general during the Later Three Kingdoms period in the early tenth century
*Yi Sang-hwa – a Korean nationalist poet active in the resistance to Japanese rule
*Hyun Jin-geon – a Korean writer
In popular culture
Daegu serves as the setting for Season 1, Episode 6 of the HBO horror drama ''Lovecraft Country'' (2020). Set in 1949/50 the episode is a prolonged flashback or prequel to the main arc of the series, which takes place in 1955 in Chicago and Massachusetts, and depicts main character Atticus' experiences as a U.S. soldier during the Korean War.
Sister cities
Daegu is Twin towns and sister cities, twinned with the following locations:
* Atlanta, United States
(1981)
* Almaty, Kazakhstan
(1990)
* Qingdao, China
(1993)
* Belo Horizonte, Brazil
(1994)
* Hiroshima, Japan
(1997)
* Saint Petersburg, Russia
(1997)
* Plovdiv, Bulgaria
(2002)
* Taipei, Taiwan
(2010)
* Ningbo, China
(2013)
* Milan, Italy
(2015)
* Chengdu, China
(2015)
* Milwaukee, United States
(2017)
* Da Nang, Vietnam
(2018)
Friendship cities
* Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China (2003)
* Yancheng, Jiangsu, China (2003)
* Shenyang, Liaoning, China (2003)
* Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Hyōgo, Japan (2010)
* Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2015)
* Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China (2015)
* Wuhan, Hubei, China (2016)
* Bangkok, Thailand (2017)
* Changsha, Hunan, China (2018)
* Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2018)
* Bắc Ninh Province, Vietnam (2019)
* Lille, France (2019)
* Yanbian County, Yanbian, China (2021)
See also
*Gususan Library
*Gyeongsang
*History of Daegu
*List of cities in South Korea
Notes
References
Citations
Bibliography
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Further reading
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External links
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Daegu : Official Site of Korea Tourism OrgCity Bus Schedule and Routes*http://www.diof.org Daegu International Opera Festival
{{Authority control
Daegu, Daegu
Special Cities and Metropolitan Cities of South Korea