Daegu

Understand

Daegu is in the middle of a wide, flat rectangular valley, and hosts one of the country's largest U.S. military bases. It was promoted to a federal territory city (a city under the direct control of the central government) in 1981. In addition, in 1995, it was promoted from a federal territory city to a metropolitan city and maintains the current name of Daegu Metropolitan City. The obligatory South Korean slogan for the city is 'Colorful Daegu'. The Chinese character "大", which means there are many large hills, was used. Daegu administers itself, although it is mostly surrounded by North Gyeongsang province and therefore is placed there in our hierarchy. Daegu and surrounding North Gyeongsang Province are often referred to as Daegu-Gyeongbuk, with a total population of over 5 million. During the Joseon Dynasty period, the city was the capital of Gyeongsang-do, which was one of the traditional eight provinces of the country.

History Daegu, historically a fertile land around the Geumho and Sincheon rivers, has a deep history dating back to the Paleolithic era. It grew from the center of 'Dalgubeol-guk' during the Three Kingdoms period into the administrative and commercial hub of the Yeongnam region in the Joseon Dynasty, serving as the seat of the Gyeongsang Provincial Government. In the modern era, Daegu was a crucial center for independence movements and the '2.28 Democracy Movement,' developing into the major international city it is today. In 2023, it expanded its area to become one of the largest metropolitan cities in South Korea.

Symbols In Korea, there are symbols for each region. Representatively, trees, flowers, and birds are divided and designated.

fir tree(Tree): Among the many trees, the fir is a tree that represents the rigidity, eternity, and straightening weather of Daegu citizens. Eagle(Bird): Daegu's representative bird is an eagle that represents a lively, enterprising spirit and pioneering civic spirit. magnolia(Flower) : The flower that represents the cod is the magnolia. It shows the civic temperament of the spirit of sacrifice, being pure and pure.

Climate

Daegu has a cool version of a humid subtropical 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. The average temperature for January, the coldest month in Daegu, is -4 °C (25 °F) and for August, the warmest month, is 31 °C (88 °F). Daegu's nickname is "Daefrica" (대프리카) because

Getting there

By plane 1 Daegu International Airport (TAE IATA). Has domestic flights to Seoul Incheon, Jeju island, and international flights to Shanghai and Beijing, China and Kansai near Osaka, Japan. The airport is quite small but international and is shared with the military. The airport is on the east side of the city. To go to the downtown area, take a bus (No. 401, fare: ₩1,100) or ride a taxi. A taxi ride to the Dongsungro district in the center of the city costs around ₩7,000 and takes 25 minutes, while the fare for the 10-minute ride to the Dongdaegu train station is around ₩3,000. Hotel Airport in the area has a room rate from around ₩130,000 including tax.

By train

There are two train stations in the city. One is Dongdaegu (East Daegu) station and the other is Daegu station. Both stations are connected by Subway Line 1. You can take high speed KTX train or quite inexpensive Seamaeul and Mugunghwa train if you are to spend less on transportation.

2 Dongdaegu Station (동대구역). This is the main station, and only serves the high speed KTX trains. KTX trains connect Seoul to Busan via Daegu and Daejeon, usually they take 1 hour 40 minutes to Seoul and 38-44 minutes to Busan. They are usually in every 20-30 minutes. The fare to Seoul is ₩43,500, Busan is ₩17,100 and Daejeon is ₩17,700 (as of December 2016). There are other trains such as Saemaeul and Mugunghwa. Also you can go to other places from this station. There are trains to Yeongcheon and Pohang, Gyeongju and Ulsan. (updated Oct 2022) 3 Daegu Station (대구역). It is in the centre of the city (Dongsungro/Jungangro). The station is a complex building with Lotte department store (the largest domestic department chain). Only Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains stop at this station. Because of its location, it is easy to access to the downtown (5-10 min walking) or other places of the city. (updated Oct 2022) 4 Seodaegu Station (서대구역), 527 Waryong-ro, Seo-gu, ☏ 1588-7788Country code missing. Seodaegu Station is a major high-speed rail station (KTX, SRT, and Daegyeong Line regional railway) located in Ihyeon-dong. (updated Oct 2025) For traveling by train, visit the Korail website. It provides timetables, fare, and some information around their stations.

By car Gyeongbu Expressway: The longest expressway in the country from Seoul to Busan Central Expressway: An expressway in the eastern part of the country, contrary to its name.

By bus Daegu is in the middle of the extensive intercity bus system in South Korea. Buses go directly from Daegu to Seoul in just under 4 hours. Integrated Express Bus Website prov

Getting around

By bus Daegu's city bus system uses a specific numbering scheme based on the route type, with Main Line buses (Ganseon) using a three-digit system to indicate the area (jurisdiction) of the route's origin, via point, and destination.

The first digit of the Main Line bus number corresponds to the general geographical zone of the route's origin/destination, allowing riders to quickly understand the general direction of travel.

People can find out more about Daegu buses by going to https://businfo.daegu.go.kr/

By public transportation Daegu has three subway metro lines. The first two lines intersect at the main downtown stop of Banwoldang. Line 1 (red line) runs from Daegok to Ansim and Line 2 (green line) runs from Munyang to Sawol. Stops are announced in Korean and in English. Subways typically run from 05:30 to 23:30. Tickets can be purchased from machines. The monorail, Line 3 (yellow line) is connected in the downtown with Line 1 at Myeongdeok Station and Line 2 at Cheongna Hill(Sinam) Station. Line 3 will run from Chilgok to Beommul(Chilgok Kyungpook Nat'l Univ.Medical Center to Yongji). To enter the subway, scan your token and hold on to it because you will need to insert the same token as you exit. Ticket machines marked "complimentary tickets" are for people with specific types of South Korean Identity cards, such as pensioners. In addition to the subway, there is a way to travel by bus. The fare is ₩400 for children, ₩850 for teenagers and ₩1,250 for adults. In the case of express buses, the price is a little higher. People can transfer up to 30 minutes after getting off, and they can transfer to Daegu city buses, urban railroads, Yeongcheon city buses, and Gyeongsan city buses.

By taxi Taxis are cheap and easy to find. The basic fare is ₩3,300, and ₩100 per 134m and ₩100 per 32 seconds will be charged. People in Daegu do not use street addresses. To give directions, you should give the nearest landmark to your destination such as a department store, hotel, or movie theater.

By tour bus Daegu operates a City Tour Bus that passes by many cultural remains and otherwise touristy places, runs 5 times a day. It is open year-round and operates from 10:00 everyday departing from Daegu Tourist Information Center, Dongdaegu Train Station and Banwoldang. It costs about ₩5,000 for an adult with discounted fares for school students. Road map and leaflet can be downloaded from here.

See

Parks include Bongmu Reports Park between Daegu Airport and the entrance of Mt. Palgong, it has playgrounds and equipment for tennis, Jokku, badminton, shooting and so on; you can enjoy of outdoor variety sports. Not only Mt. Palgong, but also Apsan Park, 83 Tower, Daegu Arboretum, Dalsong Park, are also good for sightseeing.

1 Duryu Park (두류공원), 161, Duryugongwon-ro, Dalseo-gu (From Daegu Station, you can reach Duryu Park by taking Daegu Metro Line 1 from Daegu Station to Banwoldang Station, then transfer to Line 2 and get off at Duryu Station, which is right next to the park. The subway ride takes about 20–25 minutes. You can also take a taxi directly from Daegu Station to the park, which takes around 15 minutes depending on traffic and costs about ₩8,000–₩10,000. Walking the entire way is possible but not practical, as it takes more than an hour.), ☏ +82 053-803-7470. 24 hours. It is a park built around Duryusan Mountain and Geumbongsan Mountain. (Duryusan Mountain is where E-World 83 Tower is located, and the mountain behind the Culture and Arts Center is Geumbongsan Mountain.) There are Daegu's famous landmark, E-World 83 Tower, Duryu Library, various sports facilities that contribute to improving citizens' health, and the Culture and Arts Center in the park. You can also enter the park with your dog. Free. (updated Sep 2023) 2 E-World and 83 Tower (이월드), 200 Duryugongwon-ro (From Daegu Station, take Daegu Metro Line 1 to Banwoldang Station, transfer to Line 2, and get off at Duryu Station, which is a short walk to E-World. The subway ride takes about 25–30 minutes. You can also take a taxi directly from Daegu Station, which takes around 15 minutes depending on traffic and costs about ₩8,000–₩10,000. Walking the entire way is not recommended, as it takes more than an hour.), ☏ +82-53-620-0001. 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM. A European-styled theme park, featuring the 202-meter-high 83 Tower, 20 and more kinds of amusement facilities and rides, a zoo, and ice rink. The Sky Lounge and observation platform on the 83rd floor of the 83 Tower offers a panoramic view city and various ethnic food restaurants offer a fine array of tastes. The 83 Tower Luminarie which uses 8.3 million LED bulbs, shows one of the largest light festivals in the nation. Free for children under 36 months; ₩35,000 for a general free pass. (updated Jul 2018) 3 The Arc (Gangjeong-Goryeong Weir). The longest and largest in volume of the sixteen weirs in the four major rivers in Korea. The scenery of the surrounding area, including the reeds and sunset, is very beautiful. Bicycle roads are con

Buy

Daegu has several department stores and a shopping district all around downtown. Also, to the northeast, there is a Costco.

1 Hyundai Department Store, 2077 Dalgubeoldae-ro Jung-gu Daegu (downtown), ☏ 82-53-245-2233Country code missing. One of Daegu's largest stores. Hyundai Department Store is at Banwoldang Station (both subway lines), exit 18. 2 Dongsungro. If you arrive in downtown, Dongseongro, you can enjoy shopping for jewelry and clothes and visiting Gyodong Market and Seomun Market. (updated Dec 2022) 3 Seomun market. A little bit of everything. Take the green line of the subway (line 2) to Seomun Market. Walk about two blocks north to find the market. (updated Dec 2022) 4 Shinsegae Department Store, 149, Dongbu-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu (Sincheon-dong), ☏ 1588-1234Country code missing. It is next to Dongdaegu Station and connected to the subway station. There is also an aquarium inside the department store. (updated Dec 2022) 5 Daegu Department Store (Debec Plaza) (in Jung-gu), ☏ +82 53-426-1234. Daebec Plaza. A popular department store in downtown Daegu offering fashion, dining, and a rooftop garden. (updated Dec 2022) 6 Daegu Lotte Department Store, 161, Taepyeong-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu, ☏ +82 2-2200-0111. The Daegu branch of Lotte Department Store. As it is located near Daegu Station, transportation is convenient, and Dongseong-ro, a downtown area in Daegu, is located across the street, so there is a large floating population. (updated Nov 2025) 7 DongA Shopping Store, (41936) Dong-A Shopping Center 2085, Dalgubeol-daero, Jung-gu, Daegu, ☏ 82-1577-0111Country code missing. Dong-A Department Store in Daegu. It is a department store located in downtown out of a total of three branches of the Dong-A Department Store in Daegu. It is located near the station and has good accessibility. (updated Nov 2025) 8 Daegu Esia Polis (Lotte Department Store Outlet), 16, Palgong-ro 49-gil, Dong-gu, Daegu (1545, Bongmu-dong), ☏ +82 2-2200-0111. Opening Hours 10:30 ~ 21:00, Food Court 10:30 ~ 21:00. It is located in Isipolis, Bongmu-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu, and opened in April 2011. The 1st and 2nd basement floors are parking lots, the 1st and 3rd floors are stores, and the 1st and 2nd floors are mainly clothing stores, and the 3rd floor is mainly restaurants and movie theaters. Although it is quite large, the actual store space is greatly reduced because the center is opened by a square. (updated Nov 2025) 9 Lotte Outlet Daegu Yulha, 80, Ansim-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu (1117, Yulha-dong), ☏ +82 2-2200-0111. 10:30 ~ 21:00. Lotte Outlet Daegu Yulha Branch is an outlet/large mart/

Eat

Specialties

Daegu Jjimgalbi. The local specialty consists of beef ribs cooked in a worn out aluminum pot seasoned with spicy red pepper powder and chopped garlic. This is completely different from the steamed short ribs cooked in soy sauce served in other areas of Korea. Its unique feature is the tongue-tingling, burning sensation it creates when enjoyed with soju (hard Korean alcohol) or rice mixed with leftover spices. Unlike the steamed ribs from the Seoul and Gyeonggi Province areas, the way its sweet and spicy taste sets your tongue ablaze is unparalleled. It first appeared in the early 1970s on a residential street in Dongin-dong, Jung-gu, which has since blossomed into a small "village" of local food establishments. Daegu Ttarogukbap. For over fifty years, Daegu has been the only place in Korea where rice and soup are usually eaten separately, whereas other regions customarily mix their rice and soup together. In Korean, "ttaro" means "separate" and "gukbap" means "soup and rice". Putting them together to form the Korean compound word "ttarogukbap," the meaning becomes "rice and soup served separately". This dish, uniquely found in Daegu, is made with beef shank, leek, and radish cooked in a broth with plenty of red pepper powder and chopped garlic. It has an unrivaled aftertaste that is both spicy and refreshing. Its flavor is the epitome of Daegu's unique "spicy and burning" taste. Mungtigi. It is sliced raw bottom round steak, which can be seen all over the country, but Daegu's is the most famous. It is also called Meat sashimi, and unlike ordinary Korean-style raw beef, raw meat is served without shredding or seasoning, and is dipped in soy sauce and red pepper paste. Daegu Kkultteok Kkultteok means rice cake soaked in honey. Daegu Kkultteok is a glutinous rice cake made by cooking glutinous rice flour and melting brown sugar with the heat from the rice cake, making it look like it is coated with honey. It is a local food that can be tasted in Daegu. Although its exact origin or creation period is unknown, it is a rice cake that has been made and commonly sold for a long time mainly in Gyodong Market, Seomun Market, and Yommae Market in Daegu.

Makchang. One of the specialty dishes originating from, and most associated with Daegu. This is basically grilling the last viscus of pork or beef over a barbecue. There are restaurants specializing in this dish all over Daegu.

Places to eat or buy food 1 Samsong Bakery. 11:00 - 20:00. Samsong Bakery since 1957, is the oldest bakery from Daegu. The corn bread is the most popular bread, it is also

Drink & nightlife

Nightlife is usually found outside the main universities (Kyungpook, Keimyung) and in the downtown area (Banwoldang). Banwoldang is where the greatest concentration of foreign restaurants lies, and weekend nights are filled with people shopping, walking, or sitting in the innumerable pubs, coffee shops, and cafes. 1 Gypsy Rock (짚시랔), 23-1, Sangyeok-ro 6-gil, Buk-gu (walk past Paris Baguette with Dunkin Donuts behind you; Keep going until you see Gypsy Rock on your right). 20:00–02:00. A great underground "rock bar" in the KNU North Gate area. The lighting is a little dark, the air a little damp, the music a bit too loud, but Gypspy Rock remains one of Daegu's best watering holes. The owner of the bar, Dohan, speaks English well and is more than happy to take any request songs from his voluminous library of rock music. The bar is busiest on Friday and Saturday nights, when both students and English teachers from the nearby university come to unwind. With that in mind, it's a great place to meet locals and expats. ₩3000/draft beer.

Sleep

Budget There are a few options for budget accommodation in Daegu. There is one hostel in Daegu, and plenty of motels and jjimjilbang (찜질방) for the budget-minded. See the main South Korea article for more information on these options. Guest houses are a cheap accommodation option at around US$20–30 per night.

1 Danim backpackers, ☏ +82 70-7532-9119, +82 10-7757-6116, [email protected]. The only hostel in Daegu is "Danimbackpackers". "Danim" means "traveling" in Korean. Danimbackpackers is located in downtown Daegu near the Banwoldang Subway Station, Daegu's central subway station where both subway lines intersect. It takes 5 minutes on foot to downtown, and is easy to get to any place in Deagu by public transportation. Staff are young and enthusiastic to help travelers and are English-speaking. Additionally, this hostel offers one free drink for every night at its bar and breakfast is included in the price. 2 Union Tourist Hotel, ☏ +82 53-252-2221. The Union Tourist Hotel is just west of Daegu station. Rates are between ₩38,000 and ₩50,000 per night. The rooms are fairly large and clean but somewhat old, and the bathrooms, especially the bathtubs, are in need of remodeling. Nevertheless, it is a quiet, comfortable, and affordable place to stay. If you call to reserve a room, you receive a discount. 3 LifeSpa. A short taxi ride from Jincheon subway station. It might be best to ask for 'Oncheon', or follow a map from the website. This is a jjimjilbang in west Daegu, near to the west bus terminal, Woobang Tower Land and Duryu Park. The entry fee, under ₩10,000, includes access to a large bathing area and impressive hot rooms. There are provincially themed rooms including Mungyeong and Gyeongju rock. One scorching hot room has a carriage of rocks on tracks that seem to have come from a great subterranean forge. There is a snow room, which is far more impressive than most jjimjilbang ice rooms, with falling snow from above. Unfortunately, this room can look a little ransacked if it has hosted families or drunks in the evening. There are small male and female sleeping rooms, but the open sleeping areas are fairly quiet too. The provision of sleeping mats is much worse than in most jjimjilbangs. The baths and saunas are large and impressive. There are several standard pools, a big cooled pool where kids enjoy swimming, a great pine steam sauna and a traditional hot spring room with cold fresh air. The PC room is large and in good repair, there is a restaurant and a rooftop garden and there are far more television screens than could possibly be nece

Go next

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