Daegu

Daegu (대구, 大邱), formerly romanized as Taegu and officially known as the Daegu Metropolitan City, is South Korea's fourth largest city (after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon), and the third largest metropolitan area in the nation, with over 2.5 million residents. Daegu is in southeastern Korea, about 80 km (50 miles) from the seacoast, near the Geumho River and its mainstream, Nakdong River in Gyeongsang-do.

Understand
Daegu is in the middle of a wide, flat valley, rectangular in shape, and hosts one of the country's largest US 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.

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 it is deemed as hot as Africa. In summer they install sculptures on the streets to make fun of this nickname.

By plane


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.

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 located 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 provides ticket reservation service. The bus fare varies.

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.

To enter the subway, scan your token and hold on to it because you will need to insert the same token as you exit.

The monorail, Line 3 (yellow line) is connected in the downtown with Line 1 at Myeongdeok Station and Line 2 at Sinam Station. Line 3 will run from Chilgok to Beommul.

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.



Festivals
Various festivals in various themes like the Colorful Daegu Festival, Dongseongno festival, Palgongsan maple festival, Biseulsan azalea festival, Korea in Motion Daegu, and so on, are held by the city, each ward, or the specific groups, all through the year. In late August, Daegu hosts the Asian Bodypainting Festival, a sister event of the World Bodypainting Festival in Seeboden, Austria. And every summer during July, Daegu Chimac Festival celebrates what Koreans love to enjoy, chicken with beer, and will take place at Duryu Park in Dalseo-gu, Daegu. The term "chimac" is a portmanteau of chicken and maekju (meaning "beer"). With over 880,000 visitors in 2015, and one million visitors during the festival of 2016, the number of total visitors continue to increase as this festival steps up to become one of the most significant events in Korea. This year's festival will include music and cultural performances, making the entire festival overflow with youthful energy. 

Daegu Dalgubeol Lantern Festival is the annual event, held in Daegu city, when people gather altogether to make their own colorful lantern, write some wishes on the lantern and fly them together during sunset time. This event is held to celebrate Buddha's birthday every year on April or May at Duryu Park.

Daegu International Musical Festival Exciting melodies have filled the air across the city every summer as the city hosts its annual musical festival since 2006. Along with a splendid opening concert, the DIMF Awards, a variety of international performances attract musical manias as well as citizens. The DIMF, as the first international musical festival in Asia, offers a chance for musical producers and agencies as well as people to come together and share the joy of musicals with the world.



Sports
Watch baseball, one of the most popular sports in the country, at Daegu Samsung Lions Park (home to Samsung Lions) and football at DGB Daegu Bank Park (Daegu FC). Choi Won-kwon is the interim director of Daegu FC.



Work
Like all South Korean cities, Daegu has numerous job openings for English language teachers at public schools and private academies. See The South Korean article on Teaching for more details.

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


 * Seomun Night Market, Daegu on April 7th, 2017.jpg
 * Seomun Night Market, Daegu on April 7th, 2017.jpg

Eat

 * 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.3미-뭉티기.jpg
 * 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.jpg
 * Daegu Anjirang Gopchang Gopchang means small intestine of a cow, and ‘Anjirang Gopchang Alley’, famous for gopchang, is in Nam-gu:
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Drink

 * 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.

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.



Stay safe
Like the rest of Korea, all of Daegu is safe at any time of the day. However, westerners, especially minorities or men with Korean women, may encounter hostility from drunken men, but this is increasingly rare. The water is safe, but newcomers with sensitive stomachs should be prudent with street food or with the spice levels. Be aware that some ATM machines close before midnight if you need late-night drinking money.

Korean taxi drivers may drive somewhat erratically. Drivers are usually honest and being cheated on fares is not common.

Go next

 * The major cities of Seoul, Daejeon, Ulsan or Busan via the KTX.
 * Andong, home of the annual International Mask Festival and World Heritage rated Hahoe Folk Village.
 * Gayasan National Park, home to Haeinsa, one of Korea's Three Jewel Temples and a World Heritage Site.
 * Gumi, nearby electronics powerhouse, but not without its fair share of hiking opportunities too.
 * Gyeongju, Korea's cultural capital and home to World Heritage rated Donghaksa Temple.
 * Gyeongju, Korea's cultural capital and home to World Heritage rated Donghaksa Temple.