Daegu Metropolitan City (대구광역시, 大邱廣域市) is located in the southeastern inland of South Korea. It borders Gyeongsan City, Yeongcheon City, Cheongsong County to the east, Gumi City, Goryeong County, Seongju County, Chilgok County to the west, Uiseong County to the north, and Cheongdo County, Changnyeong County in South Gyeongsang Province to the south.
During the Joseon Dynasty, it was the administrative center of Gyeongsang Province and a hub in the southeastern region. The city flourished primarily due to its textile industry. On July 1, 2023, Gunwi County was incorporated into Daegu Metropolitan City.
History of Daegu:
Prehistoric Era Excavations at the site in Wolseong-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, revealed relics including the stone tools of the Palaeolithic Age, suggesting human habitation dating back roughly 20,000 to 10,000 years ago. Daegu has had various old names such as Dabeol (다벌), Dalbeol (달벌), Dalbulseong (달불성), Dalgubeol (달구벌), Dalguhwa (달구화), Daegu (대구). Although all these names sound similar, they are indigenous words with no relation to the meaning of the Chinese characters. Among them, Dalgubeol and Daegu (大丘) are the most famous. There are diverse explanations for the origin of the name “Dalgubeol.” Among them, there is a research paper that suggests the meaning of “high” or “large” in the ‘dal’ of ‘Dalgubeol’ and originated from the concept of novelty or the emblem of iron culture, ‘chicken,’ derived from the Gyerimsa thought of Silla. Therefore, Dalgubeol can generally be understood as a ‘large and wide field.’ In the prehistoric era, Dalguhwa (달구화), Dalgubeol (달구벌), Dalbul (달불), and Dalseong (달성) formed a fortress. During the Bronze Age, tribal states were formed.
Silla Dynasty:
- In the year 108, it was merged into Silla.
- In the year 261 (the 15th year of the reign of King Chimhae of Silla), Dalbeolseong was constructed.
- (Construction began in 244) At the end of the 5th century to the beginning of the 6th century, Dalgubeol was referred to as Dalguhwahyeon (달구화현, 達句火縣).
- In the year 689 (the 9th year of the reign of King Sinmun of Silla), an attempt to move the capital of Silla from Seorabeol to Dalgubeol was thwarted due to opposition from the nobles.
- In the year 757 (the 16th year of the reign of King Gyeongdeok of Silla), Wiwhagun (위화군) was renamed to Sujanggun (수창군), and Dalguhwahyeon was renamed to Daeguhyeon, which was under the jurisdiction of Yangju (양주).
- In the year 927 (the first year of the reign of King Gyeongsun of Silla), the Battle of Gong-san between Later Baekje’s Gyeon Hwon and Goryeo’s Wang Geon took place in the present-day area of Palgongsan.
Goryeo Dynasty:
- In the year 940 (the 23rd year of the reign of King Taejo of Goryeo), Sujanggun was renamed to Suseonggun.
- In the year 1018 (the 9th year of the reign of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo), the administrative system was divided into Suseonggun, Jangsan-gun, Haeanhyeon, Daeguhyeon, Hwawonhyeon, Pallihyeon, and Habinhyeon.
- Daeguhyeon was placed under the jurisdiction of Seongju. In the year 1143 (the 21st year of the reign of King Injong of Goryeo), Daeguhyeon was promoted to Hyunryeonggwan and incorporated Habinhyeon and Hwawonhyeon.
- In the year 1203 (the 6th year of the reign of King Sinjong of Goryeo), there was a rebellion against the military regime led by a Buddhist monk.
- In the year 1232 (the 19th year of the reign of King Gojong of Goryeo), the invasion by the Mongol Empire resulted in the loss of the Daejanggyeong of Palgongsan Buin Temple.
- In the year 1255 (the 42nd year of the reign of King Gojong of Goryeo), there was resistance against the Mongol invasion at Gongsanseong.
Joseon Dynasty:
During the Joseon Dynasty, the jurisdiction of Daegu Doho-bu encompassed the current areas of Jung-gu, Nam-gu, Seo-gu, Dong-gu (excluding Ansim-dong), Buk-gu (excluding the former Chilgok-dong area), Suseong-gu (excluding Gosan-dong), Dalseo-gu, and Dalseong-gun (excluding Hyunpung-myeon, Yugam-myeon, and Guji-myeon), as well as Gabuk-myeon, Punggak-myeon, and Gaknam-myeon in Cheongdo-gun.
- In 1394 (the 3rd year of King Taejo of Joseon), Daegu-hyeon was incorporated into Suseong-hyeon, Haean-hyeon, and Habin-hyeon.
- In 1419 (the 1st year of King Sejong of Joseon), in May, Daegu-hyeon, Suseong-hyeon, Haean-hyeon, and Habin-hyeon were integrated into Daegu-gun.
- In 1466 (the 12th year of King Sejo of Joseon), Daegu-gun was elevated to Daegu Doho-bu.
- In 1590 (the 23rd year of King Seonjo of Joseon), Daegu-eupseong was fortified as an earthen fortress.
- In 1592 (the 25th year of King Seonjo of Joseon), during the Imjin War, Daegu-eupseong was destroyed.
- In 1601 (the 34th year of King Seonjo of Joseon), the Gyeongsang Province Command was relocated and established as Daegu-bu. Hwawon-hyeon, Gyeongsan-hyeon, and Hayang-hyeon were incorporated.
- In 1607 (the 40th year of King Seonjo of Joseon), Gyeongsan-hyeon and Hayang-hyeon were separated from Daegu Doho-bu jurisdiction.
- In 1684 (the 10th year of King Sukjong of Joseon), Gabuk-myeon, Gakhyeonnaimyeon, Gakchodong-myeon, and Gagidong-myeon of Punggak-hyeon were incorporated into Daegu Doho-bu.
- In 1658 (the 9th year of King Hyojong of Joseon), the Yakyung market began to open around the guest house within the Gyeongsang Province Command for the first time.
- In 1736 (the 12th year of King Yeongjo of Joseon), construction of Daegu-eupseong began in April as a stone fortress, and it was completed in June of the following year. A dedication ceremony was held at Sunhwadang in November.
- In 1750 (the 26th year of King Yeongjo of Joseon), Yuseng Yi Yangchae petitioned for changing the name of Daegu (大丘) to Daegu (大邱) because the character ‘丘’ was disrespectful to Confucius. During the reigns of King Jeongjo and King Hyeonjong, both Daegu (大丘) and Daegu (大邱) were used, but after King Cheoljong, only Daegu (大邱) was used.
- On June 23, 1895 (the 32nd year of King Gojong of Joseon, the 1st day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar), the Eight Provinces system was abolished, and the Twenty-Three Districts system was implemented, demoting Daegu Doho-bu to Daegu-bu Daegu-gun.
- In 1896 (the 1st year of Gwangmu), on August 4th, the Thirteen Provinces system was implemented, and Gyeongsangbuk-do became Daegu-gun.
Korean Empire Era:
- In 1899 (the 3rd year of Emperor Gojong’s reign), in July, the first modern secondary education institution, Dalseong Hakgyo (which succeeded Daegu High School in 1916, split into Gyeongbuk Middle School and Gyeongbuk High School in 1950, with Gyeongbuk Middle School closing in 1970, now succeeded by Gyeongun Middle School), was established in Daegu.
- In 1902 (the 6th year of Emperor Gojong’s reign), under the missionary Adam’s initiative, Shinmyeong Girls’ School opened its doors as the first women’s educational institution.
- In 1905 (the 9th year of Emperor Gojong’s reign), Dalseong Park was established.
- In 1906 (the 10th year of Emperor Gojong’s reign), on September 24th, Gabuk-myeon, Gakhyeonnaimyeon, Gakchodong-myeon, and Gagidong-myeon in Daegu-gun were transferred to Cheongdo-gun.
- In 1906 (the 10th year of Emperor Gojong’s reign), in October, the walls of Daegu-eupseong were dismantled by Park Jung-yang, the county magistrate and inspector of Daegu-gun, without the emperor’s consent. Additionally, the gatehouse called Gwanpungnu, located south of Sunhwadang in the Gyeongsang Province Command, was moved to the present Dalseong Park.
- In 1906 (the 10th year of Emperor Gojong’s reign), the Office of the Governor-General was established under Japanese rule.
- In 1907 (the 11th year of Emperor Gojong’s reign), in February, Kim Kwang-jae and Seo Sang-don led the National Debt Redemption Movement in Daegu, receiving significant nationwide support.
- In 1907 (the 11th year of Emperor Gojong’s reign), Daegu’s first movie theater, Geumjwa (錦座), opened its doors in the current Taepyeongno 2-ga and flourished for 12 years. In 1907 (the 11th year of Emperor Gojong’s reign), under the missionary Mrs. Adams, Shinmyeong Girls’ School was opened as a secondary school for girls.
- In 1908 (the 2nd year of Emperor Sunjong’s reign), the guesthouse and major buildings in the Gyeongsang Province Command were destroyed, and Yakyung market was relocated to the present Namseong-ro.
- In 1909, Park Jung-yang, who was appointed as the Chief Magistrate of Gyeongsangbuk-do, opened what is known as the Cross Street (a road that stretches from Pojeong-dong to Seomun-ro in an east-west direction and from Jongno to Daean-dong in a north-south direction), with financial support from the government.
Japanese Colonial Period:
- On August 29, 1910 (the 4th year of Emperor Yunghui’s reign), the Japanese Empire annexed the Korean Empire.
On October 1, 1910, Daegu-gun was renamed Daegu-bu. - On November 14, 1911, the Japanese Empire unified Dong-sang-myeon and Seo-sang-myeon to establish Daegu-myeon.
In 1913, Daegu Station was constructed, and electricity was introduced to Room 322. - On April 1, 1914, Daegu-bu was dissolved, leaving only the urban area of Daegu-myeon as Daegu-bu, while the rest of Daegu-bu, excluding Daegu-myeon, and Hyeonpung-gun were reorganized into Dalseong-gun.
- On January 15, 1915, Seo Sang-il and others organized a secret society called the Central Headquarters of the Independence Restoration Corps along with personnel from the Yeongnam region, leading the movement in Daegu during the March 1st Movement.
- On April 1, 1917, parts of Daemyeong-dong and Bongdeok-dong in Susung-myeon, Dalseong-gun, were incorporated into Daegu-bu to establish Dae-bongjeong.
- On March 8, 1919, the March 1st Movement for independence erupted.
- On July 1, 1920, city buses began operating, running from Daegu Station to various directions in the city, including Paldal Bridge and Dongchon. In 1923, Seomun Market relocated to its current location.
- In 1923, Daegu Jahye Hospital became the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly of Daegu, the predecessor of Kyungpook National University Hospital.
- On October 16, 1927, Jang Jin-hong threw a bomb at the Bank of Korea Daegu Branch. The Shin-gan-hoe Daegu Branch was organized.
- In 1932, Daegu’s first department store, Evisya Department Store, emerged. It is now located in Seongnae 1-dong, Dongseong-ro, LG Fashion Square.
- On October 1, 1938, parts of Susung-myeon and Dalseo-myeon (except Gamsam-dong) in Dalseong-gun, and parts of Seongbuk-myeon (except Dongbyeon-dong, Seobyeon-dong, and Yeongyeong-dong) were incorporated into Daegu-bu.
- On November 2, 1938, former Susung-myeon, former Dalseo-myeon, and former Seongbuk-myeon each established Daegu-bu’s Eastern, Western, and Northern Branch Offices (3 Branch Offices).
- In 1941, Yakryeong Market in Daegu was closed.
- In 1942, the Taegukdan Student Independence Movement took place, led by students of Daegu Public Commercial High School.
US Military Government Period:
- On September 29, 1945, a tragic accident occurred at Daegu Station where two trains collided, resulting in the deaths of 73 people and over 120 injuries.
- On October 1, 1946, the Daegu 10.1 Incident occurred.
- On April 1, 1947, Japanese-style place names were revised to Korean-style place names.
One of Korea’s three major cities, Daegu, has a population of 2.43 million and covers an area of 884 square kilometers. It’s known as an eco-friendly city, boasting the largest park area among the nation’s seven major cities. To the south, it’s surrounded by Mt. Biseul and Mt. Daedeok, while to the north, Mt. Palgongsan embraces it. The Nakdong River and Geumho River flow through the city, creating an environment where nature and urban life coexist harmoniously.
The abundant water of the Nakdong River has been a vital resource that fueled Daegu’s growth as an industrial city, while the surrounding mountains have contributed to its continental climate. Everywhere you go, you’ll find numerous green trees and plants lining the streets, providing Daegu with a refreshing ambiance as soon as you enter the city.
In preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Daegu Metropolitan City has been fostering the future industries through a collaborative body called the Future Industry Development Task Force, consisting of the public, private, academic, and research sectors.
It focuses on nurturing five key future industries: water, healthcare, IoT robotics, future automobiles, and smart energy.
Expanding from the existing five major growth industries to include “smart cities,” Daegu City is leading convergence between industries and technologies. It is transitioning from a traditional manufacturing perspective to an integrated business perspective, focusing on future industries to transform the local economy.
Efforts are also being concentrated on attracting conventions linked to each of the five major industries, such as energy congresses, water forums, and global biomaterials conferences, on a global scale.
Daegu, where 110 years of modern and contemporary Korean history and culture are well preserved, served as a foundation for the development of modern Korean culture and art during the Korean War, bringing together intellectuals and artists from across the country.
In recent years, Daegu has produced numerous Hallyu stars such as V and Suga from BTS, Song Hye-kyo, Son Ye-jin, Yoo Ah-in, Jun. K from 2PM, and Key from SHINee. It has also gained attention as a filming location for popular movies and dramas like “Love Rain,” “Oh My Venus,” and “It’s Okay, That’s Love.”
Thus, Daegu has been a beloved city for culture and art enthusiasts from modern times to the present, filled with places popular among foreign visitors as a culturally vibrant city.
Combining Buddhist culture, Confucian culture, and Gaya culture, Daegu is adjacent to 13 UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites in Korea, and the Cheongsong GeoPark was recently included in UNESCO as well.
For these reasons, Daegu, the optimal city for experiencing the most Korean culture, is also a charming city preferred by international participants.
In Daegu, a city steeped in the history of fashion, you can enjoy a variety of sights and activities that blend tradition and modernity, offering the best time filled with art and attractions.