[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Discovering Daegu's hot spots and hidden gems

K-campus

Published: 26 Jul. 2024, 10:22 Updated: 26 Jul. 2024, 10:23

[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Discovering Daegu's hot spots and hidden gems

Samgaheon House in Dalseong County, Daegu, is home to the Hayeopjeong Pavilion that overlooks a pond. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Here comes the intense heat and the season to practice "i yeol chi yeol," or fighting fire with fire, a traditional Korean belief in consuming hot, nutritious dishes to beat the heat. A modern understanding has gradually expanded to physically embracing hot places, such as sitting in the sauna during the summer.

In the spirit of the latter, heading to one of the hottest cities in Korea, Daegu, perfectly aligns with the "i yeol chi yeol" mentality. Additionally, Daegu offers a plethora of cultural heritage sites to explore. If you haven't decided on a summer vacation destination yet, here are four unique recommendations in Daegu for you to try out this year.

Modern Alley Night Tour
근대골목 밤마실 투어

A poster image of the Modern Alley Night Tour hosted by the official Jung District Office of Daegu Metropolitan City. [DAEGU METROPOLITAN CITY]

If you are eager to explore Daegu but cannot endure the heat during the daytime, hopping onto one of the city's major night tour programs is a way to enjoy the seasonal getaway.

The Jung-gu District Daegu Metropolitan City Office operates the annual Modern Alley Night Tour on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The tour kicks off from Yeongnam-Daero, a road that functioned as a primary path to the capital during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), and covers nine historically significant spots in the city. The tour proceeds through Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Museum, the former Gyonam YMCA building, Mulberry Alley, Gyesan Yega, Gyesan Catholic Church, the March First Independence Movement Road, Dongsan Missionary Houses and ends at Seomun Night Market.

Modern Alley Night Tour takes people through the city's modern streets and alleys with nine major cultural heritage spots. [DAEGU METROPOLITAN CITY]

If you decide to sign up for the night tour, you may also check the availability of two special events, the Modern Alley History Experience Program and the Modern Alley Art Event. The history experience program is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at Gyesan Yega, a cultural center providing visitors with a place to relax, as well as Lee Sang-hwa and Seo Sang-don Old Houses. The program includes traditional activities like paper rubbing painting and rickshaw-riding. The Modern Alley Art Event, which takes place at the same time as the night tour at the same venue, offers a variety of cultural activities, including a moonlight craft-making experience and music performances. The Modern Alley Night Tour is a 2.5-kilometer (1.55 miles) journey that takes around two hours to complete and requires no admission fee, although additional cultural activities may require a small fee. You can book a spot through the city office website.

Jung District, Daegu
(대구광역시 중구)
Operation hours: Every Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (During the winter season, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
No admission fee
Phone number: 053-661-2625
Website: https://www.jung.daegu.kr/new/culture/pages/tour/page.html?mc=2332

Seomun Night Market
서문야시장

Seomun Night Market in Jung District, Daegu opens on Fridays and continues throughout the weekend. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Picking up where the Modern Alley Night Tour ends, Seomun Night Market is essential when visiting the city at night. Open throughout the evening from Friday to Sunday, Seomun Night Market is where the general Seomun Market operates during the day and transforms into a night market spot. The night market site officially opened in June 2016, now accommodating around 80 stalls with food and other goods. The night market stalls stretch as far as 350 meters (1,148 feet), offering both classic and niche dishes.

Makchang, or grilled cow intestines, is a specialty to try alongside craft beer, both available at the night market stalls. Stir-fried noodles, takoyaki (octopus fried in batter), chicken and pork-belly rolled gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) can also be found at the food stalls. The market sometimes hosts local busking performances, so keep an eye on its social media platforms or the official website's announcements.

If you are a fan of night markets and wish to explore more, Chilsung Night Market is near the Sincheon Riverbank, about 30 minutes away by public transport and 15 minutes by car.

@053nightmarket
45 Keunjang-ro 26-gil, Jung District, Daegu
(대구 중구 큰장로26길 55)
Operation hours: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Sunday, 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Website: https://www.nightseomun.com/

Samgaheon House
삼가헌 고택

Samgaheon House gives an insight into a mid-Joseon Dynasty's aristocrat household. [KOREA HERITAGE SERVICE]

Away from the hustle and bustle of the exciting nightlife, a tour around Samgaheon House in Dalseong County is a way to appreciate the reserved side of Daegu. Inheriting the spirit of Bak Paeng-nyeon (1417-1456), one of the Six Martyred Ministers of the Joseon Dynasty, his descendants continued living in his hometown, Myo-dong. The house site has been dismantled and rebuilt several times, and its current form, with anchae and sarangchae (each referring to a space for the ladies and the men's room), was completed in 1874. Byeoldang, an additional structure in the background, rests in an artificial pond built by Pak Gyu-hyeon, the 13th-generation descendant.

Byeoldang is the main photo-worthy spot at this aristocrat's old home, where Hayeopjeong Pavilion overlooks the pond. The name of the pavilion means lotus leaves, which explains the masses of lotus flowers that used to bloom every summer. Although lotus flowers are no longer visible due to dredging construction, a narrow log bridge in the middle of the pond entertains visitors as it leads them to a small island. This small piece of land accommodates crape myrtles, adding a splash of summer flower shades to the view. Samgaheon House was designated as the National Folklore Cultural Heritage No. 104 in December 1979.

15 Myodong 4-gil Habin-myeon, Dalseong County, Daegu
(대구 달성군 하빈면 묘동4길 15 (묘리))

Songhae Park
송해공원

Songhae Park in Dalseong County, Daegu, meets Okyeonji Reservoir, equipped with long trails for walking and sightseeing attractions. [DAEGU METROPOLITAN CITY]

Songhae Park in Dalseong County is the most tranquil way to finish off the city trip, with a circular trail and an oyster Geumgul to cool down the heat. Also known as Okyeonji Songhae Park, Okyeonji being the name of the surrounding reservoir, the park was named after veteran television presenter Song Hae, who had hosted the KBS music show "National Singing Contest" (1980-) until a few months before his death in June 2022. As he was brought up in Okpo-eup, the nearby park picked his name to commemorate the famous television personality who had also promoted the county as its official ambassador and an honorary citizen.

Songhae Park has Geumgul, a manmade cave that was used for gold mining in the past. [JOONGANG ILBO]

The park requires quite a walk, with a myriad of stairs to climb and a trail that encircles Okyeonji. The trail begins by crossing Baeksegyo Bridge. Photo spots pop up in the middle, including artificial sculptures and seasonal flora and fauna for an encounter with nature. You may also stop by Geumgul, a man-made cave for gold mining during Japan's colonization of Korea (1910-1945), which has lit-up attractions inside. Not yet well-known among tourists, the park stays open all year round and charges no admission fees.

306 Gise-ri, Okpo-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu
(대구시 달성군 옥포면 기세리 306)
Phone number: 053-668-3763

BY BAEK KYUNG-SEO, KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeung@joongang.co.kr]