Daegu

Daegu, metropolitan city, southeastern South Korea. Daegu is one of South Korea’s largest urban areas and has the status of a metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government, with administrative status equal to that of a province. It lies east of the confluence of the Nakdong and Geumho rivers and 55 miles (90 km) north-northwest of Busan. It is bordered by South Gyeongsang do (province) to the south and is surrounded on all other sides by North Gyeongsang province. The city lies in a valley rimmed by low mountains that reach elevations of about 3,500 feet (1,100 meters).

For centuries Daegu was the administrative, economic, and cultural center of southeastern Korea. During the Joseon (Yi) dynasty (1392–1910) it was the capital of the province of Gyeongsang (until the province was divided into North and South Gyeongsang in 1896) and one of the country’s three big market cities. Daegu underwent explosive growth from the 1950s and increased 10-fold in population in the decades after the Korean War (1950–53).

The city’s textile industries are particularly important, and there are also metal and machine-building industries. Daegu is best known, however, for the quality of the apples grown in the surrounding area, which are exported throughout East and Southeast Asia. The local apple-growing industry began to prosper after missionaries from the United States in the early 20th century grafted cuttings from American apple trees onto the local crab apple trees.

West of Daegu, straddling the border between North and South Gyeongsang provinces, lies Gayasan National Park. Haein Temple (Haein-sa), a Buddhist temple complex begun in 802 ce, is located within the park. The temple complex contains a number of valuable religious treasures—chiefly the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete set of Buddhist religious texts in Asia. The depository in the temple where the Tripitaka Koreana is stored was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.

Among Daegu’s other attractions are the Dalseong Fortress, an earthen-mound fort that protected Daegu for many centuries but is now a popular park, and Apsan Park, from which a cable car takes visitors up to Mount Ap for views of the city. Daegu is home to a number of colleges and universities, including Kyungpook National University (founded 1946) and Yeungnam University (1967). Daegu National Museum houses a large collection of archaeological objects and fine art. The city hosted some of the 2002 football (soccer) World Cup championship matches. Daegu is connected with Seoul and Busan by air, rail, and highway. Other railways and roads intersect at the city. Area 341 square miles (884 square km). Pop. (2020) 2,410,700.