Daegu’s Urban Parks - Part 1

Even though it’s not like national park where contains lots of wild animal or chain of mountain, urban parks offer recreation and green fields to residents living in heavily crowded urban city.

Urban parks located in centre of Daegu also are offering not only above benefits but also historical meaning.

1. Mangwoo Park

In Eastern Daegu near the Kumho River you will find Mangwoo Park. This park was founded to pay tribute to the memory of General Jae-Woo Gwak, the first successful militia leader to resist the Japanese Army during Hideyoshi’s Invasion in 1592. In the park grounds you will find a statue of the late general, a memorial museum with relics from Hideyoshi’s Invasion, and Choyang Hall which was built in 1922 to educate the nations youth about the independence movement against Japanese colonialism.

Additionally you will find the ornate Yeongnam Jeil-Gwan (Independence Hall). This gate was originally constructed during the Joseon Dynasty, but was destroyed during the Japanese colonial period. Daegu city then renovated the gate in the 1980s, preserving the site for the city’s citizens.

2. Gukchae-bosang Memorial Park (Memorial Park Of National Debt Remuneration Movement) 

Gukchae-bosang Memorial Park was established in 1907 to commemorate the ‘National Debt Repayment Movement’ campaign between 1907 and 1908, which was one of the first movements to reclaim national sovereignty through fund-raising; in way of repaying the national debt owed to Japan. The city of Daegu was the epicenter of such movements, as Kwang-Jae Kim and Sang-Don Suh were the first to advocate the campaign by quitting smoking and establishing a committee to raise funds.

This beautiful park is still well preserved today where families and couples spend their weekends enjoying the fresh air and green paths.

In walking around this park you will also find a pagoda housing a large bell, which is rung every New Years Eve to bring in the New Year.