Dalseong Park

In the heart of Daegu, a few minutes' walk from Seomun Market, an earthen rampart curves around a low hill. Dalseong Park was laid out on top of Dalseong, an ancient earthen fortress whose name shares its roots with "Dalgubeol", the old name of Daegu, and it is the oldest urban park in the city. With a path along the wall, old trees and a small zoo, it is popular with families.

History: from an ancient earthen fortress to a park

Dalseong is regarded as one of the earliest types of fortification in Korea. It seems to have been built by the groups that dominated the area from the Bronze Age onwards, and shell middens and traces of a wooden palisade were found beneath the wall. The Samguk Sagi records that a fortress called Dalbeolseong was built in 261, under King Cheomhae of Silla. Like Wolseong in Gyeongju, it uses a low hill on flat ground; the wall is about 1,300 m around and roughly 4 m high.

In 1596 the Gyeongsang provincial government was briefly based here, and in 1905 the site became a park. During the Japanese colonial period a Shinto shrine was built inside it. Designated a Historic Site in 1963, the park reopened in its present form in 1969, and the zoo followed in 1970.

What to see

• The rampart walk: a footpath runs along the top of the earthen wall around the park. Walking the full loop gives you a feel for the size of a fortress more than 1,700 years old.
• Gwanpungnu: a two-storey pavilion with red columns. It stands on a rise inside the park and is easy to spot from afar.
• Local history hall: near the entrance, with displays on Daegu's history and daily life.
• The Seo Chim tree: this land once belonged to the Dalseong Seo clan. When Seo Chim gave it to the state under King Sejong, he reportedly asked, instead of a reward, for the interest on the people's grain loans to be reduced. A pagoda tree in the park is called the "Seo Chim tree" in his honour.
• Poetry stone and zoo: a stone engraved with a poem by Lee Sang-hwa, and a small zoo with deer, tigers, seals and other animals.

Good to know

In 1915 independence activists met in the park to found the Korea Restoration Corps, a secret society aiming at a republican Korea. Because the zoo's facilities are old, the city plans to move the animals to the new Daegu Daegong Park under construction in Suseong-gu. After that, the zoo grounds are to be used for restoring the earthen fortress.

The park also has a statue of Choe Je-u, founder of the Donghak religion. A master plan drawn up in 1965 gave the park its present form with a culture hall and zoo, and since April 2000 admission has been free for everyone.

Tripto tips

• Visiting: open daily 05:00–21:00, free of charge. Parking costs KRW 1,000 per 30 minutes.
• Getting there: a short walk from Dalseong Park Station on Daegu Metro Line 3. It pairs well with Seomun Market for a half-day outing.
• Time needed: 1–2 hours for the rampart loop, Gwanpungnu and the history hall.
• When to go: the many old trees make autumn especially pleasant. The zoo's move may change opening arrangements, so check ahead if the animals are the main reason for your visit.