Reading 2,000 Years of Daegu Inside Dalseong Fortress, Daegu Local History Museum

October 1, 1997, Dalseong Park Exhibition Hall Filling the Museum Gap in Daegu

The Daegu Local History Museum is a public museum in Daegu that opened on October 1, 1997, to exhibit local history during a time when there were few museums in the region. Its registration number is Daegu-Public 12-2012-03, and since October 7, 2022, it has been operated under the Museum Operations Headquarters of the Daegu Culture & Arts Promotion Agency.

The building is located within Daegu Dalseong, a National Historic Site No. 62, which is today's Dalseong Park. Therefore, this is not only a place to view artifacts in the exhibition hall but also a place to step into the actual site of Dalseong-toseong Fortress, the theme of the exhibition. Official records include the 2005 Modern Postcard Exhibition, the 2007 Dalseong Rediscovery Exhibition, the 2012 Gyeongsang-gamyeong Exhibition, the 2016 Gyeongsang-gamyeong and Woodblock Printing Exhibition, and a 2020 railway-related exhibition.

From Dalgubeol-guk to the 1970 Zoo, the Time Held by Dalseong-toseong Fortress

Dalseong Park is described as the center of the ancient Dalgubeol-guk kingdom. An earthwork fortress (toseong) was built along the perimeter to protect the residence of the ruler, and it occupied a strategically important position in the plains of downtown Daegu. During the Joseon Dynasty, it was located 4 ri west of the Daegu-bu government office and was a space for official banquets, archery, and scholar excursions.

In 1596, during the Imjin War, the Gyeongsang-gamyeong (provincial office) was temporarily established here, and the fortress walls were reinforced with stone. In 1599, a Hyanggyo (Confucian school) was built within Dalseong and operated until 1605. In the modern era, Emperor Sunjong and Ito Hirobumi visited in 1909, and the Daegu Shrine was installed during the Japanese colonial period. After liberation, the Daegu-burip Museum, Daegu's first public museum, opened here in 1947. The shrine building was demolished in 1966, the park was renovated in 1969, and a zoo was established in 1970.

Dalgubeol-guk on the 1st Floor and Yangnyeong-si on the 2nd Floor, the Viewing Order Connecting Two Exhibition Halls

The permanent exhibition focuses on Daegu from prehistoric times to the pre-modern era. The 1st Exhibition Hall on the first floor features corners for the Paleolithic to Bronze Age, Dalgubeol-guk, Palgongsan and Biseulsan Mountains during the Unified Silla period, the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties, Daegu-eupseong Fortress and Daegu's topography, the Imjin War and beacon fires, Nakdonggang River water transport, and Daegu Dalseong. It is easy to follow the process of Daegu's growth within the Nakdonggang River water transport and inland transportation network in the order of the exhibition.

The 2nd Exhibition Hall on the second floor covers the customs section of the "Daegu-eupji" (Town Gazetteer), tug-of-war, the Igongje-bi monument, commerce, education and religion, Yangnyeong-si (herbal medicine market), Gyeongsang-gamyeong, folklore, and traditional houses. By viewing the formation and topography of the city on the first floor first, and then moving up to markets, medicine, administration, and daily culture on the second floor, the connection of the exhibition becomes clear. The official collection guide also introduces prehistoric polished stone daggers, Goryeo bronze wine bottles, the 1779 edition of "Dongui Bogam," and a Joseon white porcelain lattice-patterned incense burner.

09:00~18:00 Free Admission, Avoid Mondays and Public Holidays

Viewing hours are from 09:00 to 18:00, and admission is free. The museum is closed every Monday, January 1st, New Year's Day (Seollal), and Chuseok. Since closing notices may apply regardless of whether a Monday is a public holiday, it is safer to check the official announcement again before departing, especially during holiday periods.

The main phone numbers are 053-430-7940~7944, and the official website is https://www.hyangto.or.kr/. The address is 35 Dalseong-gongwon-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu (Dalseong-dong, Dalseong Park). Bringing food, entering with pets, and smoking are prohibited in the exhibition halls. Photography using flashes or tripods, as well as commercial photography, is not permitted.

• Viewing Hours: 09:00~18:00
• Admission: Free
• Closed: Every Monday, Jan 1, Seollal, Chuseok
• Inquiries: 053-430-7940~7944

About 10 Minutes from Line 3 Dalseong Park Station, Buses Are Close at 'Dalseong Park' Stop

For the urban railway, you can get off at Dalseong Park Station on Line 3 and walk for about 10 minutes. The walking route toward Dalseong Park is more important than the exit number, and the simplest way is to enter the park entrance and follow the signs for the museum. Stroller or wheelchair users should allow extra time considering the slope and congestion of the walking paths inside the park.

Buses 300, 808, 836, 939, and Dong-gu 2 are available at the 'Dalseong Park' stop. At the 'Across Dalseong Park' stop, buses 300, 523, 808, 836, 939, Buk-gu 2, and Dong-gu 2 (Sinam Underpass) stop. From 'Keunjang-negeori,' you can walk after using buses 156, 240, 309, 405, 425, 523, 524, 623, 653, 724, Express 1, or Express 5. For parking, it is better to plan on using nearby paid parking lots as per official guidance rather than assuming there is a dedicated free museum parking lot.

30-Minute Exhibition Commentary and Group Reservations 2 Days Prior, Dense Even for Short Visits

General visitors can request exhibition commentary at the 1st floor exhibition hall on the day of their visit. Commentary is provided from 09:00 to 18:00, excluding the lunch hour from 12:00 to 13:00, and takes about 30 minutes. If you are unfamiliar with the relationship between Dalseong-toseong Fortress, Gyeongsang-gamyeong, and Yangnyeong-si, it is efficient to inquire about the availability of commentary before starting your tour.

Group visits and commentary must be requested at the information desk (053-430-7940) at least 2 days before the visit, and the information desk is closed on Mondays. If you combine the two exhibition halls with a walk in Dalseong Park, 60 to 90 minutes is appropriate. If you only want to see the exhibition quickly, 30 to 45 minutes is recommended, and if you want to read the history of the fortress and the park route together, 90 minutes or more is advised.

• General Commentary: Can be requested on-site at the 1st floor exhibition hall
• Commentary Hours: 09:00~18:00, excluding 12:00~13:00
• Commentary Duration: Approx. 30 minutes
• Group Reservations: Up to 2 days before visit, 053-430-7940

A History Route of About 1.2km Connecting to Daegu Modern History Museum and Yangnyeong-si Museum of Oriental Medicine

The Local History Museum is an excellent starting point to grasp the ancient and Joseon history of Daegu before moving to other downtown museums. The Daegu Modern History Museum is about 1.24km away, and the Daegu Yangnyeong-si Museum of Oriental Medicine is about 1.25km away. After seeing the Yangnyeong-si and Gyeongsang-gamyeong exhibitions on the 2nd floor of the Local History Museum, you can connect the stories of commerce, herbal medicine, and administration in the exhibition with actual downtown place names.

Dalseong Park itself is also a site to be viewed. Daegu Dalseong has been mentioned as the center of the Dalgubeol-guk kingdom since the Samhan period. The 2024 small exhibition at the Local History Museum featured Dalseong through old maps and paintings, and the 2025 small exhibition covered Dalseong as the center of Daegu's history. It is more suitable for people who will walk the fortress and park together rather than visitors who only expect indoor exhibitions. On days with heavy rain, it is better to reduce the park exploration and focus on viewing the two exhibition halls and listening to the commentary.

Foreign Visitors Should Prepare 1330 Interpretation and Exhibition Etiquette First

Separate permanent foreign language commentary or wheelchair rental information is not confirmed in the official viewing guide. If foreign language guidance is needed, the Korea Tourism Organization's Tourist Information Phone 1330 provides tourist interpretation services from 07:00 to 24:00 Korea time, which can be used for inquiries about travel, restaurants, and transportation. It is most accurate to inquire at 053-430-7940 before visiting regarding the languages available for commentary and the daily operation status at the museum.

In the exhibition hall, please do not touch the artifacts, do not take photos with flash or tripods, and do not bring food or pets into the exhibition area. While the Daegu Local History Museum does not require as much time as a large national museum, you can understand the history of downtown Daegu in a condensed way by reading the location of Dalseong-toseong Fortress and the chronological exhibitions on the 1st and 2nd floors together.