Hip & newtro
Modern Cultural Alley
근대문화골목
Walk a century of Daegu in one alley
A walkable loop through Jung-gu that survived the war largely intact, so the early-1900s buildings, churches, and alleys are still standing. Start on Cheongna Hill and thread past red-brick missionary houses, a 1902 cathedral, and retro cafes tucked into old Japanese-era wooden homes. It's Daegu's core stretch of modern history, now full of newtro cafes and bakeries.
What to see & do
Cheongna Hill missionary houses Three 100-year-old red-brick homes named for the American missionaries who lived there, now small museums.
Gyesan Catholic Church A 1902 Romanesque-Gothic church with twin brick spires, a designated Historic Site and a film backdrop.
90-step Independence Movement staircase The stairs students climbed on their way to March 1st independence gatherings, along Samirundong-gil.
Yangnyeongsi oriental medicine district A 400-year-old herbal medicine market with its own museum, part of the alley's older layers.
Eat & do here
- St. Geundae Bakery근대골목단팥빵 The flagship of a 30-year-old Daegu bakery near Jingolmok Alley; go for the red bean bun and sweet red bean milk. Instagram
- C'est La Vie쎄라비 A retro music cafe with DJ booths and acoustic guitars that appeared in the drama Love Rain.
- Daegu Modern History Museum대구근대역사관 A 1932 former bank building with exhibits on modern Daegu, including Korea's first city bus.
- Lilac Garden 1956라일락뜨락1956 A hanok-style cafe on poet Yi Sanghwa's birthplace, with a 200-year-old lilac tree that scents the courtyard in spring. Instagram
- Radio Days라디오데이즈 A cafe inside Daegu's last surviving 100-year-old Japanese wooden building, with tatami floors.
- Mido Tea House미도다방 A 40-year-old teahouse in Jingolmok Alley known for ssanghwacha, a medicinal herb tea served with an egg yolk.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization, “Korean Streets & Alleys” (2024). Rewritten for DealSeoul; details may have changed since 2024, confirm hours and openings before you go.
