By Honorary Reporter Pascal Pewesdorf from Germany
Photos = Pascal Pewesdorf

The annual Daegu Chimac (Chicken and Beer) Festival, held around the Duryu Park area in Daegu's Dalseo-gu District and designated a "culture and tourism festival" by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for seven straight years, is one of the country's top food festivals.

Launched in 2013, the event celebrates the famous combination of Korean-style fried chicken and ice-cold beer. Several famous chicken brands originated in Daegu, making the city a fitting home for the festival. 

What began as a city-wide festival is now a global event that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism upgraded this year's edition, which ran from July 1-5, to the status of a "preliminary global festival." 

On the afternoon of July 2, the atmosphere at the gala was cheerful and relaxed with families, groups of friends, couples and foreign visitors of all ages attending. The weather was a little unpredictable throughout the day, with a shower in the afternoon lasting for a few minutes, but this did little to interrupt the lively atmosphere.

Fried chicken, beer and chicken nachos in a Doritos bag on July 2 showcase the food offerings at the Daegu Chimac Festival around Duryu Park of Daegu's Dalseo-gu District.

In addition to the many food stalls, the festival also featured pop-up stores selling trendy merchandise and souvenirs. One of the most popular items was squishy toys. 

Every few meters saw kiosks with grilled or deep-fried chicken in an array of flavors. The plethora of creative poultry variations and drinks included loaded chicken nachos in a Doritos bag.

A fireworks display on July 2 lights up the sky above the main stage of the Daegu Chimac Festival around Duryu Park in Daegu's Dalseo-gu District.

Before the main concert, performances by DJs and other artists created a lively atmosphere as crowds gradually gathered in front of the stage.

As soon as the rock band FTISLAND, the headline act, came on stage after the fireworks, the mood changed immediately. The audience erupted into cheers, with fans singing along and waving their light sticks in creating an exciting atmosphere.

An impressive aspect of the event was the recycling system. Beer cups could be returned to collection booths, while staff stood beside trash cans to help visitors separate their waste correctly. Despite the huge crowds, the venue stayed remarkably clean throughout the evening.

From creative food and live music to an eco-friendly atmosphere that brought together people of all ages, it was easy to see why the festival is one of Korea's signature summer events.

The rock band FTISLAND on July 2 performs on the main stage at the Daegu Chimac Festival around Duryu Park in Daegu's Dalseo-gu District.

ljyhwa@korea.kr

*This article was written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.