Daegu Modern Alley Tour 2026: Kim Kwang-seok Road & Cheongna Hill

Daegu Travel

Kim Gwang-seok Reimagination Street

Gyesan Catholic Cathedral · Cheongna Hill

Hello everyone! This is Durimap 😊

I'm back today from my trip to Daegu.

Daegu used to be a city I visited

for work a couple of times a year,

but this was my first time visiting

purely for leisure.

It was perfect for walking before the

intense summer heat began, and my husband

and I had such a fulfilling and fun time.

This time, I'll be sharing our experience

visiting Daegu's Jung-gu Modern Alley,

focusing on its iconic spots:

Kim Gwang-seok Reimagination Street,

Gyesan Catholic Cathedral, and

Cheongna Hill.

Kim Gwang-seok Reimagination Street: Where Music Flows 🎸

Kim Gwang-seok Reimagination Street is a

straight path that stretches from the Kim Gwang-seok Gil

Tourist Information Center to the Kim Gwang-seok Gil

Public Parking Lot.

​

We traveled by subway, exited through

Exit 3 of Kyungpook National University Hospital Station,

enjoyed a hearty lunch, and then headed off

to Kim Gwang-seok Street.

Directions are well-marked between Kyungpook

National University Hospital Station and along the street!

Just one block away from the public parking lot,

you'll also find the Kim Gwang-seok Story House.

For your reference, while strolling along the street is free,

there's an admission fee of ~$1 for adults to enter

the indoor exhibition at the Story House.

After about a 10-minute walk, we arrived at Kim Gwang-seok Street!

With Kim Gwang-seok murals and guitar sculptures

everywhere along the alley, there were so many fantastic photo opportunities.

His soulful songs played softly throughout our walk,

creating an absolutely wonderful atmosphere.

Inside the street and along its sides, there were plenty of

charming cafes and restaurants, and with Bangcheon Market

right next door, there was an abundance of things to see and explore.

Gyesan Catholic Cathedral: Quaint and Elegant ⛪

​

Gyesan Catholic Cathedral and Cheongna Hill

are both close to Cheongna Hill Station.

While it might feel a bit far to walk directly

from Kim Gwang-seok Street,

if you stop by a cafe for coffee and

take a leisurely stroll, it's definitely a walkable distance.

​

Gyesan Catholic Cathedral is a truly

quaint and beautiful cathedral.

Near the cathedral's entrance, there was a spot

where you could delve into its rich history.

It's also known as the place where the late

former President Park Chung-hee held his wedding in 1950.

You can freely visit from 10 AM to 6 PM on weekdays.

However, please note that viewing is restricted during Mass or wedding ceremonies,

so I recommend checking the Mass schedule (especially on weekends)

before you go.

Cheongna Hill: Full of Modern Charm 🌿

​

I crossed the road from Gyesan Catholic Church

towards the Cheongna Hill Tourist Information Center.

The tourist information center had pamphlets and a map

outlining the Modern Alley tour course,

which was perfect for planning my route.

After leaving the information center, if you go to the right,

you can ascend Cheongna Hill via the 3.1 Movement Stairs (90 Steps).

This path holds special significance as it's the very route students walked, shouting 'Manse!' (Long Live Korea!)

during the Japanese colonial era.

​

Cheongna Hill is precisely the place

featured in the lyrical song, <Dongmu Saenggak> (Thinking of a Friend).

On top of the hill, there are three missionary houses

built with red bricks around 1910.

Today, they serve as the Missionary Museum (Switzer House),

the Medical Museum (Chamness House),

and the Education & History Museum (Blair House), respectively.

Near the Switzer House, you'll also find

Daegu's first Western apple tree and a bell tower commemorating 100 years of missionary work,

making it a wonderful spot for a leisurely stroll.

And there was also a reconstructed site of 'Jejungwon,'

Daegu and Gyeongbuk's first Western-style modern hospital, established in 1899.

It relocated to Dongsang-dong in 1906 and has since evolved into the current

Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center.

This Daegu Modern Alley course was a delightful walk,

visited during the perfect season before the intense summer heat sets in.

Overall Review

This Daegu Modern Alley course was a delightful walk,

visited during the perfect season

before the intense summer heat sets in.

It's a wonderful route for couples to take a quiet, romantic stroll,

or for families to visit with children,

reflecting on its historical significance!

Curious about restaurants and cafes in Jung-gu?

↓↓↓Check out my reviews of Suomien Daebong Main Branch and Misungdang Flat Mandu Main Branch↓↓↓

↓↓↓See my review of Neujoh Cafe Villa de Patrick, a hot spot in Daebong-dong↓↓↓

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