For this trip, I went back to Daegu for 4 days - 3 nights. I think it was one of my favorite stops!
It has the right amount of hallyu, right amount of touristy, and a bit of food adventure on the side.
It started with a pre-booked tour to see my favorite Kpop stars live....
TOUR BUS TO DAEGU (MUSIC FESTIVAL)
TIP: Check out Trazy or Klook for concerts or festivals that will fall on same dates as your trip!
I left my Seoul house early for the tour bus I booked via Trazy. The tour included a round trip bus ride to Daegu, a quick stop at a Daegu park, and a music festival featuring Kpop groups like ATEEZ, WINNER, The Boyz, and ASTRO!
Meet-up point was at the Hongik University Station, which was just one station away from my guesthouse. I asked for guesthouse imo's transportation suggestions the night before, and she said to just walk to avoid all the elevators and crowd, and so walk I did. It suddenly rained that morning, and my bags were heavier than me, I was crying deep inside as I traversed Sinchon to Hongdae regretting why I didn't just took the train or a cab. Lol.
Although the journey was long, I wasn't late for the meet-up, thank God. The tour operators, with prior email exchanges, accommodated my huge luggage at the trunk. Travel time from Seoul to Daegu took around 4 hours, with one stop-over for lunch.
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| Our tour operator + Lunch with Rachelle at a rest stop |
I met a new friend at the bus who was also solo traveling at that time, and she easily recognized that I am a Filipino (thank God lol) so I was just comfortably speaking in Filipino the whole time. Rachelle came from the US to Seoul for her dream life, but she also has PH roots. You can check her adventures on her Instagram @rpotente.
Our first stop in Daegu is a tourist spot called the Suseongmot Lake Resort, a beautiful scenery with sloping mountains and a vast park and lake. We had barely an hour to go around, so Rachelle and I decided to just take a few photos, and look for a place where we can buy snacks before the Daegu Powerful Kpop Concert--the highlight of this tour. It started to rain again as we ran back to our bus to Kyungpook National University.
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| A very quick touristy stop in Daegu |
Even with the lack of portalets and food stalls, the whole concert experience was fun! Discovered new groups, and saw old faves too. Surprise favorite was WINNER's set. For a short stage segment (usually for music festivals, bands only get to perform 3-4 songs), the 4-member group connected to the audience right away. I love how I knew most of their songs too, and seeing them live was a dream come true.
Snaps from the concert!
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| Since it was already drizzling the whole day, decided to wear our raincoats before the concert started |
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| Finally lighted up this robong in front of ASTRO |
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| So much love for KAI and WINNER performing under the rain! |
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| The perfect finale: PSY's energy is totally unmatched! |
Aside from WINNER, EXO Kai and PSY dancing in the rain were also core memory performances. And of course, OF COURSE! I was so happy to see my first love ASTRO live--albeit just subunits and no full group performances that night. I found myself contented just seeing and hearing my 4STRO's "Wanna be your star" live, and hoping to see the group complete next time.
Here's the lineup:
@megamax.official
@wooah_nv
@hynn_01
@silver_rain.__
@ateez_official_
@official_theboyz
@officialastro
@winnercity
@zkdlin
@42psy42
I have to tell you this, PSY live is really a bucket list experience. I think this was the third time I watched him, but it never gets old. You don't even have to know his whole discography to enjoy this superstar. Since he was the last performer, and rain was already clouding my camera phone anyway, PSY requested the audience to just keep our devices and jump and dance with him. The girl in front of us had tears in her eyes, which her oppa automatically wiped for her. I had second hand kilig and rare sanaol moment right there!
The concert ended late at night, as tour groups rushed to bus parking in our raincoats. It was also the last part of the tour for me, since I'll be staying in Daegu for a few more days. The bus left me and my bag at the entrance of Kyungpook National University.
Instagram Snaps from the Daegu Kpop Con:
I was waiting for a bus or cab, or a Kakao T booking at the nearby bus stop, when I realized that it was almost 11pm, the time my hotel lobby closes for check-in. I was so desperate so I walked back to the entrance of the university where I saw a small office with the guards. Thank God they were open even at night. I asked for help, and grabe guys, from booking the taxi, calling the driver who can only speak in Korean, to carrying my luggages at the trunk of the car--they assisted me the whole time. Found myself teary eyed again, hahaha.
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| Thank you to the hardworking guards of Daegu for helping this tourista! |
The driver of my cab was also very memorable. It was a short ride to the hotel, but he started a conversation. I think it was also my first time to "practice" the little Korean I learned from attending online classes during the pandemic. It felt nice to understand "yohaeng" and numbers in Hangul.
The good luck started rolling in again when I reached my hostel, and the receptionist / owner said he was just about to leave! He told me a rundown of the house rules, and provided me with towels and other stuff in a tray before I went up my room.
Oh my room felt warm and homey after being out in the cold cruel rain for hours, and the convenience store (an E-Mart) was just a few blocks away. I bought my dinner there, and had a hot bath before calling it a day. I love this hostel, and would highly recommend it if you're going to Daegu too. I had a room to myself, price is affordable, and the location is very central.
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| My cozy private room in Daegu for 3 nights |
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| Had a nice hot shower after the cold, rainy day! |
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| E-Mart food inside my room for late dinner |
Midtown Hostel Daegu
Address: 30 Janggwan-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea
Rate: KRW 108,000 for 3 nights (Around Php 1600/night)
Nearest Subways:
Jungangno Subway Station 400 m
Banwoldang Subway Station 460 m
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